Ever since homeland security has become such an issue,
moving through airport security has become more difficult. As a seasoned business traveler, this part of
your business trip requires some savvy preparation and your knowledge of the system
so you can sail through security at the airport as quickly as possible. But the ability to navigate airport security quickly
is not something that comes easy or without some significant planning and
training.
The biggest problem of getting through security is not you,
it’s the other people who did not come prepared for this process. If you get stuck behind someone who is
completely stumped by what is expected of them, it can take forever to get
through the system. So the first
priority is to hit airport security when the crowds are low. The easiest way to accomplish this is to take
the first flight of the day out of that airline. This will be the time when there are fewer
people in the airport than anytime of the day.
Usually it is only business travelers who are at the airport
at six a.m. so they will be the ones that already know how to handle security
and the lines will move much more quickly.
Like them, you have already learned the most recent rules about what
will pass through security and what will get you stopped. You will need your driver’s license and
boarding pass several times as you move through the process. So have that out early on and ready to show
it often. Don’t put that information
away until you are on the other side of security and ready to go to the
gate. That one-step alone moves you
along quickly through the different checkpoints of airport security.
Usually airport security uses a queuing system to handle the
crowds. That means that usually it is
one long line moving up to the gates and then that line splits into several
gates where various teams work the travelers through the scanning
stations. As you are standing in line to
go through the gates, keep an eye on the different stations. Some stations will stop more people or their
equipment is too sensitive so it is moving slower. You may notice that a new team has arrived
and is preparing to open a new station.
With a bit of maneuvering in line, you can hit that new station as it
opens and move through fast before the lines accumulate there.
This is also a place to do a bit of profiling. While it is not ok for police to profile, you
can look over the people ahead of you and profile those who will either be
detained for scanning or will be a big problem when they are ready to put their
stuff on the belts. Certain ethnic
groups might get scanned more often. It’s
sad but true. We all want racial
equality but if you can avoid being behind that person, you might get through
security faster. Also, avoid “amateur
travelers” who have lots of kids, the elderly, people in wheelchairs or anyone
who looks like they are confused by this process. You can be a hero and help someone out if you
have plenty of time. But as the lines
split up to go to the different stations, you can simply avoid being behind
people who will slow up the process and go to the fast lines to get through
more efficiently.
You can cut down on how much you get scanned before you get
to the airport. Wear slip-on shoes that
you can get off quickly and back on quickly.
Boots and tie shoes just slow you down.
Keep the amount of “stuff” you are carrying through security to a
minimum. Put your wallet, keys and other
pocket material in your briefcase or purse before you even get in line. In that way you are down to shoes and that
item to move through security and you can move more quickly.
These tricks of the trade can make the beginning of your
business trip much less of a problem and get you to the gate more quickly. The security personnel will appreciate that
you know what you are doing and you will reduce your stress and move along to
your business goals with less anxiety and a greater focus on your objectives.
