As a security specialist, one of the things that I do is to give "travel" safety briefings. Here are a few hints to protect yourself at the airport, especially overseas:

1. Get checked in and out of the ticket area as quickly as possible, it is one of, if not the most vulnerable site at the terminal.

2. Get through security to the gate area or if your lucky enough to have membership in an airport club go there.

3. If traveling overseas dont dress "american", no baseball caps, big belt buckles or cowboy boots, and beleive it or not those "belt" packs are a perfect tip off too. These are instant tips to those who make a living by ripping people off.

4. If you have time and aren't sprinting for a connecting flight, take your time. Look around, be observant. Getting to baggage claim when there are three thousand other people there increases the chances of getting your pocket picked. Besides if you get to the car rental counter and they already rented that last "Spec" you get an upgrade!

5. If you stay a hotel, try and stay between the third floor and the seventh. Most robberies occur on the first and second floor, and most fire department ladder trucks don't reach higher than seven stories.

6. Look at the fire escape plan - where is the nearest exit? where is the alternate one? Knowing before the power is off, is important. Knowledge is power, that can save your life.

Be Safe, Be Smart and have a good time.

Thanks for the posting, good information. You might consider reposting this under "General Travel" so more people find it.

Welcome to FT.

Thanks for the tips. One thing I try to do in foreign countries to look less like a tourist/target is carry a local newspaper in the native language, even if it's one I don't speak.

Now I have this image of Sheri casually walking along a Shinjuku street with a copy of the Tokyo Times in hand!

Doc: