Air travel has become an increasingly time consuming proposition. Since 9/11/01, airport security measures have tightened and there are now extensive checks and searches before anyone reaches the boarding area. Prepare yourself beforehand to reduce the possible holdups as you try to catch your next flight and you should get to the boarding area without too much delay. You can't avoid delays altogether but you can reduce them by following these guidelines.
Instructions
1. Maintain a secure place for all your travel documents. Have your travel itinerary, tickets, passport, identification and visa all in one place. Make sure that you have any customs forms filled out in advance and stored. Also store any contact numbers of clients or friends that you will be meeting stored in this location. Most of all make sure that this location is on your person or in your immediate control so that it can't be lost or stolen.
2. Ensure you check with airport security before arriving at the airport for the list of items that you can't have in carry-on luggage. Many of the holdups at the airport security checks are for items clearly posted as not allowed on the airplane. Leave any tools or cosmetics that are flammable in your checked luggage or plan on replacing it when you arrive at your destination.
3. Wear sensible clothes that you can quickly remove if necessary like slip-on shoes. Eliminate belts and apparel that has a lot of metal on it. These will trigger the scanners that you must pass through at the security check point.
4. Make sure you allow enough time to arrive at your gate with your boarding pass (at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time). If you are required to check your luggage, add additional time. Best estimates are that you should be at your boarding gate no less than 30 minutes before departure time for domestic travel and one hour before any international travel destinations.
