Ten ways to quickly get through airport security

Passing through airport security (TSA) can be one of the most frustrating aspects of travel, especially as travelers continue to return after a nearly two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing crowds of passengers mean longer waiting times at checkpoints. How to quickly get through security at the airport, said the publication MSN.

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Get Elite Airline Status

One of the fastest ways to get a speedy checkpoint is through elite airline status. This benefit usually—but not always—applies to any companions traveling with an Elite member, so it doesn't hurt to take someone with you. Elite status passengers from the programs listed below are eligible for this benefit. Please note that not every airport has access to the program, so check this in advance:

• Alaska Airlines: MVP, MVP Gold, MVP Gold 75K and MVP 100K
• American Airlines: AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro and AAdvantage Executive Platinum
• Delta Air Lines: Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion and Diamond Medallion
• JetBlue: TrueBlue Mosaic and Mosaic+
• Southwest Airlines: A-List and A-List Preferred
• United Airlines: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and Premier 1K

If you don't currently have Elite status with any airline, don't worry, getting Elite status is quick and easy. Several airlines offer elite status as a check-in bonus.

Subscribe to Global Entry and TSA PreCheck

Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck) is an incredibly useful tool for passengers, allowing you to clear US Customs and Border Protection in minutes after traveling abroad. It will cost $100 for five years.

With TSA PreCheck, you will have access to an accelerated security line and reduced security measures. You can leave your shoes, belt and light jacket, and leave your laptop and liquids in your bag. PreCheck is available at over 200 airports on 80 airlines. It costs $85 for five years.

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If you don't have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, inspect your cards. Participation in one program is covered by American Express Platinum Card, Citi Prestige Card and Capital One Venture Rewards X Credit Card.

Fly premium

Flying in a first or business class cabin is more than just comfort. This gives you priority access to airport security checkpoints. So a United Airlines Polaris Business Class seat can save you precious minutes waiting at TSA checkpoints.

Airlines offering this privilege include:

• Alaska: first class passengers;
• American: Priority AAccess, business and first class passengers;
• Delta: SkyPriority, Delta One and first class passengers;
• JetBlue: Even More Space and Mint;
• Southwest: Business Select;
• United: Premier Access, Business and First Class passengers.

Accelerated Clear Check

Clear is one of the latest innovative programs designed to speed up the security screening process and is currently being used at more than 50 airports. It is a biometric identification platform that uses fingerprint and iris scanning to speed up the identification process.

The Clear app also comes with a Health Pass that allows you to manage your COVID-19 information on your smartphone. The new Home to Gate feature combines traffic data, safety checks and travel times to help you decide exactly when to get off and arrive on time.

A Clear membership will cost you $179 per year; you can add a family member for $50, and children under 18 join for free. You can currently test the app for free for two months.

Dress accordingly

Regular travelers know that there is always one person holding the line because they need to untie their shoelaces, unzip bulky shoes, remove jewelry, remove belts and coins from pockets, and much more. But you can save time by using common sense when choosing the shoes you wear to the airport.

Wear shoes that can be quickly taken off and then put back on, such as athletic shoes that are perfect for a checkpoint. Wear a jacket with large pockets so you can quickly drop your phone, wallet, and passport in after security checks before picking up the rest of your belongings.

If you don't make it to the PreCheck queue, take out your laptop or tablet, remove your jacket and shoes, and make sure your belt and metal jewelry are off and there are no coins in your pockets.

Know the rules

Remember that the laptop must be removed from the case and placed in a separate bin, unless you are in the PreCheck lane. Make sure all liquids in your hand luggage are in a clear plastic bag. Throw away all plastic bottles of liquid before passing through the security line. If you have a bottle of liquid in your bag, you will have to double-check it, which increases the screening time.

Finally, as you pass through the metal detectors, gather your belongings off the tape as quickly as possible and gather away from the screening area. The faster you get your things, the faster everyone else can get through the queue.

Control your waiting time at the airport

Need to track your waiting time at an airport security checkpoint? There are applications for this - MiFlight, App in the Air, Kayak and MyTSA. These apps allow you to monitor the status of the queue hours before the scheduled departure time and make more informed decisions about when to arrive at the airport. Many airports also list this information on their websites.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York.

Check out your bag

Check your bag at the check-in desk to shorten the waiting time for security checks if possible. Most airlines, with the exception of Southwest, charge a baggage check-in fee. As a result, more people are flying with hand luggage only to save money, which in turn slows down the screening process.

Be friendly

While some TSA agents may not be the friendliest, it doesn't hurt to be nice to them. They have a tough job that gets even harder with the growing number of people and lack of staff, so be sympathetic.

Fly at the right time

Try not to travel when the checkpoints are full. We hear horror stories all the time about queues at airports during big holidays. But as passengers return from a travel moratorium caused by the pandemic, queues at the country's airports are getting longer.

Try not to choose flights that depart during peak hours, such as Friday or Sunday between 16 pm and 00 pm, when travelers go home after the work week and tourists go on vacation for the weekend.

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