1. Check to see what items are banned. Before you embark on 
   your journey, check with your airline or the TSA to see what you’ll be allowed to bring in a 
   carry on, what you’ll have to stow in a checked in bag, and what simply isn’t 
   allowed to be brought on a flight.


2. Remove every possible metal item from your person before walking 
   through the metal detector. There are any number of things that you 
   could be carrying that might set off the metal detector and hold up the line. 
   Empty out your pockets, including your wallet, remove your belt, and any kind of 
   jewelry you might be wearing. To speed things along, prepare before you reach 
   the checkpoint by putting your items into a small clear plastic baggy.


3. Wear easy to remove shoes. You would think that most people 
   would know to wear easily removable shoes on a flight by now, but there are 
   always those few that are laced and buckled up to a ridiculous degree and end up 
   holding up the line. Don’t be that person, wear slip ons or a comfortable 
   alternative.


4. Prepare your electronics. To go through security you must 
   remove your phones, PDAs and laptops from your bags and place them in a separate 
   container. Have them stowed in your luggage in such a way that makes this easy, 
   and pull them out before reaching the front of the line. You should also be 
   prepared to turn them on, so make sure your laptop has at least a little charge 
   remaining.


5. Make sure all your luggage has appropriate tags. While it 
   may or may not be checked, make sure it’s clear that your luggage in fact 
   belongs to you. Unsuspecting travelers could be duped into carrying dangerous 
   items aboard, so clearly mark your bags with your name and phone number your 
   your own tags or ones that the airline provides so that there won’t be any 
   confusion.

1. Don’t make small talk with others before you get through security. 
   While this doesn’t advocate being rude to your fellow passengers, it’s 
   best not to make friends at the airport, at least not until you’ve actually got 
   onto your flight. Many people may seem nice, but have ulterior motives and when 
   they ask you if anyone else might have handled or put something in your luggage, 
   you’ll want to be able to definitively say no.


2. Bring along some clear plastic baggies. You can help speed 
   up through the line by making use of some simple sandwich baggies when going 
   through security. Place all allowable liquids in your carry on into one, as well 
   as all items from your pockets into another so they’ll be easy for security to 
   check and easy for you to keep track of.


3. Keep your medications in their original containers. While 
   medications are exempt from many of the rules that apply to other small items, 
   you can still come under questioning if you store your medication in a 
   day-by-day container instead of in its original packaging. Make it easy on 
   yourself by bringing along the packaging that has your name on it, even if it’s 
   bulkier than your other pill container.


4. Remove your coat and shoes before you’re the next in line. 
   When you see that you’re approaching the front of the line, begin 
   removing your jacket and shoes. You might have to walk a few feet in your socks, 
   but you’ll be ready to go when your turn comes and hopefully get in and out of 
   the scanners quickly.


5. Allow yourself some extra time. Airport security, even at 
   its speediest, can take a long time on busy traveling days. To avoid the hassle 
   of missed flights, arrive at least 2 hours before you plane leaves, 3 if you 
   want to be safe, and try to arrange connecting flights with enough time in 
   between so you won’t be left behind if you’re delayed.

1. Know the rules when traveling internationally. While many 
   of the rules are the same, make sure there aren’t any special circumstances or 
   rules that apply when you travel to another country. Security threats cause 
   airport guidelines to change frequently, so stay informed even when you’re 
   away.


2. Fly with airlines that are forgiving. No matter what you 
   do, sometimes there is no way around being held up in security. To avoid a 
   ridiculous amount of headache and hassle, fly with an airline that makes it easy 
   to switch to another flight in the event that this happens. Sometimes this might 
   cost 
   a little more, but it can be well worth it not to get stuck languishing in 
   an airport.


3. Use common sense. Above all, don’t be a moron about 
   security. It isn’t going to get any less tight anytime soon, so do your best to 
   work with the system instead of against it by being prepared, knowing the rules, 
   and not doing incredibly stupid things like joking about bombs.

Anyone who has visited an airport in the past few years knows that airport 
security, though a necessity, can be a huge hassle. Long lines, pat downs, and 
even the occasional full luggage search can break down even 
the most stalwart of travelers and sometimes even results in missed flights. 
While you may not be able to do a thing about long lines or random security 
checks, there are ways you can make airport security a little less painful for 
yourself and speed up the process as much as possible so that you can get 
through and back on your way to your next exciting (or perhaps not so exciting) destination. 

1. Put your belongings on the conveyor as soon as possible. 
   Don’t be that person who gets to the front of the line and then seems 
   surprised to find that they must empty their pockets, remove their shoes, and 
   take out their laptop. Be prepared when you get to the front and put your stuff 
   in those little bins as soon as you get close enough.


2. Keep a photo ID handy. You should always have a photo ID, 
   whether a drivers license or a passport, in an easily accessible place. Security 
   may check to make sure that the name on the ID matches the name on your ticket, 
   so purchasing a wallet for travel that holds both can greatly simplify 
   matters.


3. Don’t lock checked bags. While TSA approved locks are 
   permitted, regular old suitcase locks are not, as bags may need to be checked or 
   searched. To prevent locks from being cut off and compromising the security of 
   your items within, not to mention holding up your bag, purchase an approved 
   lock ahead of time.


4. Dress appropriately. This may sound like a silly bit of 
   advice, but you’ll save yourself a great deal of trouble if you aren’t wearing 
   something that just screams "troublemaker" or makes you look suspicious. You’ll 
   undoubtedly be subject to greater hassles from security and maybe even your 
   airline, as passengers have been removed from planes for wearing clothes that 
   were too sexy or offensive. It may be unfair that security gets to police your 
   fashion choices, but you’ll move through much more quickly if you work with it 
   and not against it.


5. Consider joining the Clear 
   program. Frequent travelers may benefit from joining a program like 
   Clear (for a fee, of course) to help them speed more quickly through security 
   lines. Members have their IDs, photographs, fingerprints and iris images scanned 
   beforehand and are given a special pass which they present along with their 
   fingerprints to security fast lanes. You’ll still have to go through all the 
   scanners, but you could speed things up by about 30%.

1. Don’t wear a lot of jewelry. Keep it simple when traveling 
   and save your best jewelry for another day. Some jewelry like watches frequently 
   set off the metal detectors, and with increased sensitivity of the machines, 
   other things that might have passed previously will start the bells a-ringing as 
   well. It’s better to stow these items in your carry on or personal bag.


2. Don’t try to be funny. The hard and fast rule at the 
   airport is that nothing involving your luggage, you or anyone else being a 
   danger to a flight even in the most ridiculous manner is funny. You can expect 
   to be greatly delayed or even arrested if you try to get a laugh out of security 
   personnel with this kind of talk, as even a baby was thrown off of a recent 
   flight for suggesting that a plane go "bye-bye".


3. Leave gifts unwrapped. If you’ve bought gifts for others on 
   your trip make sure to leave them unwrapped in your luggage. If security needs 
   to check them, they’ll have to tear apart that lovely gift wrap instead of your 
   little niece or nephew.


4. Watch bags very carefully. This should go without saying, 
   but it bears repeating. Always have your bag with you at all times, no matter 
   how awkward or uncomfortable it may be. It’s always better to be safe than 
   sorry.


5. If you’re not sure, ask before you get there. If you aren’t 
   sure of the regulations for international travel, the size of your carry on, or 
   just what kind of liquids are allowed on a plane, check the website of the 
   airport you’re departing from or ask your airline. If you’re still unsure, give 
   them a call. It’s better to check beforehand than to get held up debating the 
   issue when you’ve got a flight to catch.


6. Avoid duty free items. While the appeal of tax free alcohol 
   and cologne may be hard to resist, when traveling internationally these can 
   cause you a huge hassle. Duty free items in Europe are packaged in tamper 
   evident bags or boxes which are allowed to easily travel between cities. 
   Unluckily for US bound travelers, this type of packaging won’t pass muster, so 
   if you’ve got a connecting flight you’ll have to find a way to store your 
   unacceptable liquids in your checked luggage, which is a huge hassle and likely 
   not worth the few dollars you saved. Avoid purchasing items like these until 
   you’re safely on your way out of the airport.


7. Limit food items. While there are many food items that are 
   allowed on board without too much question, there are those that skirt the line 
   of being too gel-like to be allowed through. So while it might seem like a good 
   idea to bring along some mashed potatoes from your Thanksgiving dinner, it’s 
   likely that they won’t be allowed through. Save yourself the trouble and limit 
   the food you bring or check beforehand to see if it will be permitted.