Get Through Airport Security Faster on a Fishing Trip
No one likes to wait in lines, and no one likes to have their bodies or their luggage searched, but if you’re going to fly these days you’ll likely have to put up with both waiting and searches. TSA was created post 9/11, and with it came delays and scans.
If you’re perpetually early like us, the process is moderately annoying, but not overwhelming and doesn’t really impact your travel. However, if you tend to run late, or something out of your control makes you late, then long security lines and delays can lead to problems. Here are ten things you can do to make the process more efficient:
Know The Rules, Follow the Rules — The rules about what you can bring on the plane, how much of it you can bring, what you have to wear, what scans you need to go through and so on are there for a reason. You may disagree with those reasons, but once you buy the ticket you’ve effectively formed a contract to abide by them. When you’re in line for your travels is not the time to bring up your grievances or disagreements. Check the rules ahead of time, and note that they may differ depending on particular countries, class of service, or other factors.
Get Expedited and Trusted — If you travel even semi-regularly, it may make sense to pay for a service which helps you get through security or customs quicker. We have not only TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, but also the third-party CLEAR. The latter may not be in your local airport, but if it is we’ve found it to be a huge time-saver as PreCheck becomes more and more widespread. The cost of these services is often covered by premier credit cards, making them “free” in certain cases. You may also be eligible for them for free if you are Elite on certain airlines.
Prepare — Start preparing to go through security the moment you get in line – or, even better, before you get to the airport. In addition to knowing the rules, that means you should be organized and prepared and not searching for documents or wearing clothing that will set off the scanners. If possible, wear slip on shoes and no belt. Your fellow travelers will thank you for your expediency (as long as your feet don’t smell and your pants stay up).
Have the MyTSA App — Add (at least) one more app to your phone, this one from TSA. It contains a wealth of information for beginners, along with some more targeted features. Not only does it have a “Can I bring?” feature, but it shows actual wait times at security checkpoints, as reported by current travelers. That means if you encounter a long line it might be worth it to hoof it five minutes away to get in a much shorter one. Plus, it’s free.
Have Your Stuff Ready — As noted above, start getting organized as soon as possible, and if there are things you may need to remove from your carry-on or from your person, have them organized and ready to remove. That might include a laptop, or a CPAP or baby formula. It might also include fishing gear. Have the potentially questionable items ready to pop out and ideally in their own case.
Have a Place to Put Your Metal — So, you have keys, a wallet, a phone and your lucky rabbit’s foot keychain in your pocket. Where are you going to put them when you go through security? I recommend either having a jacket with a zippered pocket or leaving the outside pocket of your carry-on empty. That way right before you go through you put them all in that one place, run it through the scanner, and it’s all ready when you get to the other side.
Pick Your Line Carefully — The shortest line is not always the fastest. Try not to get behind families with multiple children or people who look more disorganized than you. If possible, fall in behind business travelers or others who look like they know the drill. Neither strategy is a guarantee but over time it should work out in your favor. Yes, there will always be disorganized and/or inconsiderate people, but try to be patient and helpful when possible. Getting outraged is not likely to help them move faster.
Save That Boarding Pass — Have all possible documents on your phone. You may still have to show an actual ID like a passport or driver’s license, but I just about always take a screenshot of my boarding pass. That way if I lose the paper version or just don’t want to keep taking it out, I have it saved. It also means that if connectivity fails for some reason I don’t have to be on the airline’s app.
Be Up Front About Fishing Gear — While most fishing gear (within size limits) is allowed on the plane, certainly you can understand why it might make some officials or fellow passengers uncomfortable. If your gear is questioned in any way, make sure that you have the TSA rules handy, or pull them up. Remain calm. Don’t start arguing or overexplaining.
Don’t Be a Dick — Again, the agents don’t make the rules, they just enforce them and occasionally have to do their best to interpret them. If you try to explain Fourth Amendment jurisprudence to them, or otherwise try to make them look foolish, they’re not going to respond kindly. Similarly, everyone else in line wants to get where they’re going, even if they don’t always seem to be moving expeditiously. Yelling at someone or criticizing them or even sighing loudly isn’t going to improve their efficiency. A little bit of kindness and tolerance goes a long way.
Airport Security Links that Can Help You Through the Process
10 ways to get through airport security faster — A solid summary of strategies, many of them incorporated above.
How to pick the best airport line-cutting service for you — The pros and cons of six options for expediting your journey through airport security based on how, how often and where you travel.
Why must we pay to have a slightly less miserable time at the airport? — A critical look at how services like PreCheck and Clear have split travelers into “haves” and “have nots.”
These Airports Will Let You Bypass Long TSA Security Lines for Free — Now you can get “fast pass” type service through Whyline at certain airports, allowing you to reserves a time slot in the security line and move to the front if you get there at that time. Best of all, it’s free.
TSA Processes on Disabilities and Medical Conditions — Everyone is required to undergo some sort of meaningful security screening, but disabled passengers may be able to get different treatment based on their limitations.
What is a TSA Notification Card? — A TSA notification card can allow people with disabilities to discreetly tell the TSA agents about their conditions or specialized luggage and gain the appropriate treatment.
Autism Travel: Three Tips and Resources to Make Your Flight Easier — People on the autism spectrum may have particular difficulty with security procedures. Here are some strategies that allow them to complete the process with minimal problems.
