If you want to sail through the annoying but necessary security screening process, you need to prepare in advance. Follow our guide for incident free checkpoint screening and you'll soon be relaxing in the departure lounge.
Tidy Up Your Packing Habits
Up to the point you arrive in front of the checkpoint you're in control of how smooth or frustrating the coming screening will be. Use that time to mindfully organize carry-on luggage, wrapping cables tidily, keeping electronics and documents in separate compartments or pockets. Organization is your friend at this time, and it'll save you precious minutes when dealing with an impatient TSA official.
Organize Sensitive Electronics
Some items, laptops are an obvious example, must be removed from backpacks and carry-on luggage in order to provide checkpoint officials an unobstructed view. Think about purchasing an article of luggage that's been designed for dealing with this issue. A special laptop bag uses TSA-compliant compartment designs that unzip, lie flat, and display the computer without the need for removing it from its compartment.
Clothing Preparations
Depending on airport regulations you'll likely be required to remove your shoes, and you'll certainly have to remove any metal items before tackling the metal detector. It's a long, slow-moving line, so why not take the chance to make sure you're ready for your screening by taking off your shoes, or at least loosening your laces. Empty your pockets of loose change and keys, remove jewelry and wristwatches, and make sure your photo ID and travel documents are close at hand. Basically, prepare for anything and everything.
Simplify Where Possible
It can become painfully chaotic as you approach the front of the line. You're reduced to juggling bags and passports, trying to place your shoes and your expensive laptop on the conveyor belt, and losing touch with your possessions so that they can be x-rayed. Use all of the compartments of a backpack as intended, keeping passports and flight documents in a prominent but secure location, and mobile electronics in button-down pockets. Don't over pack. It's surprising how easy it is to become flustered in this situation, losing sight of important belongings among a sea of other items.
Always Follow Guidelines
Airlines do as much as possible to prepare you for the screening process, providing resources for efficient packing practices, guides and illustrated lists of what can and can't be taken on board an aircraft. Follow these guides, placing travel-size toiletries in transparent baggies, adhering to all regulations. Being taken aside for a TSA inspection of your baggage will cost you time that could be better spent relaxing in the lounge.
New PreCheck Programs
Changes are always in the air, but security is paramount. Still, it may be worth exploring airport websites and specific airlines for test programs where flyers can participate in a PreCheck option, a program that allows passengers to skip some of the hassle associated with airport screening.
