Proceeding Quickly Through the Airport Security Checkpoint
When walking toward any airport security checkpoint, anxiety can hit, making the security experience more challenging than it already is.
In fact, the security process can be so stressful that if I don’t follow an organized routine, my security experience can be a minor disaster.
So, with many of us hoping to travel soon, I thought I’d share what has helped us proceed quickly through airport security.
Arrive at the Airport Three to Four Hours Early
It’s ironic that in order to proceed quickly through airport security, we need to give ourselves a lot of time at the airport.
Yet, after some of our hapless airport adventures, that extra time means we don’t feel rushed, especially if something goes awry.
Arriving three hours early is sometimes barely enough time to get through security and on to our gate. Four hours definitely allows for some food and relaxation time.
It goes like this:
a few days ahead of time, my luggage is already packed how I need my luggage to be packed to help create a smoother airport security experience
an Uber usually drops us off at our departure terminal
I gather a paper boarding pass (to avoid having to find, swipe, or hand over my phone, or run down its battery, as I’m not swift with that in the midst of chaos)
if I’m traveling with a bag that will be checked, I drop it off as soon as allowed (which is sometimes earlier than noted on the boards)
Before Proceeding Toward Security
Next, I pull off to a quiet corner before we actually head toward security. This is where I prepare myself to go through security.
It calms me to prepare myself in a location where I can quietly focus, without being rushed or distracted.
And though I’m approved to expedite through security, those lanes are not always open when I’m at the airport, and they do not follow predictable procedures.
It’s just easier for me to be fully prepared, ahead of time, for anything:
I pull my large tote bag out of my backpack
I place my backpack and my personal bag inside my large tote
I leave my phone turned off and zipped up, securely in my personal bag, even if we’re asked to keep phones out, as there’s too much theft during the security process for me to handle it differently; this has never been an issue, and if it became an issue, my phone could be manually checked
I leave my camera body turned off and detached from its two lenses, all three zipped up securely in my backpack for the same reasons as my phone above; again, this has never been an issue, and if it became an issue, these could be removed for a manual check or re-scanned
I remove anything from my body that’s not allowed to go through security on my body, and toss them in my tote bag
hats
scarves
jewelry
watches
belts
anything in pockets
sweaters
jackets
I loosen my shoe straps, so they’ll come off quickly if I’m asked
I pull these out and place them loosely in my tote, ready to grab for security:
passport (only kept here during boarding)
boarding pass (only kept here during boarding)
footies (to walk through security; in linen zipper sack)
eco handy wipes
311 liquids bag
laptop
While Proceeding Through Security
The security line is where I usually have to show my boarding pass and passport:
I quickly pull them from my tote bag to show to airport security
I slip them back inside my tote bag (for their next use, at the airline gate)
I then pull out two security bins, keeping one hand on both bins at all times while I unload:
I place my tote bag in the first bin (closest to the conveyor belt) and while holding onto it…
I place my liquids in that bin, away from the tote
I place my small laptop in the second bin (farthest from the conveyor belt)
if I’m asked to remove my shoes, I place them last, on the conveyor belt
if I want to wear footies, this is where I put them on
I also like to tie the handles of my tote bag together, to deter theft
I hold onto my bins as long as legitimately possible, so they don’t go through security too long before I do, especially if lines are backed up.
Again, there’s just been too much theft during the security process, with nobody taking responsibility, to handle this differently.
Taking my shoes off last, while keeping a hand on my bins, usually makes my pace justifiable (as if I might still be adding items to the bins).
It helps to choose a calm pace, even if another wants me to be quick, as there’s nowhere for any of us to go when the lines are backed up.
As soon as I see that it’s clear (or clearer) for me to proceed, I let my bins go down the conveyor belt.
I keep an eye on all of my bins the entire time I go through security. The more obvious I am about this, the better.
Once I’ve cleared security, I immediately make my way to my bins on the other side of security. Usually, there are people in the way.
This is one time I don’t worry about who is where and whether or not it’s okay for me to proceed (unless they're elders or need special help, of course).
I just humbly and nimbly tiptoe forth, walking through the crowd.
Again, this is due to airport security not being responsible for any theft that occurs, so it’s really my responsibility to keep my things secure.
I keep an eye on my laptop as I place my tote bag on my shoulders
I keep watching my laptop as I grab my liquids bag
I quickly grab my laptop
If I had to remove shoes, I grab those last
I try to go through security before my boyfriend, as he has far more gear. This allows me to keep an eye on his things, too, since he is often pulled aside at security, which delays him from swiftly collecting his items. So, at this point, I stand there holding my things (while watching his things) as I wait for him to clear security.
After Security
Once our things are in our hands, I tiptoe to the nearest vacant table/chair to relax as I do a little sanitizing wipe-down and organization.
I place my 311 liquids bag and laptop on the table/chair
I pull out my handy wipes
I quickly wipe down my liquids bag, laptop, and hands
I place my laptop inside my backpack and zip it up
I place my liquids bag inside my personal bag and zip it up
I keep my passport and boarding pass in my tote (after boarding the plane, they go into my wallet)
I leave my handy wipes in my tote (easily accessible during the flight)
I take my footies off, flipping them inside out (without touching their dirty soles), place them inside their small linen zipper sack, which stays in my tote (in case they’re needed again), as I put my shoes on
As soon as we and our bags are ready to go, my priority is to eat and relax (or buy healthy airport food to bring on the plane).
Fortunately, there are more and more gluten-free vegan options available inside airports nowadays.
To find our gate, which can change more than once before the flight, we keep an eye on the reader board and hustle to our location.
About twenty minutes before boarding, we make one last trip to the restroom and hope we’ll sleep through the entire flight.