Many people wonder how to get through airports fast, because they are either running late, or just dread the whole airport fiasco. These tips help with airline check-in, TSA Precheck, and how to breeze through airport security.
I used to call this article “How to Get Through the Airport in 30 Minutes or Less”. Truth be told, it usually takes me less than 15 minutes from the time I enter the airport door, clear security, and arrive at my departure gate.
Either way, I am able to breeze through airport security and get through airports fast.
Want to learn more? Read on!
How to Get Through Airports Fast
These tips work for anyone – for any size of an airport.
It helps that my local airport is a regional airport – not a large hub like Atlanta, Los Angeles, or Amsterdam.
Regardless, with minimal preparation, you can decrease the time spent getting through the airport and get to the fun stuff… whatever that means for you.
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Preparation will help save you time.
Are your flight days or departure times flexible? If so, choose a day or time that is less busy. Do your research to decide when is the best time of the day to fly. For instance, you may use a commuter airport, so mornings likely won’t be the best. If this is you, aim for a mid-day flight.
For example, we booked a flight to Panama over Thanksgiving weekend. Knowing that Sunday will be a busier travel day than Saturday for that weekend, we booked a flight for Saturday. That strategy was very successful!
If your airport has a lot of commuter traffic, it’s probably going to be busier at 6 am than at 9 am. Choosing airline flight and departure times that are less popular will help decrease the time to check luggage and get through security.
Every little bit helps when you are trying to get through the airport fast.
More tips to consider before leaving for the airport.
Transportation to and from the airport and parking are 2 very important things to get figured out prior to arriving or even heading to the airport. If you have an early flight, look into hotels close to the airport that allow you to leave a vehicle there and they shuttle you to and from the airport. That is what we like to do.
There are also ways to reserve special parking ahead of time. Some cities even have buses or trams that might take you from a cheaper parking lot right to the gate you are departing from and pick you up at your arrival gate. Stop stressing over parking and take care of it before departure day.
Will early check-in with the airlines help to get through the airport fast?
Absolutely!
Most airlines will allow flight check-in 24 hours prior to departure.
Please note some international flights do not allow early check-in because of destination visa and passport requirements.
Here are some easy check-in tips
- Check in early if at all possible. Most airlines allow check-in up to 24 hours before your scheduled flight.
- In today’s electronic era, many people choose to carry an e-boarding pass on their phones. I’m old-fashioned and don’t trust that I will have internet access wherever I’m at, so I prefer a printed boarding pass. But, you can do both just in case.
- Make sure your luggage meets airline requirements if you are checking in a bag at the airport. And, make sure to have a luggage tag on it with all your information.
- Lastly, if you qualify for priority check-in, by all means, use it!
How about some tips for airline boarding passes?
- Most airlines allow both e-boarding and paper boarding passes. Get an e-boarding pass if you prefer, but print a backup boarding pass if you have printer access or question your internet access at the airport.
- Here’s another aspect of boarding passes to consider – if your boarding gets “flagged” by TSA (or for any other reason), you will likely be required to clear additional levels of security at each layover. We were advised by airport personnel to reprint boarding passes. That seems to have worked, and I will provide updates if I have the unfortunate opportunity to check the theory.
What about checked bags?
We all know that waiting in the check-in line to check a bag is a hassle. Many airlines, especially at regional airports, will plane-side check your carry-on size bag for free. Most will check it for you all the way to your destination.
If you are able to avoid having items that required checked bags and are willing to take the risk, being open to a plane-side check is a great option. And it saves time waiting in line to check your bag. Let’s face it.
Free is good too!
What about getting through security?
I’ve got lots of tips to help with how to breeze through airport security.
- Let’s go for the obvious first. I LOVE having TSA Precheck. If you want more information about TSA Precheck, it’s best to go to the source. Having TSA precheck allows us to get into a dedicated line, not remove shoes, or remove liquids and computers from bags. In a word – Nice.
- Regardless, always be prepared to go through the full drill at Security, TSA Precheck or not. TSA agents do random checks of Precheck passengers, so being prepared will help lessen the anxiety if you are selected. Lately, I have upgraded my TSA Precheck to include Global Entry, and expect that to be a great addition for international flights.
- Now for Security itself. Regardless of your destination, at the first Security checkpoint, you will need to provide a form of identification (usually a driver’s license or passport) and your boarding pass. Have those out and ready for the officer. Have your identification open or facing upward – in other words, make it easy for them.
- Greet your Security agent warmly, and relax – take your cues from them. If they make polite conversation, respond in kind. Not being prepared, being unfriendly, not making eye contact, or being perceived as rude could delay the time required to get through the first Security touchpoint.
How to breeze through airport security
Here are more tips that will help you breeze through airport security.
- Preparation for security starts long before arrival at the airport. I don’t wear jewelry. My phone and items I want to wear during my flight are in my purse. Yes, I have been caught with a watch on, and believe me, figuring out what that Ukrainian Security guard was trying to tell me was NOT easy. I don’t wear a belt and wear shoes that are easy to slip off and on. This one is important ladies (I also learned the hard way), don’t wear those pretty blouses with metallic threads woven in. I would probably be cautious of some sequins. Metallic threads and some sequins WILL set off the scanners and slow you down. Men also shouldn’t wear a belt and empties their pockets into their carry on bag before reaching the Security checkpoint.
- Be reasonable. There are certain items that can’t go through security – no handguns, no knives, empty out your water bottle. More questions about what can’t go through security? Here is a great resource for you.
Believe it or not – here are more tips to breeze through security!
- Pack appropriately for security. I have several medication bottles that need to travel with me and I pack those into a baggie. I pull them out of my backpack before sending them through the scanner (my inhaler has set the scanner off in the past). Another thing I do is pull out my liquid bag, and make sure my computer and iPad are easily removable. I am overcautious with this tip because I put my mascara, eyeliner, and lipsticks in my liquid bag. But I would rather be cautious than have those items get thrown away and arrive at my destination without them… Seriously. It takes me less than 2 minutes to get everything off, on the scanning belt, and stand in line to get through the body scanner.
- Wait patiently to be prompted to enter the body scanner. There isn’t any discomfort, and again, it pays to be cordial, make eye contact, and remain calm.
- After clearing the body scanner, wait patiently for your items to clear the scanning belt. Be courteous to other passengers and carry your items to a nearby seat if possible. This keeps the line moving for everyone behind you. It also allows you an extra moment to organize yourself as you put things away.
- Realistically – at this point, I’ve been in the airport for about 10 minutes. Most of that has been standing in line waiting for others.
Does this always work?
With all of that being said, I broke my own cardinal rules when returning home from Ukraine.
We traveled from Ukraine to Vienna, and after a day of layover returned home to the US. I went through body scanners and security checkpoints at least 4 times and triggered the sensors each time. I thought it was a fluke with the airline…
They said my palms tested positive for residue, but frankly, I think it was my shoes. Those buggers through the WWII catacombs in Odesa and walked miles on Vienna streets.
I wore those shoes for both segments of that return home. It just didn’t occur to me that they likely had residue that was setting off the sensors.
Lesson learned. One triggered sensor may be a fluke, twice is not. An update on this tip – the third time wasn’t a fluke either. I set off the TSA scanners the next time I wore that pair of shoes to the airport. I won’t be wearing that pair of shoes to the airport anymore.
What are other tips to get through the airport fast?
You have cleared security, now is the time to put yourself back together. Put the belt on and make sure you have all your jewelry.
Make sure your ID is put back in its designated place. Double-check to make sure you have all personal items retrieved from Security.
I re-pack items in my purse after clearing security. It’s easier for me to get hand lotion and lipstick out of my purse than out of the liquid bag.
Just remember – if you are on international travel returning home, these steps will need to be reversed in preparation to return through Customs Security at home.
Find your gate. Make sure your airline phone app is working if you are using it for your boarding pass. Gates change frequently, especially if it is a busy travel day.
My favorite next step is to purchase a bottle of water and gum.
I wish those items could clear TSA security, but not so much. The gum isn’t something offered on airline flights and water… All I can say is be prepared to wait for a while. If you want snacks, beverages, or a book to read on the flight, this is a great time to pick those up. Yes, you can buy them on the plane, but while not much cheaper in the airport, they are cheaper. And you have a better selection of snacks and beverages in the airport than on the plane.
Believe it or not, I walked into my local airport, checked a bag (yes, really), went through security, and arrived at my gate in 15 minutes. Knowing how to breeze through airport security is crucial to being successful here.
It CAN be done – your destination awaits!
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