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The first trick is to remember to check on online... you can do this 24 hours to flight time. Hopefully you have or can get your seat assignments. If you’re traveling on an airline like Southwest, you’ll get to board in an earlier boarding group and grab a better seat. The other advantage if you print your boarding pass at home is you can head straight to security and not have to stop at the ticket counter.... at least if you have a carry-on bag!
In larger airports, head for the farthest out-on-the-side checkpoint. Generally these tend to be used less than the ones in the middle so the lines should be shorter. In the U.S. the Transportation Security Administration (the TSA) actually has a list that will tell you the quickest security line at any airport... look them up online.
In this last year the TSA has been trying something new at a few airports to speed things up in security lines. They have lanes with a black diamond for "Expert Travelers" for people who know the procedures and are in a hurry. There is a blue square for "Casual Travelers" and a green circle for "Family/People with Medical Liquids" for people who need more time. We'll go into this further in another article. In the meantime, check with the TSA online to see where you can take advantage of these.
Once you get to the front of the line, just go along with the drill. If you’re a seasoned traveler, you know what to do. If you’re a novice, watch what the others are doing and follow their lead. The TSA agents will also tell you what to do. (Some will tell you nicely... others, well, sometimes they can be a bit brusk, but that’s because they have to keep repeating themselves.)
In the U.S take off your shoes and jacket. (In the rest of the world, you can usually leave your shoes on.) Empty your pockets of loose change. Cell phones and sometimes watches should go in the bin. Your "one quart clear plastic bag" of liquids each 3 oz or less must come out of your carry-on bag. Remember, one plastic bag per person. The European equivalent is a one liter bag with 100 ml of liquids.
Your laptop must come out too unless you have one of the new TSA approved laptop bags that allow x-ray machines to get an unobstructed view of your computer without removing it. You might want to consider investing in one.
Have your boarding pass available and wait for the security agent to wave you through.
BUT YOU'RE NOT DONE YET!
Now you have to put yourself back together. Hopefully you've allowed plenty of time for this process, and you're not trying to rush to catch your flight. Take your time. Make sure you've picked up everything you've put in the bin. Make sure you don't leave anything behind. Get it all put back where it belongs, and make sure it's secure.
And make sure your shoelaces are tied... you don't want to trip as you run for the plane... only kidding... you have plenty of time and you don't have to run. Right?
Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark
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