As travel begins to pick up, maybe it's been a while since you last flew
and gone through airport security
Or maybe it will even be your first time.
In either case the last thing you want to do is get to the airport
security checkpoint and feel lost, confused, overwhelmed
and feeling the wrath of the frustrated line of passengers behind you
So in this video I am going to cover a list of mistakes to avoid
to help make your airport security experience as smooth as possible
Dream Vacations Start Here
Hey, if we are just meeting for the first time my name is Ben
and on this channel I provide weekly travel tips and information
that will help you when planning your next vacation
So let's go ahead and jump into the first mistake to avoid
which is arriving to the airport unprepared
A good way to be turned away at security is not having the proper documentation
For domestic flights you want to make sure you have either your
driver's license, passport or military ID
and your boarding pass in hand when you get to the TSA agent
Don't be that person who still has their ID in their purse, bag or wallet
when the TSA asks for it
If you are flying international you will definitely need your passport and your boarding pass
just make sure to check the expiration date on your passport
Most countries will not allow you to enter their country
with a passport set to expire within 6 months
Also, you will want to check what the entry requirements are for the country you are visiting
Do you need to get tested or vaccinated in order to enter the country?
Is there a form to fill out?
and even some countries require you to get travel insurance as well.
It is also important to consider
what is required of you to return back to your own country
At this time even vaccinated US citizens need a negative COVID test in order to fly back home
The number 2 mistake to avoid is forgetting to give yourself plenty of time
More and more people are starting to travel again
airlines are getting busier, which means longer security lines
This is why it is essential for you to arrive early
and be prepared for the completion of every step of the travel process from the time you arrive to the airport
check your bags. Get through security and ultimately to your gate
There is worse than trying to elbow your way to the front of the security line
because the wait is longer than you expected
If you are new to the airport process then I would recommend getting to the airport
at least 2 hours before your flight or 3 hours if you are travelling internationally
To avoid the frantic rush
And moving on the number 3 is not packing strategically
One of the worst mistakes you can make when going through airport security
is packing items that you will need to take out in a place that is not easy to get to
Keep your ID, boarding pass, passport and your phone in your pocket
or in a place that you can easily grab them if you need to
If you are travelling with any liquids those will need to come out and remember
you can't have liquids more than 3.4oz per bottle
and they all have to fit in a quart-sized bag
So, just remember to pack those in a place that you can easily get them out
either at the very top of your carry-on or your personal item bag
When you are putting items in the bin for screening
you will only need to place those items larger than a cell phone in those bins
like a laptop, tablet
Your shoes and jackets will need to go in there
but for everything else like your phone
your belts, jewelry
I would recommend putting those items in your carry-on or personal item bags
Not only will they keep them safe
but you will have less stuff to take in and out of those bins
making for a quicker line
And if you are finding this video helpful so far let me know by liking the video
or subscribing or you can leave me a comment if you have any questions
I would be happy to answer those questions for you
Number 4 is packing prohibited items
Packing items that are prohibited through airport security can really slow down a line
since a TSA officer has to then open your bag and remove the prohibited items
If you want to see what the TSA rules are for what you can and cannot bring through airport security
Be sure to check out my other video
on the top 25 airport security questions answered
I will post that video in the video description below
So be sure to check out that video before packing your bags
You can also check out the TSA website and on their homepage
they have a feature called "What can I bring"
Here you can type in the name of an item
and it will let you know if it should be packed in your checked or carry-on bag
or if it is forbidden entirely
They also have an app called MyTSA
This app will give you 24/7 access to the most frequently requested airport security information
on any mobile device
And moving on the number 5 is dressing uncomfortably
When going through airport security you are going to have to take off your coats and shoes
so be sure to wear shoes that are easy to take off
Avoid strappy sandals and laces if you can
And be sure to wear socks unless you are really ok walking barefoot through the gross airport floor
Because....Ewww
And I would recommend layering your clothing
because the person you are sitting next to in the plane
might want to blast his or her air vent leaving you cold if you are not wearing the right clothing
And lastly number 6 is not investing in TSA Precheck
If you fly more than twice a year TSA precheck is worth the investment
Or better yet, if you do a lot of international flying
Global entry is even better because it also includes TSA Precheck
and if you no idea what any of these programs are
they are essentially a fast pass through airport security
and through Customs
In fact, according to the TSA in August of 2021, 96 percent of Precheck passengers waited 5 minutes or less to be screened
The benefit of using TSA Precheck is that won't have to remove your belt, shoes
and in fact your laptop and liquids can stay in your bag
And if you happen to be travelling with children 12 and under
they can go through the PreCheck lines with you without having to enroll them
If you are looking for more information about either program
I actually did a video
explaining both TSA precheck and Global entry and how you can enroll in them
You can find that video linked in the video description below
And speaking of video description, if you are looking for more resources I have those available for you
including links to TSA approved products that might be useful to you when packing
as well as a link to my website if you want to learn more about me and my business
Be sure to like the video if you found this video helpful to you
Thank you so much for watching and I hope to see you in a future video