Reduce Your Travel Stress: 5 Tips for Easy Security Screenings

Airport security screenings are an unavoidable part of air travel.  Most of us can recall a time when we’ve seen passengers frustrated and upset.  It is painful to see parents struggling to keep up with their belongings and their children in the screening area .  In reality, it doesn’t have to be that difficult.  If you plan ahead and are efficient, you can breeze right through with no problems at all.  The following 5 tips will help you prepare and plan with ease.

1.  Arrive at the airport with plenty of time.  There is nothing worse than checking in online and then getting to the airport only to see that the security line is wrapped around the terminal.  Give yourself at least an hour once you’ve checked in to get through the screening.  It probably won’t take that long, but it is always best to be on the safe side.  Also, if you’ve booked a one way ticket or your round trip travel consists of 2 one-way flights on different airlines, you may see a red “S” on your boarding pass.  If that is the case, you will be directed to a special security line that will do an enhanced screening on you and your bags.   This may take a few minutes longer than a regular check, so pad in some extra time.

2. Pack for security:  Passengers usually are limited to 2 carry on items.   In the United States as well in many other countries, you are not allowed to carry on liquids or gels in larger than 3 ounce containers unless it is for medicinal purpose.  ALL of your liquids and gels must fit in ONE quart-size zip-top plastic bag.  Check the TSA website for the details.  If at all possible, keep your quart zip-top bag in an easily accessible area of your bag.

3. Dress for security: Shoes must be taken off and put through the x-ray machine.  Wear shoes without laces that are easy to slip off and back on.  Do not wear clunky metal jewelry.  If you do, you will have to spend time removing it as it will usually set off the metal detector.   Opt for clothing that doesn’t require a belt - because again, it will have to be taken off.  Make sure you empty your pockets of loose change, keys and cell phones.  Better yet, don’t put those things in your pockets to begin with.  Store them in a pocket of your carry on that you can easily get to.

4. Prepare to go through the line: Have your photo ID ready.  If you are using a passport as your form of ID, open it to the page that has your picture.  Take the boarding pass out of the paper sleeve.  If you have muliple boarding passes because of connecting flights, only display the one for the current, upcoming flight.  Have your zip-top bag containing the liquids and gels out and ready.  Remove your shoes, empty your pockets and place all items in a tray in preparation for passage through the xray screening.  Laptop computers must be taken out of their case and put on a tray.  All jackets, blazers, coats and hats must be removed.  Keep your boarding pass with you as you pass through the metal detector as the agent will ask to see it as you go through.

5. Be efficient once you’ve passed through screening:  Once you’ve retrieved the trays with your belongings, scoot to the end of the retreival area so you don’t create a bottleneck.  If you’ve planned ahead, you will be then able to easily slip your shoes back on, place your liquids in a front pocket, store your boarding pass and be on your way!

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