tran air Federalization has stabilized what you can carry on and what you can t. The general rule is that sha

Prepare to Be Fingerprinted Tips 2 Getting to the U.S. AIRLINES In addition to the domestic U.S. airlines listed in chapter 2, many international carriers serve LAX and other U.S. gateways. These include, among others: Aer Lingus (& 01/886-8888 in Dublin; www. aerlingus.ie), Air Canada (& 800/776- 3000; www.aircanada.ca), British Airways (& 0845/77 tran air 33-377 in the U.K.; www.british-airways.com), Canadian Airlines (& 800/426- 7000), Japan Airlines (& 0354/ 89-1111 in Tokyo; www.jal.co.jp), Qantas (& 13-13-13 in Australia; tran air www.qantas.com.au), and Virgin Atlantic (& 01293/747-747 in the U.K.; www.fly.virgin.com). British tran air Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer direct tran air flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles from London. Air New Starting in January 2004, many international visitors traveling on visas to the United States will be photographed and fingerprinted at Customs in a new program created by the Department of Homeland Security tran air called US-VISIT. Non U.S. citizens arriving at airports tran air and on cruise ships must undergo an instant background check as part of the government s ongoing efforts to deter terrorism by verifying the identity of incoming and outgoing visitors. Exempt from the extra scrutiny are visitors entering by land or those from 28 countries (mostly in Europe) that don t require tran air a visa for short-term visits. For more information, go to the Homeland Security website at www.dhs.gov/dhspublic.

Bay to Breakers Foot Race, San Francisco. One of the city s most popular annual events, it s more fun than run. Thousands of entrants show up dressed or undressed in their best costumes for the 7.5-mile run. Call & 415/777-7770 or log

Federalization has stabilized what you can carry on and what you can t. The general rule is that sharp things are out, nail clippers are okay, and food and beverages must be passed through the X-ray machine. Bring food in your carry-on rather than checking it, as explosive-detection machines used on checked luggage have been known to mistake food (especially chocolate, for some reason) for bombs. Travelers in the U.S. are allowed one carry-on bag, plus a personal item such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop bag. Carry-on hoarders can stuff all sorts of things into a laptop bag; as long as it has a laptop in it, it s still considered a personal item. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has issued a list of restricted items; check its web- site (www.tsa.gov/public/index.jsp) for details.

Combine an interest in biking with views of California s spectacular scenery by signing up for a tour with Backroads, 801 Cedar St., Berkeley, CA 94710 (& 800/GO-ACTIVE or 510/527-1555; www.backroads.com). Focusing on coastal routes, wine country rides, and even a microbrew program, the tours vary in difficulty and comfort; some are camping trips, while others accommodate you in B&Bs. Professional leaders accompany each group, while a van trails with gear, baggage, and provisions. Tours include meals and overnight accommodations, and range from $150 to $275 per day, per person.