Navigating airport security can be a frustrating experience for travelers. What should be a safety measure often results in long waits that can stretch for hours. While it might seem that there’s little you can do to ease this process, there are actually several strategies available. Here are five simple methods to expedite your passage through airport security. (See also: Stuck at the Airport? Unwind With These 14 Simple Self-Care Tips)
1. Obtain TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck is a growing program that enables travelers to skip the typical security queues and undergo an expedited screening process. This means you can leave your shoes, belts, and light outerwear on, keep your liquids and laptops in your bag, and go through a regular metal detector instead of more intrusive scanners. The lines here tend to be both shorter and faster.
To enroll in PreCheck, you have two options. First, you can sign up directly through the TSA, which involves an $85 fee for a five-year membership. Alternatively, consider the Global Entry program, which offers quicker transit through immigration when you arrive in the U.S. and includes TSA PreCheck benefits. Global Entry has a $100 fee and is also valid for five years. Moreover, many credit cards provide a $100 reimbursement for the application fees associated with TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Upon approval for either program, you will receive a known traveler number that needs to be included in your airline booking for participating airlines, ensuring your boarding passes indicate access to PreCheck lanes.
2. Sign Up for Clear
Before you can start the security screening process, you must pass a TSA checkpoint for ID and boarding pass verification. Clear, a private service, utilizes biometric technology such as fingerprint and iris scans to authenticate your identity. This program enables you to skip the document check line and head straight to the x-ray machines. If you are also a PreCheck member, you can utilize that expedited line as well. Membership costs $179 per year or $15 monthly.
3. Achieve elite status with an airline
Possessing elite status with an airline grants you access to expedited security lines at numerous airports. The rationale behind this system is that airlines finance the oversight of these lines, allowing loyal customers to enjoy this benefit.
I’ve successfully accessed these lines by presenting an elite status card from any airline, irrespective of the one I’m flying with. This privilege applies to the standard security line—not the TSA PreCheck line—but it still proves advantageous. (See also: Best Airlines for Securing First or Business Class Award Seats)
4. Utilize the MyTSA App to monitor wait times
Many larger airports have several TSA checkpoints, and even some smaller ones may offer multiple options too. The MyTSA app can help you quickly identify which checkpoint has the shortest wait times. Additionally, it provides insights into when specific days are likely to be the busiest, allowing you to plan your travel experience more effectively.
5. Organize yourself prior to the checkpoint
Many travelers wait until they’re right before the metal detector to empty their pockets or disassemble their carry-on bags. To enhance your speed through security, tackle these tasks in advance. I prefer to clear my pockets and sort through my carry-on in the terminal before reaching the security area, which prevents congestion caused by others who choose to prepare at the last minute.
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