Flightster
The Frequent Traveler’s Guide to Traveling Better
- by Srinivas Rao
- on December 20th, 2010
- 31 Comments
Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Eric Pratum. Eric Pratum is the social marketing strategist at the nonprofit marketing agency, Grizzard Communications Group. Find him on his smart marketing blog or, even better, say hi on Twitter.
Just a few months back, I had an experience that opened my eyes to how frequent business travelers handle heightened TSA security, long lines, flight delays, and more. Having rushed to the airport after a client meeting that went too long, we hurriedly printed our boarding passes, went through security, and made it to our plane just before its doors were closed. If it had been just my boss, he actually would have made it with minutes to spare. Why? He travels so often that he’s figured out how to get through security as if he’s moving at light speed by only traveling with necessary items that are security friendly. With that, I give you the frequent traveler’s guide to traveling better:
- No hats. Studies* have shown that people in hats get targeted by TSA for “enhanced screening” more often than not. I don’t know about you, but “enhanced screening” evokes an image of water boarding, no? This is something that I would prefer to avoid.
- Easy on and off jacket with pockets. The pockets are crucial for you to put your keys, wallet, and whatever else you carry in your pants pockets in. I notice that most people don’t run into trouble getting their jackets on and off, but they rarely put the contents of their pants pockets into their jackets in advance.
- Snapping watch band. No leather or plastic bands, ladies and gentlemen. Snapping bands are easy on and easy off, so if you wear a watch, get one that snaps. If you don’t believe that this will save time and hassle, think off all of the people burning holes in your back with their eyes as you fumble with getting everything else off in addition to a watch band that suddenly won’t cooperate.
- Non-metallic belt. No metal means you don’t have to take it off. Gentlemen, if you like to wear your pants loose, not having to remove your belt will save the rest of us from possibly seeing your drawers. Thank you very much. [CC photo from
- Pants that fit. Loose pants to TSA are like pieces of bacon to dogs and redditors. One look at those, and their hands will be all over you. Save time and personal space by wearing pants that fit.
- Slip on shoes. And, I mean real slip ons. Not the kind you have to grab the strap on the back, ladies. Gentleman, no boots or anything else. Get yourself some Eccos, Kenneth Coles, or some other decent shoe that slips on. You’ll save yourself a ton of time.
- iPad. Sure, you might not be an Apple fan boy, but tablets, much like phones, do not have moving parts and therefore do not have to come out of bags…if you’re carrying one, that is. Leave the iPad in your bag or just throw it in the bin with your jacket.
- Timbuk2 Command Messenger bag (if you carry a bag). Bags are not at all necessary if you’re on a day trip, so really consider whether you bring one with or not. The advantage of the Timbuk2 Command Messenger bag and other similar bags is that the laptop portion unzips from the rest of the bag so you don’t actually have to remove your laptop from the bag when you go through security. Doing this increases your speed through security and your ability to keep track of your laptop since it never leaves your bag.
- A priority pass. Sometimes, this doesn’t save you much time, but that’s only when the line at security is short. When it’s long, as it almost always is here in Atlanta, you skip right to the front by using the priority lane. You can easily get a priority pass by signing up for the right credit card or just being a frequent traveler and getting this as a status upgrade.
How to get through security faster:
- Print your boarding pass from home or the office.
- If your airport has a security section that most people think is only for one airline, go there. It doesn’t matter whether you’re flying that airline or not. You’ll get through faster and your wait will probably be shorter. In Atlanta, there’s a security area that a lot of people seem to think is only for people flying Delta. It’s not. It just happens to be near the Delta baggage drop. I go there every time and breeze through.
- Put everything from your pants pockets except for your ID and boarding pass in your jacket or bag and take it off. Unzip the laptop portion from your bag if you’re carrying one.
- Once you’re past the ID check, take off your shoes and carry them to the belt.
- If people are backed up behind someone who has to unload items into 15 different bins, walk to the front of the line, up by the X-ray machines, toss your things on the belt (or in a bin if you need one), and walk through.
Getting through security faster and more easily is really a matter of being ready for security and being prepared to bypass slow people. A lot of people question whether they should wait for that slow person, but from experience and because I’ve been in a rush more than once, security won’t mind if you walk right by a slow person. In fact, they will probably prefer it.
What tips do you have to make traveling easier and getting through security faster? Has there been anything that you’ve found that has saved you a lot of hassle?
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Eric, THANK YOU for spreading the word on how to get through security FAST! If people just stopped fussing about security and followed instructions, I can’t tell you how quickly, how swiftly, how efficiently I now go through security with all my luggage – because I never check luggage in – and all electronics, toiletries, what have you? It’s so simple but oh my goodness, when you get stuck behind someone who has no clue. The other month, a woman put a coke bottle in her boots!!! I was wondering if she has lived in a cave in the last 2-3 years since we passed the “no large bottles of liquids past security…” law but I digress, don’t I? Hey, thanks again for the tips!
Thanks, Farnoosh. I totally agree. The people that seem to have just fallen off the turnip truck are really puzzling. I mean, even if you don’t fly often and don’t travel light, you still see the evening news, newspapers, radio, etc where they say that security is tight and you can’t do XYZ, right?
I get stares now and then when I walk around people, but I’m always courteous. I wait to see if it’s just 2 seconds that a person needs or if the whole line is held up because they’re taking out 2 laptops, 14 pieces of jewelry, grabbing a different bin for every item, oh wait their belt is metal, and so on.
Nice! Now we just need everyone who travels to read this post!! I just can’t get over how hard it is for some people to get it together in the security line. I like the idea of a jacket with pockets. I usually just put everything, (my belt, jewelry, change) in my bag ahead of time, but the jacket sounds like it might be a better plan.
Thanks, Christy. Totally agree. It seems like the near dis-robing and re-robing at security comes as a surprise to some people, and we all get to wait while they get ready
Eric,
Thanks so much for a very informative and useful guest post. While I’m not on globehopping as much as I’d like to be at the current time, I will be sure to print this out next time I travel anywhere.
Thanks, Srini. I’m really happy to have been able to post here. Thanks a million,
Maybe security doesn’t mind, but the “slow people” might be a little upset.
Hey, Angela.
You make a good point. I can understand if someone is miffed by being passed up. However, if I move more quickly and in no way slow them down, I doubt that I’m doing anything more than potentially chipping away at their own self-image of being quick and efficient through security. If that ultimately is a problem, I think we should all find it difficult to pass slower cars on the highway, walk around strolling couples in the park, or otherwise move around slower moving objects in our path.
I definitely do not want to upset anyone, and I hope slower moving people would be equally happy to not impede someone, who could be in a legitimate hurry.
so? What are they going to do about it?
I’m a pretty frequent traveller (10-15 times a year), and I agree with most of the tips. I’ve seen people having to go through the X-ray more than 4 times before they “passed”. Even if I carry multiple bags through security, I never hold up the line. However, cutting in front of others who haven’t “cracked the code” is simply rude. Have you ever thought of getting to the airport a little earlier so you aren’t rushing and helping these people out if they need a hand?
Hey, Tara. I definitely don’t want to give you the impression that I’m flying by people with little concern for their feelings. Each and every time, I wait to see if it’s just a few seconds delay or if it’s really 20 people standing behind someone unloading everything and the kitchen sink without at least saying to some people, “Please go ahead. I’m going to be a minute.” If it is the case though that a whole line of people is quietly waiting behind a slowpoke (while probably wondering if they should go around them), I do.
For cross-border trips there are also enhanced customs and security programs. These allow you to bypass customs from international destinations into the U.S. and for travel between the US and Canada without ever saying a word to a human being. In Canada, the program is called Nexus, in Canada it is called Sentri. There are also fast security clearance lanes that also allow you to use these cards, so you get a 2-for-1 speed up for international travel!
Hey, Steve. You know, I’ve encountered Nexus cards for cross-border car trips since I used to live on the border, but had no idea those were also good for air travel. Good to know. Thanks!
Sorry, I meant “In the U.S. the program is called Sentri”
Great article! I agree with the “pants that fit” suggestion, and for women it should also apply to dresses. Dresses seem to require additional TSA security checks more times than not.
Thanks, Ann. Very good point. I guess that I see women traveling in dresses so infrequently that it didn’t come to mind, but now that you mention it, I could definitely see how TSA would focus on them.
Sentri Pass is for crossing the mexican border either way. Nexus is for crossing the Canadian border either way.
A clarification: TSA agents have been asking people to remove their belts, metal or not – something I’ve noticed over the past couple months of frequent travel.
Today was the first time I’ve been asked to remove my belt. I asked why. The agent said, “Because you’re going through the scanner.” Incidentally, I said, “No, I’m not.”
And in Europe it’s been policy for years. No belts of any kind, which sometimes gets “interesting” if you’re wearing pants that have what looks like a belt attached permanently (not my kind of thing, but cargo style pants can be handy when travelling, lots of pockets, just a pain with airport “security”).
Thanks. I am traveling from Saudi to Amman, then Amman to Chicago, and then on to Phoenix tomorrow! I live here and my family is home in the States, so I travel a couple of times a year internationally. I usually have my little zip lock bag of stuff. I also usually wear my athletic shoes. I decided this trip to wear these zip up boots I have. They are comfortable, will protect my toes, and I can get them on and off easily. Coming home from the middle east, I am SURE that I am going to encounter a lot of scrutiny especially since it’s Christmas. I will be thinking about all of this more as I pack today thanks to your article!
While I only travel once or twice a year, I have my own simple rules to get through security: entertainment items need to fit in a soft sided “briefcase” that has a should strap; keep a gallon size zip-loc baggie in that briefcase and put your keys, phone, pen, watch, change, any other pocket item (except ID and boarding pass) in that baggie and then toss it in the briefcase. If your wallet has papers, etc which are not in a slot, keep a rubber band in the baggie to keep the wallet closed.
Sounds like you’ve got things locked down. Nice to hear, Jim.
Eric, just read your response…turnip truck, hilarious. Gonna borrow that from you. Thanks for the laughs here!!
Good thoughts–especially about passing people. One correction, iPads and laptops needs to come out because they are so dense and NOT because of moving parts. An X-Ray cannot see ‘through’ a laptop if it is left in a bag–that’s why they make a big deal to remove it and have it ride separately.
Well, what do you know, you’re right: http://www.slate.com/id/2130910/. I never get asked to take the laptop out of the bag since the laptop section of my bag lays flat and mostly separate from the bag, making it so they get an unimpeded look through it. I have yet to get asked to take my iPad out though.
Thank you. I don’t think it’s rude to move ahead while everyone else is befuddled what to do, as long as one prepared to move quickly through, Think of it as helping the people behind you move faster too. A topic you could expand on is if one is travelling with others, is to make sure they are prepared. I was checking through security at our small airport (before 911 days) and a lady’s son had put a mini-sumurai sword with a six-inch blade into his carry-on. His mother’s jaw dropped open, “Where did you get that?” “I forgot to put it in the other bag….” but aside from weaponry, kids need to be practiced on what to expect on their travel adventure.
I travel with a lot of camera equipment, I ALWAYS get singled out for extra checks.
Maybe it’s the long lenses, spare batteries, and other tube shapes.
Last several times they pulled out all the stops. Wanding me, wanding the bag, patting me down several times, emptying everything, swapping half my posessions for the bombsniffer machines, etc. etc.
Of course there’s never anything to find, just seems they’re singling out people with expensive stuff out of envy.
Ha! Sorry for laughing, but yes, that would be quite frustrating.
I would politely ask the person ahead of me if they mind if I step in front. They will likely say no, go right ahead. This gives others behind you the license to follow taking the pressure off of the less experienced traveler. I see so much rudeness in traveling today and it doesn’t have to be that way. Just handle this situation correctly upfront eliminates the idea of rudeness by stepping in front of someone.
Great article!
I have to admit I chuckled at the placement of tips 4 and 5. “If you wear like wearing loose pants, wear a non metallic belt.” Next tip: “Don’t wear loose pants”. (provided for those who don’t feel like scrolling up).
Not a criticism at all, just a comment from someone easily amused. Great tips, I never think to put crap in my jacket pockets, definitely doing that next time.
-Wayne