One of the most stressful parts of any trip is trying to navigate the airport. You never know how long it will take to get through security, leaving you wondering how far in advance you need to arrive. However, your airplane isn’t going to wait for you to get through security if you’re running late, so you need to do your best to get to your gate as fast as possible. If you’ve found yourself in a tough situation and need some advice on how to navigate the airport in a quick and efficient manner, here are 5 tips that could be of help.
1. Prepare For Security Checkpoints
Maybe the most important thing that you can do to save yourself some time is to prepare for the upcoming security checkpoint before you get to the front of the line. One of the things that takes people the longest is taking out all of their technology and placing it onto the security belt. Don’t be one of those people! Instead, have your laptop, phone, tablet, and any other technology in hand, ready to go. Another thing that you can do is take out your ID and passport and have it in your hand or somewhere you can easily reach it. The last thing you want to do is be fumbling with your items and holding up the line.
2. Dress the Part
Another thing that you should do is ensure that you are wearing proper attire. Though you can dress however you’d like when going to the airport, some clothing is better than others. We suggest opting for slip-on shoes rather than shoes with laces, removing your jacket ahead of time or waiting to put it on until after the security checkpoint, and avoiding wearing or carrying anything that tends to set off any alarms so your passage through security can be as smooth and efficient as possible.
3. Enroll in TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck lets you pay an annual fee to avoid the long security lines, giving you the authority to speed through a shorter security line into the screening process. Travelers who are part of TSA PreCheck also have the convenience of not having to remove their shoes, belts, or jackets, and they also don’t need to pull out their laptops and other devices from their carry-on bags. If you travel frequently, we highly recommend enrolling in TSA PreCheck as it will save you a whole lot of time while at the airport, allowing for a stress-free experience.
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4. Pack Light
If you can get away with packing only a carry-on bag, you’ll be able to navigate the airport more quickly. Instead of having to wait to check your luggage before the flight and pick it up after, you can simply hop right off the plane with your carry-on luggage, and continue your journey onto your destination without having to wait at the luggage claim carousel. Sometimes, packing light really does have its perks, especially when trying to move fast through the airport.Â
However, if you have to check in your luggage for some reason, you can still speed up the process by getting your boarding pass online before you get to the airport and then checking your luggage with the skycaps outside the airport. Something to keep in mind is that the standard tip is $1 per bag, although you’re free to tip more if you would like!
5. Check the Status of Your Flight Beforehand
Checking the status of your flight before you leave for the airport is a key way that you can save tons of time and hassle. Taking a look beforehand allows you to see if your flight is delayed or potentially cancelled. To do so, you can often sign up for alerts on the airline’s website, on your chosen airline’s mobile app, or by using tools found at sites such as TripIt.com and FlightStats.com. If you find that your flight is delayed, you can make sure that you aren’t arriving too early to the airport, but if it’s on time, you’ll at least know that you should leave at a specific time.
Some airports also allow you to check the parking lots or pre-pay for a parking space in a select area, taking care of any time-consuming parking issues. Finding a parking spot can be a huge hassle, so getting that out of the way can offer you a huge sigh of relief. If you don’t want to deal with the stress of parking at all, consider booking a ride service or taking an Uber or Lyft to the airport.
Following these tips can truly make a huge difference in your travel experience, and help you get through the airport more quickly. Another thing that can make your trip go smoothly is having the proper travel documentation. If you need a passport or visa for your upcoming international trip, we can help! Get the application process started today on our website, and our team of travel professionals will work to get your travel documents to you as soon as possible. No matter where you’re going, we’ll get you there!
