Tips for Traveling Through Airports

You just have to get through one thing before your holiday trip: the airport, complete with complicated screening procedures and long lines. 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. Two reasons: one, this exercise ensures that you leave home with these vital documents. Next, you're not wasting time digging around in your bags the minute they are required.

Prepare as much as you can before leaving. Check one last time on your airline reservations the night before you leave, and then again before you leave for the airport. If possible, print out your boarding pass and a luggage tag for your checked baggage. Do the online check in too. Bag-drop lines tend to be shorter than check-in lines, so it's still a good idea to check in online when you can, even if you have bags to check. In addition, many airlines charge more for baggage at the terminal. You'll get to skip the ticket counter entirely if you're going all-carry-on. It'll save you time and possibly money too.

Head out and arrive early, regardless of whether you're traveling by train, plane, or automobile. If you're going by plane, you'll want to be there two hours early for domestic flights, or three hours early for international.

Know the weight of your luggage. A number of airlines now have fees for a regular checked bag. And of course there's always a hefty fee if they're overweight or oversized. Read up on your airline's guidelines before you even start throwing stuff in your suitcase. Leave behind what you can.

Dress with speed in mind. 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. Make sure it's placed in a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag that allows for easy scanning, or remove it from its case and put it in a bin. You'll also have to remove full-sized video-game consoles, DVD players, and some video cameras from your baggage for separate screening.

In addition, stay on the right side. Stand to the right on the moving walk ways if you are not moving. 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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