Planning to fly over the Labor Day weekend? Brace yourself—well, not that kind of bracing outlined in the safety instructions in the seat pocket if you happen to be seated in the emergency exit row. No, we just mean you’re going to travel with a whole heck of a lot of people, and there might be long security lines, micro-aggressions as you board, strong feelings at your layover, snippiness on the part of your fellow passengers, hangriness descending as the bag of pretzels just isn’t enough. And looming over all of this is the possibility that you might be delayed or even...we’re sorry to say this...deprived of taking the trip. Our prophetic friends at the TSA are already anticipating the onslaught; they expect to screen more than 14 million passengers over the holiday weekend. And on September 1, they foresee processing 2.7 million of us just in that one day. Yikes.
So, what’s a worried passenger to do? Follow the TSA’s suggestions for enduring holiday travel in this most busy travel summer on record. The hope is for your security line experience to be over within 30 minutes or less (and 10 minutes or less if you have TSA PreCheck, which you should have). Here are the 10 suggestions from TSA to make everything flow as smoothly as possible.
1. Get to the airport early, especially if you’re flying on Friday, that most busy day. That gives you time to do everything you need to get to the gate, even if there are hordes of others walking right in your way.
2. Unpack before starting. This genius idea entails completely emptying your bag before you pack it, so you’re not surprised by that random 8 oz bottle of shampoo that trips up the sensors. Also, no firearms or other restricted items.
3. Respect TSA and airline employees. Follow their directions and keep yourself chill. Fights just waste more time.
4. Know the 3-1-1 liquids rule. That means no liquids more than 3.4 ounces (except for infant liquids like breast milk and formula), only one bag (clear, quart-sized) to hold all your liquids, and you only get one bag.
5. Big items. What do you do with pet carriers, baby strollers and car seats? You’ve got to contact the airline ahead of time to make the game plan. There are a lot of rules around these, and you’ll need to familiarize yourself with them beforehand.
6. Have your ID out and ready. How often have you stood in line behind someone, spending valuable minutes fumbling through wallets and purses for their identification? Have it in your hand if you’re 18 years or older.
7. Roll with new technology. There are new screening protocols underway at some airports, and just be aware that you might need to do something a little differently than usual.
8. Know that you can ask TSA if you’re unsure of something. @AskTSA works on various social media platforms and you can get answers on the fly.
9. If you need special assistance, request it ahead of time. Travelers with disabilities or medical conditions can access help, and it’s best to contact TSA Cares 72 hours before your trip to arrange it.
10. Get TSA PreCheck. We’re big fans and always notice shorter lines in the PreCheck lanes. Plus, not everyone knows that the PreCheck lanes have separate security screening lanes from everyone else, so you’re moving your stuff through the treadmill with other savvy travelers who don’t have to remove shoes, etc. You can usually get approved within 3-5 days, and it can be as easy as going to your local Staples store.
Good luck to you all—safe travels!