Please place your bag on the belt...
That's a phrase you are bound to hear a lot these days if you spend time flying to your destination. Or you may be told to remove your shoes and in some extreme cases, your pants. These once unheard of requests are just part of the new reality of security involved in air travel. Now any reasonable person certainly appreciates the extra security, but all of this can be unnerving when you don't know what to expect. Things get worse for folks when the new security measures cause them to miss flights due to the crush of air travelers waiting to be screened. What's even more frustrating is the fact that the conditions at the airport really depend on where you're flying from. Where one airport requires two hours prior to departure another may only require thirty minutes. As a frequent business traveler I thought I'd offer some tips to take the guesswork out of dealing with airport security.
Rule 1: If you are flying out of a hub for a particular airline, always get to the airport as early as possible.
It's a fact that an airline's hub is always more crowded than a non-hub. So if you're flying Contiental from Newark airport, you can count on spending more time with check in and security than you will if you flew Delta or American out of Newark. If you must fly from an airlines hub, give yourself a minimum of two hours from the time you arrive at the check in counter.
Rule 2: Take public transport or get a ride to the airport.
All other things being equal, you probably waste 20 or 30 minutes finding a spot and getting to the check in area. Taking public transport, or even better, getting a ride from a friend will usually get you dropped off right at the check in area saving you valuable time. Depending on the length of your trip it may save you a lot of money in parking fees as well.
Rule 3: Travel with only a small carry on bag.
Back in the old days it was convenient to carry your stuff onto the plane. Not so today. More stringent restrictions, increased possibility of searches and lack of overhead space make carrying extra bags a real time waster. Also, with airport terminals getting larger than ever, it's no fun lugging those bags all over the place.
Rule 4: Have absolutely no metal on your person when passing through security.
Make sure any metal you may have including keys, coins, rings and watches gets put into your carry on bag for scanning. I even remove my belt and try to wear soft shoes since nicer dress shoes have metal in the sole. Any of the aforementioned items can cause you to activate the metal detector and get you subjected to a full search. Once that happens you'll most likely be removing your shoes.
Rule 5: Stay calm and be nice.
Nothing can make a situation where you're behind schedule more miserable than losing your cool. Yes, airport personnel can drive you downright crazy sometimes. And it's true that sometimes it's the security folks that are rude. But getting upset and/or giving people a hard time will not only slow you down but also upset the folks waiting behind you.
Of course, no method guarantees a smooth time at the airport. My experiences shows me that the above measures will certainly help though. So stick it to the mean terrorists and get out there and explore the world via air travel.
Buon Viaggio!
