Traveling for a mini-vacation a few weeks ago, I observed what people were doing at the airport and how they went through the TSA security lines. Let's say. People need some help with organizing their airport travel. Don't get me wrong, they did a pretty good job, but a few people always took too long through security. I will discuss helpful tips to make my airport travel run smoothly.
Quick and Easy Airline Travel Tips
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- Quick and Easy Airline Travel Tips
- Belts and Jewelry
- Wear Slip-on shoes
- Airline apps are essential.
- Download shows/movies.
- Avoid Larger Groups
- Take advantage of your Credit Card Lounge Perks.
- Get TSA Pre✓®
- Have a Pouch for Papers
- Bring a Carry-on with four wheels.
- Small Bottles of Sunscreen
- Bring an empty water bottle.
- Some additional tips to bring with you.
Belts and Jewelry
The first tip to make airport travel run smoothly is to take off belts and jewelry (Affiliate Link) and put them in your carry-on before leaving the house: Place them in your carry-on bag's pocket for easy access. Doing this before you leave the house will save time while going through security. All you will need to take off is your shoes (Affiliate Link).
Wear Slip-on shoes
Wear Slip-on shoes (Affiliate Link): Loafers work great! Speaking of shoes (Affiliate Link), this is the one thing that worries me when I watch people go through the TSA security line. I can't tell you how many people I saw (Affiliate Link) wearing sandals or flip-flops. They are great for the beach and your vacation trip but not for the airport. There are just too many germs at the airport to walk around barefoot. Don't you think?
Airline apps are essential.
Use the airline apps. I did this for the first time. Check to see if your airline provider has an app. Most do. You don't need paper anymore. However, I had to remember to leave my phone out when going through the security checkpoint AND for boarding.
Download shows/movies.
Another tip to make airport travel run smoothly is downloading movies or shows for in-flight entertainment. I like downloading my favorite shows or movies the night before the flight. If you want to watch movies on your flight, some airlines have in-flight movies to watch if your flight lasts 2 hours. Usually, it's free, but check your provider before leaving. They usually say it on the flight information.
Avoid Larger Groups
If you see a family or a traveling kid group, stay clear of them in security lines. The kids usually haven't traveled before and typically need extra time.
Take advantage of your Credit Card Lounge Perks.
If you have a Travel Credit card, like American Express The Platinum Card® or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you can take advantage of the lounge rooms for a bit of privacy. Amex lounge has a great buffet and beverages so you can save money when you have to stay at the airport for a while.
Get TSA Pre✓®
If possible, get TSA Pre✓®. This is great for people who travel often. After getting your TSA pre-check screening, you don't need to take off your shoes (Affiliate Link), take out your laptops and belts, and take off your light jacket. Check out more information about this at the TSA Pre✓® site.
Have a Pouch for Papers
Keeping all your paperwork in one place will help you stay organized on your vacation. Tickets for amusement parks, confirmations for car rental, etc... all need to be in one place. There are travel apps that you can use, but tickets will still need to have a place. Apps don't necessarily store everything you need, so having a tri-fold travel pouch like this will help.
Bring a Carry-on with four wheels.
I love my 4-wheel carry-on. It works great, and I don't strain my back when dragging a two-wheel carry-on. I do recommend getting a 4-wheel carry-on with beefier wheels. It rules better on the thin carpets at the airports. Ensure it will work on the rug (Affiliate Link) because most airports have carpets to reduce noise.
Small Bottles of Sunscreen
No large bottles on carry-ons: This also goes for sunscreen. While observing, a woman had three sunscreen bottles taken from TSA agents because they told her they were too big for the carry-on. It is essential to abide by TSA rules. Download the MyTSA app. There, you can search for the item you plan on taking to see if it is approved.
Bring an empty water bottle.
Recently, we found filtered water dispensers at the lounges and airports, so we started bringing our empty water bottles. Just ensure it is a light, reusable water bottle(Amazon (Affiliate Link) Affiliate) and not heavy. It adds too much weight to your carry-on.
Some additional tips to bring with you.
And there are some additional things you may want to bring with you. Check out the list below with the corresponding post.
- Travel Tech Organizer Kit - I made this for my kids and shared what you may need for iOS and Android devices.
- A wired earbuds(Amazon (Affiliate Link) Affiliate) as a backup - You may want to bring them if your wireless earbuds (Affiliate Link) are running out of battery.
- Have your kids bring their backpacks for activities they may want to do on the plane. This is an excellent tip for school-age kids for first grade and beyond. Remember, their things get heavier as they grow.
Well, that's it. I hope this inspires you to make your airport travel run smoothly. It will help not only you but also everyone at the airport. Now it's your turn. What is your favorite tip for traveling at the airport? Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you.
Visit our other vacation posts to help keep you and your family organized!
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (Affiliate Link), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Ellen Delap says
I especially love the airline travel app. It helps you download entertainment too during the flight. I love having a little bonus to keeping entertained and up to date.
Janet Barclay says
My trip to Arizona for NAPO2014 was my first flight since 2000 and my first flight out of Canada since 1988. In other words, I had very little experience and none at all since enhanced security measures came into play. Fortunately, the travel agent who booked my flight for me offered to meet me at the airport and guide me through the process.
Sabrina says
That was very nice of your travel agent. It is a stressful time for people, especially in the summer when there are longer than usual lines. People get confused very easily. The upside is the more you travel by plane the easier it gets. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Seana Turner says
Great tips, Sabrina. My husband sort of travels for a living, and he would agree. Traveling by air isn't easy these days!