Getting through security with your integrity intact. The key – plan ahead!
Pick a line: Go to the ‘blackbelt’ line if you can. Avoid old people, people with strollers and lots of kids. Look to see if there are empty lines – people are sheep and just follow each other, so often times there are empty lines if you look. Know your airport: if gates connect behind security, there are some terminals that are less traveled and much faster. At O’Hare, for example, you can go through the quiet terminal easy breezy and then it’s an easy walk to your gate. I’d rather walk than wait in line for an hour, anyday!
Prep your luggage:
Carryon: I put the laptop, kindle and clear toiletries kit on top so I can unzip, pop on the security belt, and pop it back in.
Avoiding liquids: if it comes in a balm form, I buy it for travel! All my liquid makeup stays at home, sunscreen (love Neutrogena that looks like a mini deodorant!), even perfume. Basically, the only liquid or gel I carry in my plastic baggie is toothpaste, eye drops, shampoo, conditioner and hairspray.
Have everything in the shopper, ready to go on the belt. (Purse, blanket, misc. stuff)
Prep your body, baby! Before you get out of the car at the airport and even walk in the terminal:
- Take off your jewelry and put it in your handbag. I keep a little felt Tiffany jewelry bag in my purse for just this purpose!
- Wrap necklace in a tissue (lie it flat, then roll it up like a jewelry burrito – not to be confused with the lingere enchilada… ;) Take off your coat and put it in the shopper.
- Take off your belt and put it in the shopper.
- Make sure you’re wearing shoes that slip off easily – no straps or buckles or zippers or laces
- If you can, avoid wearing an underwire bra. It sounds stupid, but it will set off a really sensitive machine and then you get the pat-down.
- Make sure your laptop and liquids are on top in your carryon!
- Put your ID and boarding pass in a pocket – I usually wear jeans when I travel and the right bum pocket is designated for passport and boarding pass!
At security:
- Get 3 gray bins
- Put wheelie bag on conveyor
- Unzip wheelie shoes and liquids in bin 1
- Put laptop in bin 2
- Put shopper in bin 3 (do this last so you stay closest to your purse as it goes through security – I never walk through the screener until I see my last bin actually go into the machine)
- Retrieve boarding pass, hand it to the man, spin and swirl as you sashay through the wind tunnel
- Retrieve shoes from bin 1 – slip them on
- Pop laptop and liquids into wheelie, zip it up, take off conveyor
- Retrieve shopper
- Retreat to airport lounge to put on jewelry, belt, jacket, and prep for flight readiness
- Plug in anything that needs final charging – laptop, phone, ipod
- Buy bottle of water for flight
