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Expect some chaotic scenes at the airport come Jan. 23. That's when a U.S. law takes effect requiring everyone travelling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda to have a valid passport. (Birth certificates and driver's licences are still acceptable for land border crossings, but probably only until January 2008, after which passports will be needed there, too.)

When these measures were announced, an estimated 40% of Canadians and only 25% of Americans had passports.

Passport Canada has been flooded with applications -- 355,474 in November, a third more than a year earlier. Still, it's a safe bet that travellers on both sides of the border will arrive at the airport on or after Jan. 23 without proper documentation.

If you need a passport, fill out an application form (available free at any postal outlet or online at ppt.gc.ca), have your photo taken and find a guarantor.

If you're in a hurry, take the form, photos, a birth certificate or certificate of citizenship, and at least one additional document to support your identity and the name that is to appear in the passport (driver's licence, health card, Old Age Security Card) to the nearest passport office.

It normally takes 10 working days to process an application.

If you're flying to the U.S. from Toronto, remember you'll pre-clear U.S. customs and immigration at Pearson. Lineups are unpredictable.

Airport staff are good about locating and fast-tracking passengers whose boarding deadlines are approaching, but if you find yourself in a queue and starting to get antsy, don't be shy about speaking up.

A few more airport tips:

- Fill out your U.S. customs/immigration form before getting in line, and certainly before it's your turn to be checked. Forms are available at check-in and where you line up.

- Keep the form, your boarding pass and passport together; you'll be asked to show one or more again. Stash them in a safe, easily accessible place.

- Dress lightly, if possible; it gets warm in those lineups.

- If you have mobility problems or small kids in tow, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority's Airport Customer Assistance Program can help. Visit ACAP@gtaa.com.

- If you're flying from Canada through Detroit, you'll clear customs and immigration there. Try to arrive early in the morning, before those big 747s from the Far East arrive.

- Don't hesitate to ask questions. Try anyone in uniform. My first time in Atlanta, one of the world's busiest airports, an off-duty pilot and a friend of his helped me. And when I had to change terminals at Pearson recently, something I hadn't done in a while, an Air Canada flight attendant showed me the way.

- Those rules on taking liquids, gels and aerosols on board are still in effect. Containers can't exceed 100 ml and must fit in a clear, closed and resealable plastic bag with a capacity of no more than one litre. At security, put the bag in the bin, along with your jacket, coins, shoes, etc. Visit tc.gc.ca or catsa.gc.ca, or call 1-888-294-2202.