How To Get Through Airport Security

I think I have found the most efficient way to go through the airport security line.

The fact that I have perfected this little dance says something about how much travel I have done in the past year, but that’s another story.

So here is my solution to getting through the line – in this example you have a briefcase with a laptop, cellphone, jacket, roller bag, quart sized Ziploc bag with all your personal items under three ounces each. If your airport offers the “Clear” Card lane, I highly suggest spending $100 to get one and spare yourself the anxiety of waiting in line and go right up front. If you avoid one missed flight you have more than made back your investment, not to mention the peace of mind . Once you get there, here’s how to do it:

Step One: Before you get to the conveyor belt, put all your metal objects (cell phone, money clip, keys, coins, etc) in your jacket pocket. DO NOT walk through the scanner with these items, and do not use the grubby plastic cereal bowl they offer for your pocket items.

Step Two: Grab two bins.

Step Three: Strategically place items in each bin. In Bin One, you will place your shoes (slip ons, not lace ups), jacket (with all your metal and small electronics), and your Ziploc bag. The Ziploc bag goes ON TOP of your jacket so that it can be seen, and quickly grabbed to put back in your roller bag. Bin Two is for your laptop only.

Step Four: Begin with the end in mind, meaning send your stuff through in the order in which you will reassemble yourself. Bin One goes first, followed by the roller bag, briefcase, and then Bin Two with the laptop. I have observed that the security agents spend most time scanning the laptop, so you want that to go last so that you can reassemble your other items while the laptop is being scanned.

Step Five: Reassemble. Ziploc bag goes back in the roller bag, which now is ready to set down and pull. Jacket and shoes now go back on. You are wearing slip on shoes, so you don’t have to bend down to tie laces and waste time. Briefcase is ready to grab, and by now the laptop has made it through and is ready to go into the briefcase. You are ready.

Try this. I guarantee you will see the guy in front of you still putting his belt back on as you trot off to go stand in line at Starbucks for 10 minutes.

Got another way to do it? Please share!

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4 Responses to “How To Get Through Airport Security”

  1. MrSarcastic on September 22nd, 2008:

    Perhaps the single most important blog post ever written. Nothing is more frustrating than being behind the guy who has 15 bins lined up with 2 things in each.

  2. InfamousOne on September 22nd, 2008:

    Brilliant! For your next blog please tell people how to prepare by not dressing like Liberachi, carrying the coins you plan to roll and wearing the most impossible shoes to get on and off!

  3. Regis on September 22nd, 2008:

    I love the simplicity of putting things on the belt in the way you need to reassemble yourself. Getting a Clear card seems like a no-brainer too.

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