6 Tips to Get Through Airport Security

To get through airport security you need to understand airport procedures; then, you should do what you can to maximise your own efficiency


Air port clearance is perhaps one of the most tiring procedures. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t travel with as much speed and little hassle. Here’s how.

Tips to Get Through Airport Security

1- Know your luggage

One of the easiest ways to get into trouble with security is to carry something in your bag that doesn’t belong there. Make sure that you don’t pack anything that is forbidden, such as explosives, firearms or ammunition. You should also keep in mind that there are higher security standards for carry-on baggage. Personal items like scissors, penknives, matches and lighters should be transported in your checked baggage, otherwise they’ll be confiscated.

2- Keep your papers handy

Be prepared to be asked for identification more than once at the airport; so, if you want to get where you’re going faster, keep your ID within reach. For domestic flights, you’ll need government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license, as well as your plane tickets. For international travel, it goes without saying that a passport is a must.

3- Prepare for scanning procedures

When approaching x-ray machines and metal detectors, a little preparation will get you through faster. Security will want to make sure that your personal electronics are legit, so have your laptop, PDA or cell phone ready for inspection.

To get through the metal detectors more efficiently, take coins and keys out of your pockets in advance and remove your watch. Take care not to wear steeltoed boots, or other items with metal in them, to the airport. Make sure that any metal that you do wear (in a belt buckle, for instance) is conspicuous, so that security will know what’s setting off the detectors.

4- Remember your itinerary

Have a sense of your travel history and future plans, so that when asked at customs, you can be as clear as possible. When travelling with others, make sure that everyone agrees on where you were, where you’re going, and for how long. If you start telling officials contradictory stories, you may be detained until they’re all sorted out.

5- Avoid guilt by association

Airports can be boring, especially if you’re travelling alone. While it’s okay to chat with other travellers on the plane or in the terminal, make sure you don’t associate yourself with the stranger through customs and security. Don’t say you’ve been travelling with someone just because you sat beside each other on the plane. You don’t want to be responsible for the security transgressions of someone you’ve only just met.

Airport Travelling Alone

6- Be careful with chemicals

Security personnel doesn’t just look for bombs anymore — they look for signs of bomb-making, which includes chemical tests for explosives. Beware of circumstances under which you could be inadvertently stopped. For example, some heart medications contain nitro-glycerine, which is an explosive. If you use your laptop right after you take such pills, you could transfer trace amounts of the chemical to it, creating a false red flag for security officers. Be mindful of what you handle before going on the plane, and get supporting documentation for prescriptions or other legitimate uses of suspicious substances.