The Travel department editors and photographers here at Southern Living are in the air a lot of days each month. One of our photographers, Gary Clark, has logged so many million frequent flier miles traveling for us that Delta Air Lines gave him a Tiffany & Co. sterling silver Swiss Army Knife (which he can no longer carry on board, of course).

As you might imagine, traveling often leads to a host of, shall we say, challenges. Luggage can get bashed to oblivion. Travel editors' car tires look like Yul Brenner's head. And household pets barely recognize their owners.

Recently, we've also begun to feel the effects of increased security. The folks who travel have been scanned, searched, patted down, and scoured more than they'd like to admit. (Perhaps writers and photographers just look shifty.) But along the way, we've picked up some tips that help the security process along without compromising safety. Here are 10 ideas to assist an honest citizen through the new and improved airport security.

Good luck out there.

1. Play nice. Courtesy pays. This is the South--we're supposed to be polite down here; and let's keep it that way. Besides, security guards hate nasty people.
2. Bag it. Check everything but your purse or briefcase. Some airlines are creating special screening lines for those without multiple carry-ons.
3. Keep your hands to yourself. Walk through the scanning machine without brushing against the sides. Physically touching the machines usually sets them off.
4. Have stellar photo finishes. Now that metal detectors are set to their most sensitive levels, there is potential for undeveloped snapshots to be affected. To keep vacation pictures safe, put film (throw away the plastic canisters) in a clear bag, and ask for a hand check. Or this may be the perfect time to spring for a digital camera.
5. Turn the power up. Have your laptop computers, cell phones, Palm Handhelds, and other electronic items turned on well before you get to the security checkpoint.
6. Unload heavy metal. Put your keys, wallet, pens, coins, and other pocket material into your purse or briefcase. Hair clips also seem prone to setting off the machines. To avoid having your belt buckle set off the metal detector, turn the bottom of the metal clasp upward until the entire buckle is parallel with the floor. Unless you're from Texas (and have a hubcap of a clasp on your britches), this move should keep you beep free.
7. Be ready to loaf off. On a recent trip, our Food Finds editor, Dana Campbell, had to remove her shoes three times for inspection. Her suggestion? Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off (such as loafers or pumps).
8. Drop it. Don't try to get through security checkpoints with things such as corkscrews and pocketknives. Make life easier on you and security personnel by putting metal items such as nail files and clippers in your checked baggage.
9. Access positive ID cards. Some of our editors find it easier to travel with a passport for identification. If you keep it in an accessible pocket, this can eliminate having to fish for a driver's license in the depths of a purse or wallet at every checkpoint.
10. Wait for the fizz and fuzz. If at all possible, wait to buy lunch after you pass through security. This makes for fewer items to juggle. If you simply must purchase food before going through, don't buy a soda. (The staff might make you demonstrate your drinking ability before letting you pass.) Wait for a complimentary in-flight beverage instead.

Need Travel Help?
Has a hotel promised a suite but put you in a broom closet? Write us about your travel experiences in the South. Send your letters to Postscript, Southern Living, P.O. Box 523, Birmingham, AL 35209; or e-mail us at traveleditor@timeinc.com. Include your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address. For every letter or tip published, we'll send you $25.