We should be thankful for the more stringent airport security checks we have to go through these days. They mean that we can relax on our flight knowing that it’s as safe as possible. But, even knowing this, it can be annoying spending lots of time queueing at the airport. You’re tired, bored, and you just want to get on that plane.
There are certain things you can do to make airport security checks go faster. If everyone made the effort to help speed the process along, then it would go much more smoothly.
Keep your documents handy
You’ll need your passport and boarding pass at multiple points when going through the airport, so make sure you keep them in your hand or an easily accessible pocket. You don’t want to have to spend time searching through your bag every time you need them.
Bag your liquids
The rule now is that all liquids of 100ml or under must be sealed in plastic bags – sometimes restricted to one bag per passenger. Anything over 100ml cannot be carried in your hand luggage. Airports usually have spare plastic bags for your liquids if you need them, but it’s better to prepare all of this before you start queueing. This way you can easily take the plastic bag out of your carry-on without having to spend time finding all the liquids in your bag.
Get your things ready in the queue
It’s extremely frustrating when the person in front of you gets to their tray and then starts rummaging through their bag to remove certain items. That’s a lot of wasted time. Since you’re waiting in the queue anyway, you might as well use this time to take out the items that need to be separated. This is usually all liquids and electronics. Once you reach the front of the queue, you can put all these items straight in the tray and move on more quickly.
Dress appropriately
You often have to remove your shoes and any jackets or cardigans you are wearing. Avoid wearing boots or high heels as you’re more likely to have to remove these, whereas you can sometimes keep flat shoes on. In case you do have to remove your shoes, opt for ones that are easy to slip on and off to save you time. Try not to wear lots of layers that you have to take off and then put back on.
Move on from the belt ASAP
Some people start re-packing their belongings as soon as they appear on the belt. This takes time and will hold up all the people behind you as you’re taking up space on the belt. Pick up all your belongings and move to one of the designated packing areas that should be nearby, allowing the line to keep moving.
Know the rules
You should check the rules for the airport and airline you’re travelling with so you can be prepared. As well as policies on liquids and electronics, make sure you know what items can and cannot be carried in your hand luggage. If a suspicious item is spotted when your bag is scanned, security staff will have to take more time to search your bag.
Make sure you stay up-to-date on flight times and when your check-in desk and gate open so that you’re not in a rush going through security. If you want to make sure you have reliable Wi-Fi to keep updated throughout your trip, then check out Teppy, the ultimate pocket Wi-Fi.
