How to Get through Airport Security. Shorten your time in the security line with these
tips. You will need Conformity with airport security rules A travel vest Slip-on shoes
A layered carry-on and a registered traveler id card. Step 1. Log on to the Transportation
Security Administration’s website, www.tsa.gov. In the section “For Travelers,”
click on “Air Travel” and then “Wait Times.” Plug in your travel
information. You’ll be given the approximate security line wait time for your airport,
helping you to plan accordingly. Step 2. Know the basics. Place gels or liquids (other than
breast milk, baby formula, and medicine) in 3-ounce (or smaller) bottles. and put those
into a clear, self-sealing, one-quart plastic bag. Remove body piercings, belts, change,
and your watch ahead of time. Never carry anything that could be used as a weapon, like
a hammer or a baseball bat. Gel shoe inserts are not allowed. Step 3. Fashion be damned!
Comfort before fashion: wear a special travel, safari, or photographer’s vest that
features interior pockets for all your electronics. Sport some slip-on shoes so you don’t
fumble with laces when removing them. That way, all you have to do is remove your jacket
and shoes, put them in a bin, and you’re all set. Step 4. If you’re carrying
a laptop, turn it on and put it to sleep before you get in line. Security personnel conduct
spot checks to ensure that a computer is really a computer, and having to wait for yours to
boot could slow you way down. Step 5. Whenever possible, book flights that leave between
10 a.m. and 2 p.m. That’s when the fewest flights depart, so lines will be shorter.
Step 6. Don’t assume that the shortest line will be the quickest one. Avoid getting
behind families with small children, elderly people, and anyone who looks like a novice.
Pick the line with the travelers that look the most seasoned, like business people. For
the shortest line, go to the left. Most people instinctively veer to the right. Step 7. Pack
your carry-on bag in layers — a layer of clothing, then electronics, then another
layer of clothes, topped by heavier items like shoes. This helps security officers see
what’s in your bag. If it’s a jumbled mess, you might have to wait for a
time-consuming hand search. Step 8. Pay $128 a year to become a registered traveler. Companies
like Clear (FlyClear.com) & Flo (FloCard.com) take your biometric information (like fingerprints
and iris images) & have a background check performed on you. If you pass, you’re
issued an ID card that allows you to sail through special security lines at participating
airports. Did you know The Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, was formed
after September 11, 2001, and now employs roughly 50,000 people.