Airports are notorious for holding you up. It’s just one of those things we all have to deal with. Check-in, security, and boarding the plane all add up to make what seemed a simple journey into a long and drawn out affair. However, there are ways to get through an airport quicker. Follow these tips to make your experience a lot nicer, quicker, and make you feel like you have got one up against 'the man'.
Image Credit: Nick Harris/Flickr
Choose A Fast Airport
The good folks over at Credit Monkey have put together this handy list of the fastest airports in the country. Each of the airports in the Top 10 score very well for on-time departures and lowest delays, meaning you are less likely to be held up when traveling from them. The winner, by the way, was San Jose Airport in California.
Check-in Early
Check-in right after you have packed your bags, and before you even leave for the airport. Print your own boarding pass out, and miss out on all those queues. You can expect this to shave an hour or so off of your travel time on busy airport days. If you forget, don’t panic. Most major airports have electronic booking points dotted around everywhere. You will still save time by using them.
Use The PreCheck Program
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) runs a ‘precheck’ program, aimed at frequent flyers. It gives you the chance to miss out on the usual security lanes and go through much quicker in over 120 airports in the country. Find out more at the TSA website.
Wear A Jacket
Wear a jacket to the airport and you can just put all your things in the pocket and have it scanned. This means you will save time by not having to pick up your coins, phone, tickets, pocket lint, and anything else you brought with you from the tray after security. Simple tips are often the best - and this is certainly a good one!
Charter A Jet
No, seriously. Jet charters are often seen as the preserve of the rich and famous, but things are actually very different. Sure, it costs more - anything from $700 to $5,200 per hour - but if you are flying on business it is certainly worth thinking about. There are separate private jet terminals in most major airports, so as soon as you are through security you will miss queues for boarding. Some private jets can be cheaper than commercial airlines. If they are flying empty on a return leg, for example, they often offer very enticing deals.
Use A Fragile Sticker
Using a fragile sticker could save you a whole bunch of time at the other end. Ask the airline to put a fragile sticker on your case, regardless of whether you have anything fragile in there or not. You'll need to sign some disclaimer forms, but your luggage will be kept on the top of the pile, looked after properly and will be amongst the first onto the luggage belt.
Oh wow, thanks for the fragile sticker tip. The thing with luggage — at least in my experience — is that it's luck of the draw. Sometimes mine gets out in the first 10 minutes and sometimes it takes almost an hour. About three or four times, it was left in the stopover city and I had to wait from 24 to 48 hours.
ReplyDeleteWow, I never knew how low the charter jet prices were--very interesting. Also, I know this top photo...my favorite airport!
ReplyDeleteAmanda
www.queenofthelandoftwigsnberries.com
I am SO not a flyer, I will drive anywhere I can to avoid ever having to get near an airport. Unfortunately, with conference season upon us, I'll soon have to just suck it up. These look like very helpful tips, especially for a newbie flyer like myself.
ReplyDeleteOmg amazing tips. Also, carry-ons! I'm flying back home to the east coast of Canada and I live in California. Hoping i can do it all on 2 carry ons. We'll see!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip about the fragile sticker. I'll only use it if I do have something fragile, but it's going to help!
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! I love the jacket tip and the fragile sticker tip...I had never heard those before!
ReplyDeleteHa, I did not know about that fragile sticker, I sure would do that. We always check in early and sometimes does it online when an airline offers it.
ReplyDeleteThese are really great tips for those that travel. I've never been to an airport and not sure If I ever will but will remember these.
ReplyDeleteI haven't flown in years, I didnt know there was a pre-check program. Good info here.
ReplyDeletegreat tips! it's interesting what they picked as time saving airports, but i would say they are also some of the smaller and least crowded ones, so that could be part of the reason why there are less delays. we use global entry and TSA precheck and we love it!
ReplyDeletewow, these are awesome tips!! I didn't know charter jets were so cheap!! Definitely going to look into that!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I ever would have priced out a charter flight before!! These are great tips for traveling.
ReplyDeleteThese are really good tips! I will have to use them next time we take a trip.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the super helpful travel tips! I only fly once every blue moon, but hopefully these tips will make things easier.
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought about just wearing a jacket for all my odds and ends! I will use that the next time I fly!
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome tips and will definitely bookmark your post! The fragile stickers? Wow! I had no idea...now I do! :)
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long time since I've flown, but these tips are super helpful I am sure! My sister lives in Hawaii at the moment, and I'm sure she would agree with most, if not all, of these! Traveling from Hawaii back to PA takes a LONG time and many connecting flights. Great tips!
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