Even the calmest, most experienced traveler can get stressed out in long airport security lines. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make the process easier, thanks to the Transportation Security Administration. Their agents know better than anyone what is and isn’t okay to do in a security line and they’re sharing their insider knowledge.
These are some personal tricks and tips from TSA officers to help you get through security in less time.
- Use your full name on tickets - Make sure the name on your ID matches the one on your boarding pass. Tickets aren’t the time for using nicknames.
- Enroll in TSA PreCheck, Clear, and other programs - Joining TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or Clear will speed things up for you in line. With TSA PreCheck, you keep your shoes, belt, and light jackets on while going through security. The Clear kiosks are for identification verification, which speeds up getting through security checkpoints, but you still have to go through the metal detector and put your stuff in the X-ray.
- Dress for success and pack smart - Keep your layers minimal, take off the extra coat, as well as your belt and wear slip-on shoes to make it easier to get them on and off. And don’t forget the socks! As for your carry-on bag, try to keep it neat in case you get a random bag check.
- Prepare your belongings while waiting in line - While you’re stuck in line, start cleaning out your pockets and putting stuff in your carry-on. This goes for anything metallic, keys, coins, earbuds and sunglasses.
- TSA hot tip - Stick your phone in your carry-on bag and not in a bin, unless you want all those shoes touching your phone that touches your face and hands.
- Know what you can and can’t bring through security - To find out the rules for vitamins, protein powders and everything else, check the TSA website to see what can and can’t go through airport security.
As for the don’ts, they include:
- Never joke about explosives or firearms in the security line - TSA officers have a sense of humor, but this isn’t the time or place to test it.
- Don’t put your pet or child through the checkpoint X-ray unit - Take them from their carrier and walk through with your pet or kid.
- Don’t toss small items on the X-ray belt - Things like your keys, phone, boarding passes and anything else that could fall in between the conveyor belt rollers should go in your bag, a bowl or a bin.
- Don’t bring beverages to a security checkpoint - Or you’ll be that person we’ve all seen trying to chug their latte or water before they go through.
Source: USA Today
Photo: Getty Images