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SALT LAKE CITY — After 9/11, airport security got tighter, leaving travelers to become more annoyed with the long lines and inconvenient procedures. But proper preparation can make the process easier.
Your first steps to a quick security experience begin before you leave home: packing. Federal law requires Transportation Security Administration to screen every bag that is checked, which could be opened if they suspect a problem. Pack in an organized way for when TSA needs to inspect the inside of your bag.
Carry-on bags have to fit either under the seat or in the overhead compartment. The sizes of the storage areas depend on the airline, so check the requirements before you pack.
What you wear when you get to the airport can make going through security easier too. Wear comfortable shoes that can be taken off quickly since you will need to remove them at security.
Some body piercings and belts will set off the metal detector, so wear as little of those materials as possible when you go to the airport.
Liquids in carry-on bags have extensive restrictions called 3-1-1. This means that liquids must be in 3.4-ounce bottles, which all have to be in one quart-size clear zip-top bag, and each passenger gets one bag.
If any of the liquid items you plan to bring with you on your trip do not fit those requirements, put them in your checked luggage. There are exceptions to this rule, including medicine and milk or water to make formula for children, which need to be declared.
Traveling anywhere with kids can be a challenge, and planes can be just as hard. TSA allows children under 12 to keep their shoes on and travelers are not asked to do anything that separates them from their children.
Babies and children who cannot walk through the metal detector without assistance can be carried, but if the alarm goes off both the child and the adult will need to be screened.
Before you get to the front of the security line, have your boarding pass and identification out. This will help make the line go by quicker.
Once at the security check station, follow the posted instructions as quickly as you can. Typically the 3-1-1 bag of liquids is pulled out of the bag along with laptops, jackets and shoes. Be sure to empty your pockets of everything in case an item can set off the alarm.
If the metal detector does not go off when you go through, quickly get your belongings and proceed to your gate. If the alarm goes off, you will have to go through additional screening.
These additional screenings will either include a hand-held metal detector wand and/or a pat down, depending on what check is needed. If you have a medical device, let the person doing the screening know.
The officer that conducts the additional screening will be someone of the same gender. He or she will have you stand with your legs apart and arms out to make the check fast and efficient. The process will be explained before and during the screening so you are aware of what happens.
As long as you are well prepared, follow instructions and move quickly through the security process, your experience should be easy.
Do you have any tips on getting through airport security? Leave them in the comments section. Amanda Hollman is an intern at KSL. She attends Utah Valley University where she is studying journalism with a minor in digital media. She is the assistant life editor for the UVU Review. Follow her on Twitter at @HollmanAmanda.
