Speed Through the Airport

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Has anyone checked this out to see if you actually save any time?

I saved this from somewhere, but never think to try it when I get ready to go.

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Speed Through the Airport

Tell me if this sounds familiar: You pack everything the night before, give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and arrive with more than an hour to spare before it's time to board your flight.

Then you see the security line: hundreds of people corralled into a double-back snake that makes your local DMV look like a model of efficiency.

The last thing you want to do is join that line. So don't. Many large airports have additional screening points that, while a little out of the way, more than make up for the inconvenience by being rarely used.

Log on to the Transportation Security Administration's Web site, which lists security checkpoints at every U.S. airport and publishes average wait times by the hour at waittime.tsa.dhs.gov.

There you can find out that, for example, the wait time at Newark Airport's Terminal C, Checkpoint 2 is an average of 11 minutes at 10AM on a Sunday. At Checkpoint 1? The wait time is two minutes. It helps to know your airport's layout too. In general, airports shaped like a horseshoe (such as Dallas/Fort Worth International) have multiple screening points. If the terminals are connected beyond security, you can enter through the least busy line and make your way back to your gate.

At airports with one central security checkpoint (such as Denver), the shorter lines are usually the ones at the outer edges, away from where most of the traffic is funneled. And airports with hotels attached, such as Detroit Metro (the Westin) or Dallas/Fort Worth (the Hyatt), often have a separate security entrance for hotel guests, but anyone can use it.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Faster yet is checking in at the curb. We have been doing this lately and it works great. I don't know if you can do this everywhere?

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

TSA is adding a new wrinkle at some airports by designating some lanes as "Expert" (those who know what they are doing) and others as Family (those who want a little time for strollers etc.). The idea is to speed those through who have a good understanding of the rules while accommodating those who may not travel frequently and do not want to feel rushed by the "pros" in line.

As far as the TSA average wait time, its a good clue but I never have waited more than 5 minutes at any airport I use so its not a big deal to me. I have mellowed in time and just laugh at those who wait to the last minute and then fume over any delay no matter how small.

Cheers

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

We always have a little problem going through the TSA screening. I have my laptop, which has to be out of the case. DW has her CPAP and every airport has a different rule. At MSP, it has to be out of the case and gets swabbed for explosives. At MCO (and several others), it is kind of-go through, we don't care. This is a medical device, not explosive, not sure why the extra tests at MSP, and no where else.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

I have mellowed in time and just laugh at those who wait to the last minute and then fume over any delay no matter how small.

Cheers

I'm with you there apart from the situation where their stupidity in leaving security until the last minute results in the flight being delayed. We had a situation in March where a couple had packed all the toddlers food for the week in their hand luggage, then argued the toss with the security staff when they wouldn't let them take it with them. They arrived at the aircraft just as their cases were being off loaded and because of their actions the flight was late taking off.

[stasik Member Find all posts View Profile Close stasik]

Well the data in the link seems to make sense, although I think its skewed a bit to the low side. Terminals D and E have Southwest which always has a ton of traffic. They also have the worst layout in terms of security. Terminals B, C and F are US Scare which backs up a lot. I have seen lines going all the way back to the parking garage some mornings.

My Premier status with UAL can help sometimes, but most of the time the airport is a nightmare. I get the feeling it was designed by the Marquis de Sade.

[JudyS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JudyS]

We always have a little problem going through the TSA screening. I have my laptop, which has to be out of the case. DW has her CPAP and every airport has a different rule. At MSP, it has to be out of the case and gets swabbed for explosives. At MCO (and several others), it is kind of-go through, we don't care. This is a medical device, not explosive, not sure why the extra tests at MSP, and no where else.

Sounds like you just lucked out at MCO and the other places. I've had my CPAP removed and swiped every time I've flown in the past few years. I think they do it because it's opaque to x-rats; they're afraid someone will empty out the case and fill it with explosives.

.....As far as the TSA average wait time, its a good clue but I never have waited more than 5 minutes at any airport I use so its not a big deal to me. I have mellowed in time and just laugh at those who wait to the last minute and then fume over any delay no matter how small.

I had a wait of about 30 minutes at MCO last month. This was stressful because, given the huge line, there was no way to tell just how long it would be. I would estimate that maybe 1000 people were waiting to be screened; I was surprised when I got through in 30 minutes.

They had the "expert, casual, family" lines, but everyone seemed to be ignoring the signs. In fact, I got into the expert line, but it then just fed into one of the "casual" lines.

Faster yet is checking in at the curb. We have been doing this lately and it works great. I don't know if you can do this everywhere?

That doesn't help with getting through security, does it?

[x3skier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close x3skier]

Actually, the biggest delay for me has always been Immigration, US or foreign, does not seem to matter. Customs is never a hold up in my experience.

Last week it was an infinitely long line in Cancun Mexico and about the same coming back to the US. In fact, the US Citizen line was about twice as long as the Foreign Visitor line in Dallas. Maybe they have finally figured out who is visiting and bringing new cash to spend in the USA and offering them better service.

Never had to pull my Pocket PC out of my backpack or messenger bag anywhere.

Cheers

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I use the TSA link when we'll be returning from an airport that I'm unfamiliar with. Mostly as a gauge to see how long we'll be standing in line rather than as a gauge to see when we need to arrive at the airport. While it's reasonably accurate anything can happen to alter how long it takes to get through.

I always try to arrive at the airport two hours before the scheduled departure time and, so far, have always had plenty of time to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy it before boarding for our flight begins. The TSA has had enough time to make changes and smooth most of the rough spots out. Most passengers are now accustomed to semi-undressing before going through the TSA and even the liquid's rule doesn't seem to be as much of an issue anymore. Of course there is always a few people who haven't flown since 9/11. There may even be a few that haven't flown since metal detectors were added decades ago. I know my step-son has never flown and would be one to slow the line down, even if he checked with us before leaving for the airport. Elderly that don't move so well anymore try but just have to take more time to unload everything and then put it all back together when they get to the other side of security. IMO, it's always best just to arrive early and not have to worry about how long it might take to get through the security check points.

[KathyJed Member Find all posts View Profile Close KathyJed]

[QUOTE=dougp26364;231657]
Most passengers are now accustomed to semi-undressing before going through the TSA

I still worry that the day will come that we are all naked going thru security. That's when I stop flying!