'Tis the season for overcrowded airports and higher than normal levels of travel related stress. Airport security measures can seem awfully grinchy but there are things you can do to ease the pain. Here are five tips for sashaying through airport security.
1. The readiness is all: Don't be that annoying diva digging through a junky purse looking for your photo ID. Make sure your ID is readily accessible and valid - an expired ID card can slow you down if you get a persnickety agent. Also, even in this age of e-tickets, it is always advisable to print out your confirmation.
2. Get on the right line: Just in time for the holidays, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has established family lanes at every airport in the U.S. for travelers that need extra time, such as those traveling with small children. Do not mistakenly get in this line if you are traveling solo. Opt for the faster moving Expert or Casual traveler lane if it is available.
3. Leave the thigh high lace up boots in your bag: My least favorite part of the security process is taking off my shoes. However, you can get this indignity over with quickly by wearing shoes that slip on and off with ease. And, if you're not wearing hosiery, please make sure your tootsies look cute. Ok, a pedicure isn't a security requirement but do you really want to be known as the girl at security with the jacked up feet? Also, avoid setting off the metal detector with belt buckles and heavy jewelry. 4. Keep it Neat: Once your bag goes through the X-ray machine, the screener has a short window of time to determine if anything in your luggage looks suspicious. Try to pack things in layers so that they can be quickly identified. Innocent items, like the cords from your hair dryer and flat iron, can look ominous if they get all tangled up.
5. Smile: I've come to realize that the TSA screeners are in a no-win situation: they are dealing with people in a hurry and are required to enforce rules that don't often make sense. (Really, my lip gloss is a threat?) Although some of the screeners aren't the friendliest of folks, I still make sure to smile and say how are you. After all travel is about connecting with people - don't ignore the ones you meet along the way.
Visit the Transportation Security Administration website for more security tips.
