With thousands of travelers taking off their shoes and rummaging through their bags for toiletries and electronics, the TSA screening process at the airport can be frustrating if even just one person holds up the line. Don’t let that person be you. Here are seven common airport security mistakes people make that prevent them (and others behind them) from getting to their gate on time.
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Wearing the Wrong Footwear
For standard security screening, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires passengers to remove shoes, belts, light jackets, liquids, and laptop computers. That means it’s especially important to consider your footwear: With dozens of passengers in line behind you, you don’t want to wear lace-up sneakers or boots that will take considerable time to remove. Slip-on shoes make the security process quicker for everyone, so leave the clunky footwear at home.
The same goes for bulky jewelry and accessories, as the metals used in some jewelry are likely to set off the metal detector and must be removed. And be sure to wear socks — walking barefoot through the terminal is pretty gross considering the number of feet that have traipsed the hall before you.
Having a Disorganized Bag
If X-ray scans can’t easily identify items in your luggage, a more thorough search is required, so make sure you keep toiletries, clothes, electronics, and food items separate. If you’re bringing any liquids, gels, or aerosols through TSA security in your carry-on bag, always follow the “3-1-1 rule,” so you don’t get flagged and slow down the line. Liquids must be 3.4 ounces or less and contained inside a 1-quart bag, and only one bag is allowed per passenger.
The TSA also recommends that travelers use backpacks and purses with laptop compartments to make the screening process quicker. Consider using a set of packing cubes, too, which can prevent you from time-consuming TSA searches and allow you to fit more in your carry-on.
Not Informing Officers of Medical Devices
If you have an implant, cast, wheelchair, insulin pump — or any other internal or external medical device or medically necessary equipment or medication — let a TSA officer know before you walk through the scanner. It will prevent a holdup in the line, and agents may be able to better accommodate you or assist you to your gate. For more information on medical screening, including a list of prohibited items and information on where to pack these items, visit the official TSA website.
Leaving Wrapped Presents in Your Bag
Packing presents for your loved ones can pose a problem if they get flagged by the X-ray machine. TSA officers don’t like having to unwrap your gifts, which is why they recommend using gift bags instead of wrapping paper and hard-to-remove bows and ribbons. Gifts are like any other item you bring on a plane and need to be screened for safety, so make sure you’re ready for them to inspect anything that’s in your bag.
Not Removing Everything From Your Pockets
When TSA officers ask you to empty your pockets, make sure you remove everything — and they mean everything. You’ll have to take out not only obvious items such as your phone, wallet, and keys, but also nonmetal items such as breath mints and tissues. These can be picked up on the scanner, requiring a time-intensive pat-down process. Instead of carrying them on your person, place these items in your carry-on bag or the provided bin before you go through the scanner.
Packing Prohibited Items
If your upcoming trip requires you to pack anything out of the ordinary in your carry-on, be sure to check those requirements before you head to the airport. Some TSA restrictions may surprise you — for instance, while you are allowed to carry live lobsters on a plane, the TSA may confiscate your jar of peanut butter if it’s over 3.4 ounces, since the agency considers the nutty spread a liquid. The same goes for any snow globes you plan to bring — the water inside the globe can’t exceed the 3.4-ounce limit, either.
For more detailed information, consult the TSA website or download the MyTSA app. The app’s useful “What can I bring?” feature will let you know whether to pack the item in a checked bag or a carry-on and also highlights items that are prohibited.
Not Enrolling in TSA PreCheck
While these tips and tricks will help speed you through the security process, perhaps the biggest time-saving tool at your disposal is TSA PreCheck. It’s what the TSA calls a Trusted Traveler Program, allowing eligible passengers who are deemed low-risk to bypass certain parts of the airport security process. That includes the hassle of removing your shoes, belt, light jacket, and laptop from your bag.
According to the TSA, 99% of PreCheck passengers wait 10 minutes or less. Also note that children ages 17 and under can go through the TSA PreCheck lane with their enrolled parents, as long as they are traveling on the same reservation.
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