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How To Get Through the Airport Checkpoint Quickly
Seems travelers love
to hate the screeners at the airport. Keep in mind,
the front line personnel that you see as you make your
way toward the gate are just the worker bees.
They’re not Congress and they’re
not the big wig decision makers. If at times they seem
like robots, deviating very little from their spcheel,
it’s because they have procedures that they must
follow and deviating from the standard operation procedure
is not an option.
There are a number of things you can
do yourself to speed things along. Listed below are
the top ten tips to help your visit to the airport security
checkpoint hassle-free.
1. Have your boarding pass and government
issued photo ID readily available. Some airports have
someone checking your boarding pass and ID as you first
approach your concourse, then shortly thereafter there
is another employee asking for the same thing. Actually
they may be asking for the same thing, but these employees,
often one a federal employee and one a private company
employee, while looking at the same thing, aren’t
looking for the same thing. Each person has a different
role to fill. If you have to dig in your purse or wallet
for these items, that will increase the wait time. Ensure
your boarding pass is pulled out of the airline envelope.
2. Wear tennis shoes or known airport
friendly footwear so you’ll avoid setting off the
alarm on the walk through metal detector. Often the
screeners will encourage you to take your shoes off
before passing through the metal detector. What many
passengers fail to recognize is that many, many shoe
manufacturers place steel shanks (supports) in the souls
of the shoes. Just because you don’t see metal,
doesn’t mean they are metal-free.
3. Laptop computers and video cameras
that use cassette tapes, not digital cameras, need to
come out of their carrying case prior to passing through
the x-ray machine. Have these items out of the case
before you reach the table to divest your items.
4. Only undeveloped film with a speed
of 800 or higher should be hand checked. All other disposable
cameras, film of 100, 200 or 400 speed and digital cameras
are safe to pass through the x-ray. Know your film speed
before reaching the x-ray machine.
5. If you have an inkling that your
belt buckle or larger metal watch may set off the metal
detector, remove them while you’re waiting in line
and have them ready to place into a bin.
6. Don’t wear pants or suspenders
that contain a lot of metal. If you can’t remove
the metal prior to passing through the metal detector,
you’ll be sent for additional screening, thus increasing
your wait time.
7. Most smell jewelry such as rings,
necklaces and earrings will not set off the alarm. Don’t
bother wasting time removing them.
8. Yes your fanny pack, hidden money
belt and wallet on a string around your neck must pass
through the x-ray, have it ready to place into a bin.
9. Leave all tools, Swiss army knives,
pointed end scissors, and bladed corkscrews in your
checked bag. You may not bring them onboard the aircraft
in your carry-on bags. If your bag must be searched
to find these items, it’s definitely going to increase
your wait time.
10. Strollers and pet carriers need
to pass through the x-ray machine. Remove your children
and pets from this equipment prior to reaching the x-ray.
If you’re standing in line merely
waiting for your turn to walk through, use this time
to your advantage. If everyone were already ready to
walk though the metal detector BEFORE it was actually
their turn, the wait times would be greatly decreased.
Next time you fly, instead of grumbling
about the procedures that neither you nor the front
line screeners can change, try having some fun, being
prepared and perhaps even thanking the screeners for
doing their part of keeping the aircrafts safe.
1howto.com
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