The airport, complete with long lines and complicated screening procedures, is the only thing standing between you and your holiday trip. Getting through all that with minimum fuss is easier with some advance preparation.
Put your ID, credit card and boarding pass in an easily accessible part of your wallet or bag before you leave for the airport. This is for two reasons: first, you make sure that you don't leave home without these crucial items by going through this exercise. Second, at the moment you need them, you are not wasting time fumbling around for them.
Do all you can prior to departing. The night before you go, and again before you leave for the airport, check your airline reservations. Print your boarding pass and a luggage tag for your checked baggage if possible. Check in online as well. Even if you've got bags to check, it's still a good idea to check in online whenever you can, since bag-drop lines tend to be shorter than the check-in lines. Many airlines also charge extra at the terminal for baggage. And if you're going all-carry-on, you'll get to skip the ticket counter entirely. This saves time and maybe also money.
No matter whether you are going by plane, train, or automobile - be there early before your departure. If you are flying, you should be three hours early for international flights or two hours early for domestic flights.
Know the weight of your luggage. Fees for a standard checked bag have recently been introduced by many airlines. And as usual there's always a pricey surcharge if they're oversized or overweight. Before you even start throwing stuff in your suitcase, read up on your airline's guidelines. Leave everything you do not need.
Dress for speed. In the US, all airport security checkpoints require you to remove pretty much anything you can easily remove without completely undressing: shoes, coat or jacket, big belt buckles, etc. Keep your pockets empty, skip the jewelry, wear a jacket that's easy to put on and take off, avoid shoes that require excessive lacing or yanking - and you do yourself a favour.
You will have to remove your laptop from its case. Remove it from its case and put it in a bin, or make sure it's placed in a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag that allows for easy scanning. Other equipment, like full-sized video-game consoles, DVD players, and some video cameras will have to be removed from your baggage for separate screening.
Also, move to the righthand side. On the moving walkways, if you are not moving stand to the right. Do not stop short without looking behind you if you are walking through the airport. Be aware that other travellers may be trying to make a connection or flight.
Put your ID, credit card and boarding pass in an easily accessible part of your wallet or bag before you leave for the airport. This is for two reasons: first, you make sure that you don't leave home without these crucial items by going through this exercise. Second, at the moment you need them, you are not wasting time fumbling around for them.
Do all you can prior to departing. The night before you go, and again before you leave for the airport, check your airline reservations. Print your boarding pass and a luggage tag for your checked baggage if possible. Check in online as well. Even if you've got bags to check, it's still a good idea to check in online whenever you can, since bag-drop lines tend to be shorter than the check-in lines. Many airlines also charge extra at the terminal for baggage. And if you're going all-carry-on, you'll get to skip the ticket counter entirely. This saves time and maybe also money.
No matter whether you are going by plane, train, or automobile - be there early before your departure. If you are flying, you should be three hours early for international flights or two hours early for domestic flights.
Know the weight of your luggage. Fees for a standard checked bag have recently been introduced by many airlines. And as usual there's always a pricey surcharge if they're oversized or overweight. Before you even start throwing stuff in your suitcase, read up on your airline's guidelines. Leave everything you do not need.
Dress for speed. In the US, all airport security checkpoints require you to remove pretty much anything you can easily remove without completely undressing: shoes, coat or jacket, big belt buckles, etc. Keep your pockets empty, skip the jewelry, wear a jacket that's easy to put on and take off, avoid shoes that require excessive lacing or yanking - and you do yourself a favour.
You will have to remove your laptop from its case. Remove it from its case and put it in a bin, or make sure it's placed in a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag that allows for easy scanning. Other equipment, like full-sized video-game consoles, DVD players, and some video cameras will have to be removed from your baggage for separate screening.
Also, move to the righthand side. On the moving walkways, if you are not moving stand to the right. Do not stop short without looking behind you if you are walking through the airport. Be aware that other travellers may be trying to make a connection or flight.
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