The holiday season is just around the corner. Which means the smell of pie, spiked eggnog, and time with family members that we don’t see too often. The holidays also usher in what I like to call the nightmare on elm street season. Long lines, missed flights and good ole’ TSA telling you that you can’t bring Grandma’s figgy pudding are all just on the horizon. Now, being a former blue devil myself (yes, I used to work for TSA) I consider myself an authority on airport do’s and don’ts. Here are 5 solid tips to consider as you begin to book your holiday season flights.
1. Come Early
If you really want to see a TSA agent roll their eyes tell them you need to cut the line because your flight is leaving at 6am when you just walked through the doors at 5:45 a.m.. Regardless if you think you know the traffic pattern of the airport you still need to arrive 1.5 to 2 hours before your flight. You need to consider parking time, the time it takes to check in your bag, the time it takes to get your boarding pass, and, most importantly, the time it will take you to get through TSA. Remember, you are not the only person flying this holiday season, come early, and have your patience meter fully charged.
2. Do Airport Research
With technology and knowledge literally being at our fingertips at all times, the phrase “Well I didn’t know” is starting to not have a place in our society. If you have never flown out of the airport you are scheduled to depart from then do yourself a favor and google it! Know how parking works, look at pictures of the lay out so you know where you're going, and look to see what terminal you are flying out of. The more information you have prior to your trip the faster the process will be and the happier you will be as you head to your destination.
3. Follow/Know TSA Rules
I’m going to take my time on this one because like I said I am a former blue devil and there is nothing worse than doing 20 bag checks and taking items that anyone who has flown in the last 5 years should know they can’t bring anymore. For the record, liquids, gels, and aerosols (spray cans) have to be 3.4 oz or less to be able to take in your carry on bag. Liquids mean just that, anything NOT SOLID, this includes alcohol, shampoo, and perfume, your organic hummus and your unrefined shea butter. If you can’t find a travel size version of your desired product then just purchase the 3.4 oz bottles from Walmart or a dollar store and pour the contents inside.
*Travel tip: If you want to bring a liquid that is not 3.4 oz make sure it is FROZEN.
There are NO KNIVES OF ANY LENGTH allowed on a plane. Please don’t be that misguided soul who listens to their uncle who hasn’t flown since 1985 and bring your favorite pocket knife that your dad gave you because the blade is less than 2 inches- it will either get taken or you’ll be missing your flight because you will be downstairs checking it in with a bag.
When it comes to electronics every airport is a little different but just know if you do have an electronic OF ANY KIND (computer, Ipad, CPAP, gaming system) that is larger than a cell phone be prepared to take it out of your bag. Same goes for food, you can bring it, but be prepared to take it out of your bag as you pass through TSA.
Lastly, yes- you need to take off your foot wear, yes-you still have to even though they’re flip flops, yes-you still have to even though you didn’t bring socks. Like I’ve said before every airport is a little different but if you are between the ages of 13 and 74 be prepared to take off your shoes, belt, jacket, and EVERYTHING in your pockets (yes, even your pile of tissues).
4. Be Flexible
I wasn’t originally going to include this one but I realized it is important. During my experience as a blue devil I’ve seen many breakdowns from kids, women, and grown men because they couldn’t handle a change in plans. You have to remember you are at an international airport. There are many things going on that have nothing to do with you and are bigger than you. So be prepared to deal with change. You may have to change gates, you may have to go through a standard lane even though you’re Precheck (more on that in a bit). All I’m saying is there are many factors that are out of your control when traveling so be prepared to not have everything go according to plan.
*side note- Precheck: There are many misconceptions of this program and it’s not the customer's fault because the government did a terrible job marketing it so here are the facts. Precheck is a program that allows its members to go through a more relaxed screening process. It does not mean you are not being screened. Your bags still get checked, your person is still being screened- just in a different manner. In order to be an official member you have to pay but airlines also give it to passengers randomly so always check your boarding ticket. The perks consist of you being able to keep your shoes on, not having to remove items from your bag and most of the time the line is much shorter. NO, GLOBAL ENTRY and NEXUS do not AUTOMATICALLY give you Precheck. They are different programs. Think of it like this, Precheck has to do with the way you are screened at an airport while Nexus and Global Entry serve as another form of identification that you can use at an airport. For more information please visit TSA.Gov.
5. Bring Food/Activities
I’m vegan and have a four year old that loves traveling as much as I do so food is a must. For one, prices for food at the airport should be ashamed of themselves and most of the time the options are not desirable. No matter what your diet label is granola bars, fruit, nuts, and crackers can all go a long way before, during, and after the flight. If you have kids then traveling with activities for them is also a must. Not only does it keep them happy during the flight but it also helps if you are the unlucky soul who's flight gets delayed.
In short, the holidays are a great season in many ways but anyone who has ever worked at an airport knows it’s also the black plague of travel because of the influx of people and chaos. Although there are many elements to airport travel that are out of your control. If you come early, know the do’s and don’ts, and stay flexible you should be able to make it to your destination unscaved. Remember, if you stay ready, you won’t have to get ready.
*I do not own any of the pictures used. Rights to all photos belong to their respective owners.
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