With a new x-ray technology, flight restrictions may be eased in the near future…

…the new machines can detect the density of liquids, and will even create three-dimensional views of them through luggage.

This would eliminate the need for liquid restrictions on flights!

As soon as a year from now, jamming your shampoos and lotions into small plastic baggies will be ancient history. If you are a traveler who cannot part with normal sized toiletries, look forward to bringing them in your carry on and saving the extra cash from your checked bag fee.

The machines are being tested in many United Kingdom airports before widespread use will be implemented and liquid restrictions lifted.

Travel oftentimes doesn’t go as smoothly we all would hope - if you’ve ever had a flight cancelled, lost your passport, or gotten really sick out of the country, your trip can quickly become a nightmare.

This article from BudgetTravel.com has some really helpful travel tips for emergencies like these and more…

1. Losing Your Passport: make a photocopy of your passport and driver’s license and pack it separately. Emergency passports can even be issued same day.

2. You Get Really Sick: review your healthcare policy; many provide coverage out of the country (but bring the local phone number, because 800 numbers often will not work).

3. Stolen Wallet: cancel debit and credit cards as soon as possible, file a police report, and notify the airline if your identification is also missing. Hiding a few $100 bills in a separate bag or article of clothing before traveling is a good way to protect yourself in a pinch.

4. Cancelled Flight: airlines are responsible for getting you on another flight. Calling the airline’s 800 number can be faster than waiting in line at the counter. If you’re involuntarily bumped from your flight, the airline is responsible for compensating you if you are not on another flight in the hour.

Check out the full emergency travel tips article for more useful and practical ways to prevent and deal with mishaps.

If you have a great tip of your own, feel free to share! Or, submit it to our Stellar Tip Contest for your chance to win the monthly prize.

Business travelers have found a way to lighten their load when flying - by leaving laptops at home.

A few years ago, leaving a laptop at home would have left many travelers isolated and cut off from the rest of the world…but as a USA Today article reports, the technology surrounding Smart Phones has made this possible.

Smart Phones with fast email and internet access like the Apple iPhone and Blackberrys have made it easy to stay connected to the office on the road…and occupy much less space than a laptop would.

With increased fees from airlines for baggage weight and checking, phones are becoming even more convenient to stay connected.

Do you bring a laptop when you travel? Have you ditched your laptop for your Smart Phone?

Airfares are soaring, checking baggage is costing money, and it even costs more to drive to the airport!

How will this affect meeting attendance this coming year? Will people stay home? Or, do you think more corporate meetings will be held in-house? Are companies holding more Webinars (for large groups) and/or conference calls (for small groups)?

Avoid extra travel fees and packing excess clothing with these carry-on luggage tips - packing smartly is sure to help ease some of your airline stress.

Here’s some advice from experts that I read about in an msnbc.com article:

-Bag size: standard rectangular bags keep clothes flat and less wrinkled.

-Organize with platic bags: extra compartments add weight - using plastic bags also makes it easier to remove objects if your bag is searched.

-Pack neutral colors: everything will match, and you can eliminate articles of clothing meant for one particular outfit. Colorful scarves, which take up very little space, are a good alternative to bulky sweaters.

-Limit your shoes: no more than 3 pairs for women; no more than 2 for men. Shoes are heavy and take up a lot of space.

If you’re traveling soon, check out the msnbc.com article for the rest of the tips. Don’t get stuck paying more money for a heavy suitcase, or overpacking and having to check your bag.

What packing tips do you use? Let us know!

New improvements in air travel restrictions aim to reduce long lines and aggrivation for travelers.

Yesterday, the Department of Homeland Security unveiled new security measures that airports will begin using that they hope will decrease waiting time and problems for travelers…

1. New Screening Machines: show objects concealed in a person’s body

2. Standard Identification Criteria: federal or state-issued photo ID will be accepted if it contains name, date of birth, gender, expiration date and a tamper-resistant feature

3. Terror Watch List Misidentification: travelers with similar names can give verification info to speed their check-in process

What do you think about these new air travel restrictions? Will it help or hurt travelers’ aggrivation and wait time? Will these new practices have any bearing on whether you fly?