Top Ten Tips For Getting Through Airport Security
While most of us are seasoned travelers, there may be some who haven't traveled for awhile or often. I saw this and thought some might find it helpful:
Top Ten Tips for Getting Through Airport Security
Anyone wish to add anything?
Frank II
USA 1/26/10
Send Private Message
Page:1 Next ›
Have your liquids and gels baggie in an accessible place in your carry-on so that you can remove it quickly without rummaging through your overstuffed wheelie looking for it while holding up the screening line.
Wear slip-off shoes if possible so that you don't have to untie and retie your shoes. Put your shoes directly on the belt rather than in a bin--even though this is supposed to be "optional," I've seen TSA screeners insist on it, slowing down the lines while people retrieved their shoes out of the bins.
Remember that your kids' DVD player needs to come out of the carry-on just like a computer does.
If you are traveling with kids, take them aside well away from the security line and prepare them for the security process there. Take off jackets and sweaters, check pockets for stray items, stash loved toys and blankies in the carry-on so they don't have the trauma of watching precious lovies go into the nasty looking tunnel, and for younger kids and toddlers, remind them to wait at the end of the conveyor for Mommie or Daddy to join them.
For those who wear laced non-business style shoes, here's something that might make it easier to get your shoes on and off:
Nothing to add except that I really like the line, "Gather your crap and walk away." Amen! (Also, "Recombobulation Area" made me smile.)
I see the person whose bag was x-rayed there plans to have some fun on their trip :P
Anna: I'm so glad I'm not the only one who noticed that! [blush] I love that it's supposed to be an example of a potentially suspicious-looking bag, and then ... HELLO!
Wear slip-off shoes if possible so that you don't have to untie and retie your shoes.
Well, I made sure my kids were wearing their heavy winter boots on the flight and I did too. And of course they had to be tied and take some time to take off. Hubby decided to do the slip-on shoes for the flight.
Result: when we arrived but our luggage didn't he was walking around in the snow in wet feet while the rest of us stayed dry. If you need to take winter boots along for a 2 week trip doing that in carry-on luggage together with other usually more bulky clothing is more or less impossible.
Anna and Teresa...I had to see what you two were talking about. Thanks for a good laugh!
I received a few PM's about it....what really surprises me is that I didn't pay much attention to the photo and didn't notice it until someone pointed it out to me in a PM. I must be getting old.
I originally thought that might have been a TSA training photo with the "item" added to find out who was paying attention, but then I clicked on the link below the picture and read the Register article. Apparently that was really someone's luggage.
If this is what they do with luggage X-rays, think of what will happen with full body scans.
I've always gone with:
1. Be ready (pretty much covered in their top ten).
2. Have a sense of humor.
My daughter and I both wore our winter boots because they are heavy, and it was a chore to go through security. But they were needed and I am glad we took them.
Maybe I am even older than FrankII but I didn't see anything to make me blush in that bag :-(
Have a sense of humor
This is so true! It doesn't help anybody to get stressed out - and only hurts yourself. Last time my father came to visit he literally had a heart attack at the security check because he got so angry. Thank God for nitro ... Next time he's coming with my aunt in tow. She DOES have a great sense of humour and loads of patience so hopefully she can keep him calm.
I am a big fan of stripping yourself before heading to security. No belts, no jewelry, nothing in pockets (All that is in your bag)...if you set off the detector...you are an idiot. OK...that's harsh, but not too far from reality. I travel a half dozen times a year, NEVER set off a detector. Certainly, if you have a medical device, you can't help it, but tell the TSO immediately and get out of everyone elses way.
The shoe on the belt thing vs in a tote confuses me, since I have put my shoes in a separate tote, to have them pulled out...then told at the next check to put them in a tote and not on the belt. I let it roll and do as told without worrying about it. Arguing with the TSA is a fast route to problems. (Recent articles have shown that the TSA are the lowest paid Federal employees, supporting the axiom that the lower the pay of the employee the higher the propensity to cause a problem)
Certainly, prepare for the flight just like you plan for a trip and you will be fine.
Bring an empty water bottle with you thru security and when you get to the other side, fill it up.
Now if every airport would have a "Recombobulation Area" away from the end of the x-ray machines, so much the better. We made the mistake of routing through JFK last year and between my father's disability and my laptop/electronics and NO place to take the bins to in order to get yourself together, it really made getting away from security a hassle. I love the airports that have put tables about 15 to 20 feet past the ends of the machines so that you can gather your stuff, go over and set it down and get re-organized without being in the way of the folks who don't have a laptop as well as their shoes and carry-on. I must say, I DID get pretty quick at putting everything together again and I did have everything bagged (one bag for liquids, one clear bag with electronics cords/batteries, phone) so that it was easier to get it out and put it away.
Incidentally, the one item that slowed me up a couple of times was the dash-base for my GPS. That sand-filled thing apparently looks suspicious on x-ray.
I also take everything out of my pockets.One other thing my wife had double knee replacement and the alarm will go off.She always gets taken aside.If she would leave her items on the table after going thru the xray machine for the 10 minutes it takes they might be gone.So I go thru and she waits until Im done(no matter how long that takes) and then she sends her things down and I collect them and wait in another area nearby for her.
Hello Frank II. I appreciate your effort of posting the internet Link to the "Top Ten Tips ..." at this web page. I wonder if those "Top Ten Tips" could also be put at an other web page at this web site (not at the Traveller's Helpline), for many people to see it, and could it stay there for a long time ?
Trust the guy who wrote this. If you don't fly often, don't get in the Expert Flyer line. Having read his "article" won't make you an expert and my fellow business travelers can be flat out MEAN!
The laptop bags are WONDERFUL! I thought they would be a waste of money. Found one for $40 or so at Target and love it. Makes getting through the thing so much easier.
Pay attention! Right now shoes at "most" airports must go directly on the belt and not on the bin.
No, your carryon does not need a bin. Your purse does not need a bin etc... If you have more then two bins, you are probably doing something that's just slowing down the entire process.
Coats, jackets, sweaters, etc. OFF. Put them in the bin, put your ziplock baggie on top of them in the bin. (And then try to figure how that move provided "security" :) )
Thought of something else.
Liquids you bought in "duty free" are not "exempt" for the the 3 oz rule. So if you are not flying direct to your destination think about that before you buy the perfume, booze etc.... For example, when I lived in Nashville, I had to come through someplace and clear customs there. That means you pick up your luggage. Or are in the luggage area if you didn't check. Either way you have left the "sterile" area. You will be re-screened. Your liguid will be taken. If you checked, you can put it in the checked luggage when you clear customs. (If you live in Atlanta you must put it in the checked luggage no matter what, there's no way out of the airport without being re-screened) Just last week I saw a guy at LAX pitching a fit over this because his "booze" was "purchased at duty free" Didn't work!
While I agree that in general more than two bins means that you're putting that you're putting things in bins that don't need to be there, there are times when they can multiply. For me, it's when I'm traveling for business and have both the Mac and the PC and it's winter with hats, scarves and other miscellaneous stuff. ; )
Absolutely don't go in the expert line unless you travel a lot-which is more than a couple of trips a year. Business travelers don't have a lot a patience and you will be subject to dirty looks and comments. ; )
Pam
A great and convenient time saver is to order the "quick pass luggage tag" from Magellan's (magellans.com). It looks like a regular luggage ID tag (4 1/4" x 3")that buckles onto your carry-on, but it unfolds into a zippered mesh pouch (11"x6 3/4"). Before going to the security line or while in line, empty your pockets, etc. into the pouch. Another advantage is that your watch, phone, coins, etc. are attached to your bag and not scattered in an unsecure bin. You can then refill your pocket while waiting to board your plane. You will find it under the heading Luggage Scales & Locks & then the category Locks & Tags.
Going through security....
Take off shoes, coat, jacket and place in bin.
Remove laptop from bag and put on tray. Put cell phone in bin or carry on bag.
DO NOT take out money, take off rings, belts, watches, etc. unless there is a ton of metal on those items.
Be prepared. Follow directions. Get through security and onto your flight.
Simple.
Except things change and different airports do things differently.
The prior post says to place your shoes in the bin. I've found that airports in the U.S. typically require you to place your shoes directly on the belt and not in the bin.
Some airports ask you to remove the plastic bag with liquids, others don't.
I travel frequently and can get things out quickly; however I understand why infrequent travelers get confused.
The last time I went through Heathrow (October), they wanted EVERYTHING in a bin, including my RS 21" rolling bag. The only thing they seemed to waver on was shoes. When I was flying to Paris, they told me I could keep my shoes on, though they were asking people with shoes that hid their ankles to take them off. When I flew back from Paris, everyone had to take off shoes.
Teresa, I have always had to remove shoes in Paris.
Some airports in the US say you have to put EVERYTHING in the bins, shoes included, while others say on the belt. I put them all in the bin because I can't keep up with which country/airport wants what on the belt on what in the bin!
Eli: I was talking about Heathrow. I was flying through there to get to Paris. :-)
I guess you haven't flown anywhere in awhile. All air passsengers in the U.S., whether flying domestically or internationally, must remove their shoes.
SCOTTEVEST
This is a company that makes travel jackets and vests with numerous unique pockets of various sizes. The idea being that instead of having to empty your pockets into the security trays and possibly losing personal belongings, you can just stuff your jacket/vest pockets full and then take it off and send it through the X-Ray machine by itself. These are also pickpocket unfriendly.
http://www.scottevest.com/
I have a family member who is works for TSA. I'll never forget how he said it should never feel routine. That, it should always feel like, "I never had to do that before."
Interesting point, I think.
The most important thing, don't waste their time with chit chat, be polite and cooperative. Don't argue or get mad--you'll never win!
Anything TSA does past the checkpoint is a joke. Now they're starting to pat down "selective" people at the boarding gate. As if a terrorist is stupid enough to let that happen. If they see the "smurfs" come to the gate, all they have to do is get up and walk away. But the majority of brain dead passengers will think they are being protected.
It's pure theater and in the name "protecting the fearful from terrorism," they're allowed to throw out the Constitution. And if they do such a thorough job at the checkpoint, why must they harass people at the boarding gate?
We have he Oscars, the Emmy, The Tony's...and soon the "Smurfees," for best performance by a TSA worker.
(I actually don't blame the airport TSO's as they are doing what they are told to do. The majority know it's theater. And the ones too dumb to realize it are now being chosen to get top secret clearance.")
Hello Canada..got room for one more?
Page:1 Next ›