Speed Through Airport Security With These Easy Tips

[[Airport Security | Airport security]] often channels passengers into lanes that separate expert and casual travelers. Wondering how to adopt the experts’ time-saving measures and put yourself in the fast lane? Here are tips for speeding through airport security:

Wear Slip-On Shoes
Life is easier when you don’t have to wrestle with laces while balancing on one foot in a moving line. Wear slip-on or otherwise easy-to-remove (and replace) shoes and you’ll speed things up on both ends of the checkpoint.

Shed Bulky Clothing
Remember to take off your jacket, sweaters, and sweatshirts and put them on the conveyor belt with your carry-ons.

Follow the Carry-On Rules
Keep your liquid toiletries under the three-ounce maximum, storing them in a single plastic quart bag that you remove from your carry-on so it can be X-rayed separately. Remember to take your laptop out of its bag. And check [[Airport_Security#Blacklisted_items | online]] before leaving home to verify you haven’t packed items that screeners will confiscate.

Remove Your Metal
If you wear items likely to set off the metal detector, bring your own clear plastic bag and unload your booty (jewelry, belts, etc.) while you’re waiting in line, then just drop it all into the dish provided by security. This goes for asthma inhalers and similar medical devices, too. You can also put pocket items such as cell phones and coins into your carry-on for safekeeping.

Hang on to Your Boarding Pass
Your boarding pass and identification should be in your hand as you walk through the detector, so don’t lose track of it in the bustle of preparations.

Have more ideas for minimizing delays at airport security? Share your travel strategies in the comments box below.