I was a frequent airline traveler before flying became a high-impact contact sport. It is almost hard to believe there was a time when you could take kids into the airport just to watch planes take off. I could once fill a shopping bag with bottles of shampoo and carry it on the plane. I could empty my entire closet into a suitcase and force it shut by sitting on it, and not pay a dime extra for checking the bag, regardless of the weight of the bag.
Thanks to the 911 tragedies and strict security laws that followed, the airport is no longer a traveler friendly place. Rightly so, airline security is much more interested in getting you to your destination alive than in providing a pleasurable experience. As someone who still travels regularly, and who also sends her husband off up twice a month for business travel, I have learned some valuable lessons that get me through the airport and to my destination without too much stress. Here are my rules for airport travel that work every time.
Know what items to leave at home. No sharp items, no sports bats, ticks, or poles, no firearms, no pistols, guns, or flare guns can go in your carry-on luggage. Many of these items can, however go in checked luggage, within reason. Nothing in an aerosol can should be traveled with at all. See the TSA Prohibited item checklist here . Too keep things simple, I prefer to take nothing that I don’t absolutely need with me when I travel. Most people won’t need the majority of these items.
Know how to pack items you can take on the plane. There are specific rules for carrying toiletries on the place. They are called 3-1-1 rules . In short, you can have one 1-quart size bag with 3.4oz bottles of liquid in them. In addition to this, you need to pack your items neatly, so that the x-ray machine make out what is in it. I like to go ahead and pack everything else is zip-lock bags too. Underwear packed in zip-lock bags keeps people from having to rifle through them. Cords of items will be contained. Swimsuits and other outfits can be put in gallon size bags. This will keep your luggage neat and easy to scan.
Pack extremely light . Consider putting together a capsule wardrobe that can be as few as six items, that will supply you with multiple clothing options. For instance, two pairs of pants and four shirts will give you eight different outfit options. By packing light, you will have room in your carry on luggage to purchase a couple of items on your trip and won’t end up with extra baggage for your return trip. An extra tip that will help your wardrobe stretch further is to stay in a hotel with a laundry room or dry cleaning service so you can wear your items again. This is a must if I am traveling for more than 4 days. You may have noticed that I said nothing about checking bags. My advice is to not check your bags.
Know what to wear to the airport to make screening go quickly. Simply, wear as little as possible through airport screening. As I woman, I like to wear slim fit slacks and a simple shirt. I made the mistake of wearing wide leg lounging pants once and got an extra pat down even though the sensors did not go off, so make sure your clothes don’t hang too loosely. If a coat cannot be avoided, choose one that is not too bulky so it can go in a screening tray. If you are someone that always gets extra screening, take extra steps to dress simply with comfortable lightweight clothes and slip-on shoes. If you have a disability that causes screening devices to go off, carry a card that explains your situation.
Be extra kind to airport employees. I know that being in the airport can instantly put you in a bad mood. But being curt to the wrong person can get you an extra pat down, or flashing a great big smile can get you on the next plane if you missed your flight. Don’t mistake being friendly for being a push-over though. You can be pleasant in demeanor while being firm about what you need and expect.