Depending on the airport, time of day, time of year, and, of course, whether or not you have TSA PreCheck, your visit to the TSA security checkpoint can be as short as 3 to 5 minutes or as long as an hour or more.
There are a few things you can do before you even get to the airport to help you get through the line as quickly as possible. But some activities you do once you’re AT the airport can also affect how long it takes you to get through the security checkpoint.
We’re going to go through both.
Before you get to the airport
Double check your belongings
If you want to avoid the possibility of having your carry-on bag hand-checked, follow these warnings:
The Department of Homeland Security has a (really long) list of items you can’t bring in your carry-on bag. Study it and make sure you don’t have any of them, because even the most well-traveled person (like this embarrassed guy) sometimes forgets. And sometimes people are stopped for the most bizarre things they have with them, or stuff one would think is absolutely harmless. Others wind up getting stopped for things they’re absolutely allowed to have, but still sometimes set off the scanners anyway.
Take heed of what you’re wearing
It’s not just what you carry with you that can set off the scanners and delay your trip through the checkpoint; you’ll be looking at a pat-down. It can even be what you’re wearing.
People who seem to “always” set off the scanners have been warned that it might be what they’re wearing. Others, their fellow travelers have jokingly warned, will get “the pat-down of your life” if they wear specific clothing.
…Or what you’ve touched
And don’t forget that what you handle or use can put you at more risk for being stopped and swabbed.
Get TSA PreCheck
This one is a no-brainer for those who already have TSA PreCheck, but if you don’t have this trusted traveler membership, and if there’s still enough time before your next flight, you might want to consider getting it.
Granted, TSA PreCheck isn’t for everyone. I mean, if you don’t fly very often, you really may want to consider the price of getting PreCheck vs. how often it’s going to be used, and if saving yourself a couple of hours at TSA over the course of 5 years is worth the cost.
Also – if you have any intention of traveling internationally in the next 5 years, maybe consider getting Global Entry instead. It costs a little more, and it’s a little more of a pain to get, but it makes returning to the U.S. a whole lot easier/faster, too.
Make sure you have a Real ID
After I don’t even remember how many years of delays, having identification that’s Real ID compliant is finally live. And after a short grace period, the government is going to start REALLY punishing you if you try to fly and don’t have a REAL ID – you’re going to have to pay $45 for the privilege of them vetting you at the TSA security checkpoint.
So if you want to get through the checkpoint quickly and not be $45 poorer, make sure you have a Real ID.
Once you’re at the airport
Prepare to go through the checkpoint
If you don’t travel often, or if you’ve just gotten a brand-spanking-new TSA PreCheck membership, you’ll probably want to give yourself a refresher on what you need to do to get through the checkpoint.
- Empty those pockets! (here’s a sneaky way to do it)
- Everyone’s shoes can stay on now, but you should know what kind of electronics, snacks, etc. can stay in your bag vs. not (depending on your PreCheck status)
Stay to the left
Research in psychology and wayfinding shows that when people are given a symmetrical left-or-right choice, most — particularly in left-to-right reading cultures — tend to favor the right-hand option. So theoretically (albeit not always, of course), if you choose a queue to the left, the line will be shorter. This has been known to work in museums, theme parks and, yep, airports.
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