Time- and Energy-Saving Tips for Your Next Trip to the Airport

With all the new rules at the airports these days, getting from your house to the plane can seem like a major hassle. If you follow these tips, you can more easily board a plane without any minor delays along the way.

Packing: Saving Time at the Airport by Spending More Time Packing at Home

Tip #1 Pack Early: I know people who don't start packing until the day before their flight leaves. This is no good if you want to make it through the airport quickly and with little hassle. Packing quickly can lead to bringing much more than you need and lead to you having to pay hire prices for luggage since you might end up bringing more than you would have if you really thought it through.

Tip #2 Pack Light: If you start packing early, it's much easier to pack light because you have the time to think about each item you planned to bring and ask yourself "do I really need this?" With airlines charging per bag now, and with there being weight limitations on the bag you are allowed to bring, it's best to concentrate on only bringing what you REALLY NEED in order to minimize luggage weight and the number of bags you need. In Addition to packing light, you should weigh your luggage, once packed to make sure it is at least 10-20 lbs under the airlines regulations. The left over 10-20 lbs can be used for souvenirs on the way back.

Tip #3 Pack "Outfits": If you pack "outfits" instead of individual clothing items, you'll find it much easier to pack light. I like to make a schedule for the vacation week, and decide what I need for each day. If I end up needing 2 dresses, 2 short outfits and 2 pant outfits, I pick out what I'm going to wear for each occasion and pack that first. I then pack a few backup shirts or shorts, but not many. If you determine ahead of time what you will be wearing each day, you won't have to pack as many optional clothes.

Tip #4 Organize your Carry On: Don't just toss everything into your carry on hap-haphazardly. The carry on is now one of the biggest things airlines review before letting you on the plane. Instead, organize it so everything is in its place and therefore easy for security to review. Make sure it's quick and easy to get your laptop out as well, as that is now a requirement of travel.

Tip #5 Don't pack liquids/gels in your Carry On unless ABSOLUTELY necessary: If you have a checked bag, there should be no reason you need to carry on your shampoo. Anything that you don't need with you on the plane, or you can live without for up to 24 hours, should be packed in your checked bag. Why bother doing the 3oz/1bag thing and having to take it out to show them? It's much much quicker and easier to proceed through security if you have NO liquids. I don't even carry chapstick on the plane.

Tip #6 Divide Electronics amongst all Carry Ons: Take my word for it, if you have too many plugs, cameras, batteries, etc in your bag, it will take longer to go through security. They always ended up scanning my bag 2-3 times before letting me continue. I guess all those cords look bad! Last time we went on a plane, I gave my husband half the cords for his carry on and we got through with no double-checks. If you have a camera, cell phone, laptop and all of the associated charging cords, divide it up.

Tip #7 Create an Important Docs Folder for your Carry On: Finally, when packing you should designate an area or a folder that will hold your tickets, passports, id, etc. This should be in an easily accessible location so that those docs are ready to go whenever you need them.

Checking In: Starts at Home and Ends with Ease

Tip #1 Check in Online: Obviously this saves time and energy as you already have your seats and all you need to do at the airport is check your bags.

Tip #2 Use the Self Service Check In: Once you arrive at the airport, use the self service check in to print your tickets. You'll avoid waiting in a line of 20 people and, once again, you'll only have to talk to someone to check your bags. Other than that, it's smooth sailing and much quicker than the alternative.

Tip #3 View The Airport Maps at home: I like to view the airport maps on my computer, if possible, prior to going to the airport. Not only does it make it easier to know where I need to be dropped off, but it also helps me learn where all the gates are. Then when I go to the airport and find out my gate, I usually already know exactly where I need to go.

Tip #4: Separate Future Tickets from Current: I've just noticed that a lot of people do not do this. If you have connecting flights and you are given 2 tickets at check in, you should instantly put the 2nd ticket in your "important docs" folder. The security ONLY needs to see your current flight and you don't need to be holding on to all your tickets.

Getting Through Security: One of Traveler's Biggest Complaints made easier

Tip #1 Wear Slip on Shoes: You would think this would be obvious by now, but I've been stuck behind various people trying to untie their shoes, so obviously it's not obvious! Yes the security makes you remove your shoes, so why not wear something that you can slip on and off easily? Save time in line by having shoes that are easily removed, and save time after the line because the shoes can then easily be slipped back on.

Tip #2 Don't Wear Metal: I mean no metal at all.. no belt, no jewelry, nothing that even remotely MIGHT make the thing beep. My husband wore a belt for our first trip, and had to take it off, and from then on decided he would not wear a belt to the airport. If you reallllly need one, throw it in your carry on and you can put it on after you are through security. Don't wear metal just to coordinate your outfit, this is security, not a fashion show, so keep it simple.

Tip #3 Keep keys, cell phone, etc in your Carry On: After you get through check in, throw anything you have in your pockets, including your wallet, into your Carry On. I even store my entire purse in my Carry On. There is no need to carry this on your person at this point AND it will save you loads of time as you won't have to empty your pockets at security. Plus you won't have to worry about losing anything or forgetting something after you go through.

Tip #4 Have your ID and Ticket Handy: Don't be one of those people who has to pull out their wallet to show their ID. Keep your ID handy, with your ticket, until you are completely sure you never have to show it again. Also, have each adult carry their own ticket with their own id. Security doesn't check tickets in group like they do at a ballpark.

Tip #5 Pay Attention to the Monitors: As you wait in line, there are generally monitors or announcements stating the current security rules. This is how I learned I had to take my laptop out. Read these rules while you wait in line and be prepared to follow the rules. Save the chit-chatting for later, pay attention to the rules and be ready to get through security to save yourself some hassle.

Getting to the Gate

Tip #1 Don't dilly-dally: If you looked up the airport map as suggested above, you should already know kind of where your gate is. If not, find the nearest airport map or arrows and head there right away. This is especially important in a new airport as it may be much bigger than you expect. In Atlanta, we had to take an underground train to our gate that took about 10 minutes (not counting the time it took to walk there). Find your gate as fast as you can so that you KNOW you are there on time.

Tip #2 Eat Breakfast, Lunch or Snack: I usually skip meals and wait until I get to the airport, and have found my gate, to eat. I scope out the restaurants available in the area closest to my gate and use that as my meal. That way you can get to the airport EARLIER and save time by not getting stuck eating at home or on the way. Airports have lots of options now, so you have almost no excuse not to wait until you get there (even if it is a little pricey).

Tip #3 Read the Announcements: Don't just find your gate #, sit down, and wait. Instead, read the announcements on the screens by the gate. There have been a few times where we found our gate and there was a note on the screen saying we had to go to a different gate for our flight. Keep your eyes open and be sure all the information on the screen matches your ticket before settling in.

Tip #4 Stand up and STRETCH: This is more for comfort than speed, but I like to stand up and stretch as much as I can while waiting to board. Once you get on the plane, you won't have many opportunities to stand up. So take advantage of the time you are waiting to let all your stretching out.

Getting on the Plane

Tip #1 Take Bathroom Breaks Before Boarding: Have each member of your party take a bathroom break when you see the plane is getting close to boarding. This way you most likely will not need to go on the plane. There's nothing worse then getting on a plane and having to go to the bathroom before you even take off.

Tip #2 Put Your Stuff Away BEFORE Boarding: I see a lot of people at the gate who are playing on their laptop, on their cell phone, doing business work, etc. Then the attendants call their section to board and all of a sudden they are clammering to put everything away so they can get on the plane. In the meantime, I'm waiting for them because my section won't be called until they board. Anyone who pays attention can tell when the plane is close to boarding time, so clean up your mess before they start calling off groups to board.

Tip #3 Use a Small Carry On: Try to use a carry on that will fit under the seat in front of you. Not only does this make it easier to access during the flight, but it also makes it so you can go straight to your seat and sit down without the hassle of trying to find an open bin. Plus, people with big clunky carry ons bug me... especially when the attendant is having a hard time fitting it in the bin. If everyone used the under-the-seat section instead, getting on the plane would be so much faster!

Overall Summary
Yes, there is a lot of hassle involved in taking planes now-a-days, but in my experience if you follow some of these tips you an go through it all in a breeze. I no longer dread security lines, I no longer dread check in. Being prepared and following these tips has made all of this a breeze! A little bit of preparation in the beginning can make your visit to the airport quick, easy, and less stressful. Enjoy your next trip!!