Get Through Airport Security in Half the Time

My grandmother, when she drops me off at the airport, tries to get me there no less than two hours before the plane departs. And that’s for a flight in the Continental United States. I travel with carry-on, which makes it even more difficult to understand. I’ve attempted, several times, to tell her that technically, I only need to get to the airport 15 minutes before departure if I’m not checking anything. She’ll hear nothing of it. We inevitably leave the house around 4:30 am for a 7:30 flight.

People call me the Master Packer but I think it’s because when I look at my luggage and start packing, I am considering it through the eyes of the TSA. Rather than fight the system, bemoaning the lengthy lines and “stupid” security measures, I work with them. This is how.

Step 1: Double bag your liquids

I put my liquids first in a TSA approved plastic bag. These can be bought in a six-pack at your local chain store. If the bottle contains more than 3 ounces I use one of my small Nalgene bottles to take only the amount I need. Then I take that bag and put it into this opaque Eagle Creek bag that clips to the outside of my rolling luggage (that one is intentionally opaque for aesthetic reasons). This keeps it at hand, secure (spills are less likely) and stowed so you don’t have bags slipping and falling all over the place when you get through security.

Step 2: Wear Easily Removed Shoes (Socks Aren’t Optional)

Real-Life Travel Horror Story: I saw a woman take off her flip-flops and walk barefoot through the x-ray machine.

Don’t let this happen to you.

The best travel shoes I’ve ever worn for travel are from Kangaroos. No velcro, no strings, just elastic bands that keep your feet in the shoes. Lightweight and travel-friendly (I took them off immediately after getting on the plane) in black. I wore them out in my trip across the United States & Mexico.

Step 3: Memorize Where Things Are

I use a combination of multi-colored bags, containers and folders. If you remember where things are, you don’t look like a hamster churning butter when you need to get a book out of your bag. It’s easier to memorize where things are when you take half of what you think you need and double the amount of money. An adage that I adhere to, always.

Step 4: Carry-on Only. Ever.*

The airline rules are flexible when it comes to carry-on. If you think you can’t fit everything into carry-on, you are wrong. I think the only case where this isn’t true is when you’re traveling for a year and decide to carry a full-size pack. If you have kids, teach them this rule young. It’s a fun challenge to fit your life for the next two weeks to six months in a suitcase.

Why only carry-on?

Primarily because if you have both eyes on it, it’s less likely to disappear. All the good packing in the world doesn’t keep that bag from disappearing during transit. With something like 20% of bags “lost” a year, you’re better off taking only the essentials with you at all times. Divide them between a wheeled bag (maximum for an overhead bin is 24″) and a large tote or briefcase for electronics/work. Ship things, store them with friends or learn the art of simplicity. Carry-on only is my number one travel belief and mantra. It’s a lifestyle. And nobody ever said it was going to be easy.

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*I wrote this as I was leaving LGA (La Guardia) airport today and had to check a bag through to RDU because my house burned down and the contents of what was left were in my checked bag. This is a rare occasion and I was loathe to check that bag, but I did. When it arrived in RDU it was missing a wheel. The whole thing, wheel and all accompanying parts, making it impossible to repair–whacked clean off by a baggage handler. I went to the claims department to ask about it and the woman said immediately upon my entrance: if it’s a wheel, we don’t cover it. She coughed up a $25 voucher good for any future US Airways flight and blithely apologized as I gimped my way out the doorway to arrivals.  That’s the last time I check a bag.