How to Zoom Through Airport Security
November 5th, 2007 Posted in Travel
Here’s a few tips on how to travel more efficiently. Remember these tips next time you fly and you’ll reach your departing gate with time to spare! You can thank me the next time you land in Saint Louis and your luggage ends up Saint Maarten.
How to Travel More Efficiently
Let’s talk about travel. If you’re like me, you do a lot of flying. As you can imagine, my job on this web-based show takes me to a lot of exotic places. Today I thought we’d give you some tips on traveling more efficiently. You can thank me the next time you land in Saint Louis and your luggage ends up Saint Maarten.
Pack a carry-on bag, but don’t overpack. If your bag needs to be opened during inspection, it will speed things up re-closing it if it’s not busting at the seams. No one likes the lady playing luggage tetris while everyone waits. I’ve been stopped for an inspection because my bag was too full and the agent couldn’t see everything through the x-ray machine.
Wear footwear that is less likely to require removal for inspection, including thin-soled sandals or sneakers. Wear shoes that are easily removable to help speed you through the process. Your tired feet and everyone else in line will thank you, although probably not personally. That’d be weird.
Remember to put your toiletry and personal items in clear plastic bags. This will reduce the chance that a TSA screener will have to handle them. Passengers are allowed liquid items in three ounce containers, but these items must fit in 1 quart size plastic bag. Just remember to take this container out of your bag and place in a separate bin.
Place all metal items in your carry-on bag. Things like cell phones, blackberries, keys and any loose change including those weird dollar coins no one likes. Laptops and video cameras must be removed from your bag and put in their own bin. If you set off the alarm on the metal detector, you will be delayed for additional screening. And it’s possible your co-workers will start a rumor about there being a plate in your head.
Remember to have your items in the appropriate place before you reach the front of the line. Many people wait until it is their turn to start shuffling through bags, emptying their pockets, and taking off whatever clothing they know they’re going to be asked to take off. Be considerate of others and plan ahead. Remember these tips next time you fly and you’ll reach your departing gate with time to spare!
And that’s another Daily Idea.
