077 – Speed through airport security

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Airport security is often one of the major downsides to travelling by air – there’s the queues, which often seem to be completely stationary, and there’s the demeaning scanning process. But there are a few things you can do to speed things up.

We asked our Twitter friends for their tips on getting through security, and had a couple of responses.

@NewWrldYankee (Yankeeinnewworld.com) says:

Wear flipflops or slip-on shoes and put carry-on liquid in outside pocket.

@parkylondon (www.thisweekinlondon.co.uk) says:

1. Check-in as much baggage as you can.
2. Avoid carrying a laptop if possible.
3. Slip-on shoes are easier to remove at security.
4. Don’t joke about terrorism in airports.
5. Never get on a plane hungry.
6. It is easier to stay cool or warm up on an aeroplane if you wear thin clothes in layers.
7. Exit rows have more leg room.

Thanks for your input! You can find us on Twitter as ITPodcast (and maybe be part of a future show too).

Our Security Tips

Our tips look at what you’re wearing, what’s in your bag, and what to do when you get to the security line.

1. Before you fly, think about what you are wearing. You usually have to take off clothing, often a jacket, belt and shoes. Wear a jacket that’s easy to remove, and slip-on shoes.
2. A surprising amount of people have no idea what they can’t take on the plane. Don’t be one of those people! There’s information everywhere at the airport about what can’t be taken on, but sharp objects and liquids are the ones to watch for. Pack your knives in the check-in luggage and be aware of the liquids rule – in most places at the moment, you can’t take any liquids onto the plane that are in a container larger than 100mls. So don’t pack vintage wine in your carry-on luggage – please!
3. At the security line, choose your line carefully. Sometimes there isn’t a choice, but in some airports there are a lot of scanner machines and you can choose which one to go through. Choose one that’s short and actually moving.
4. Be aware that some airports require all passengers to remove their shoes, while others “randomly select” people to do so (by which I mean, scan the dodgiest characters). Other airports designate one line as the shoe line, and everyone in that line has to take off their shoes – avoid that line if possible.
5. Once you’ve chosen your queue, you can start to prepare for the scanner itself. Take off your watch and put it in your jacket pocket. Zip up the pocket if you can. Put your wallet and any spare change in there too.
6. As you get closer to the machine, take off your jacket and sling it over one arm. Keep your passport and boarding card out in case the security officers want to see it. If you have a metal belt buckle, take off your belt and put that over your arm with your jacket.
7. If you have a laptop, get it out of your bag before you get to the scanner. Sometimes it needs to be removed from the case, but not always.
8. At the scanner, put everything in your arms in a plastic tray, add your bag to the conveyor belt and go through. Keep an eye on your stuff as much as possible.
9. If you need to repack your laptop or any other belongings into your bag, or if you need to put on your belt or shoes again, move out of the way if possible to allow the other passengers to keep moving through. Don’t block the pathway.

Frequent business travellers inside the USA should check out Mark Peacock’s Travel Commons for more specific tips and US-centric airport information.

We also want to welcome Chris Anable to our authors and point you to his first post. You might also like Craig’s guest post on Almost Fearless.

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Anything to add? Know what TSA means? Make up your own answers in the comments.

A penny for your thoughts? Please comment.

8 Responses to “077 – Speed through airport security”

1. 
   NewWrldYankee Says:
   

   Thanks you guys for the awesome shout out! I feel so privileged. I actually have to disagree on the layers thing, if you have a big coat, or too many layers, TSA seems to think you are smuggling coke underneath and also make you step aside for screening. Then again, I’m Indian with a muslim sounding last name, so maybe I just look naturally suspicious. TSA, btw, is Transportation Security Administration.

   Ah, the wine thing totally happened to me, with the buying things on the wrong side of the airport. I bought Tokaji wine, the best Hungarian wine in Duty free in Hungary and forgot to put it in to my check in luggage. During my connection in DC, I had to give to the security lady. I asked her if she was at least going to drink it later – sadly, they have to throw it away legally. =(

   October 24th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
2. 
   Chris Christensen Says:
   

   I have never really run into issues with the TSA but in the USA:

   You can buy a Clear Card for the US to speed you up.
   Always remove your shoes.
   Always take your laptop out of the bag .
   Always have your ticket and photo id available.

   October 25th, 2008 at 11:52 am
3. 
   Audrey Says:
   

   One thing we learned the hard way is that airport security personnel are not immune from stealing, so make sure anything of value is zipped up and tucked deep inside a bag. My husband got money stolen from the front pocket of his money belt as it went through the x-ray machine at one of the gates at Bangkok’s airport. He found the problem immediately and asked security personnel to review the tapes and got his money back about a week later. However, others contacted us with similar reports of stolen bracelets from bags and were not able to get any response from airport security. So, keep up your guard at airport security too – it was the only time we got robbed in 18 months of travel!

   November 1st, 2008 at 5:00 pm
4. 
   Craig and Linda Says:
   

   Thanks Audrey. Airport security theft is one of the things we talk about in the show. I’ve seen someone lose a smartphone right in front of us. I try to ward against it by zipping things in my jacket pocket.

   November 1st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
5. 
   Mark Says:
   

   I have a Clear card, but only because Marriott was giving them away (1st year free) to the Platinum level of their “frequent sleeper” program. I heard that Hyatt had the same promotion for their top-tier (I believe it’s called “Diamond”) level. If you have upper-tier status with an airline (e.g. 1K with United, Exec Platinum with American) you probably don’t need it. Then last week, I received an e-mail from Clear saying that they’re increasing their fee to $199/year. I didn’t think it was worth it before the pricing increase, so I definitely won’t be renewing it now.

   Regarding Audrey’s comment, I talked about luggage theft in TravelCommons #67. Then this month, a TSA screener in Newark was charged with stealing two to three items per week from the airport beginning in September 2007. Among the items seized from his home were 66 cameras, 31 laptop computers, 20 cell phones, 17 sets of electronic games, 13 pieces of jewelry, 12 GPS devices, 11 MP3 players, eight camera lenses, six video cameras and two DVD players. Gotta love it — our tax dollars at work.

   November 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 am
6. 
   Craig and Linda Says:
   

   Those clear cards don’t come cheap do they?! To skip a line? No thanks.

   And that massive theft! Oh my god. Perhaps paying staff a reasonable amount would reduce the corruption? Radical idea, I know, but I’m like that.

   November 2nd, 2008 at 8:47 am

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