Complying With Airport Security To Save Time While you might not appreciate all the security efforts at airports around the United States, it’s easier to comply with the requests of security personnel, and it will save you time. Going through security checkpoints isn’t exactly fun, but it’s for the safety of you and everyone else that may be traveling with you. While no security measures are 100% you should take comfort in the governments to protect you when you travel. Knowing what to expect and what security personnel expect of you will help your interactions be more tolerable and it’ll get you to your plane on time, too.
The first thing you should expect in relation to security is that the airlines are very strict about having photo identification for every passenger that gets a boarding pass. For children, a birth certificate and/or vaccination record usually does the trick. Where airports used to be more lenient, they are no longer tolerant of people who cannot prove who they are with proper photo identification. Also, the airline will require you to remove locks on your luggage before you can check it, so it’s best to save yourself and your airline some time, and just leave the luggage locks at home. As uncomfortable as this may leave you feeling, the airline maintains the right to search any bag to secure the safety of all passengers on board its aircraft. In the end, this inability to lock your luggage and provide valid photo identification is in your best interest, and if you come prepared to do these things your interactions with airline employees will be much more pleasant.
If you buy your plane ticket just days or hours in advance, you might be subjected to a random security screen. Passengers who buy their plane ticket last minute or with cash are often randomly selected by the computer as high-risk travelers. This just means that instead of going through the typical metal detector, you’ll usually be patted down or they’ll use the metal detecting wand instead of the walk through machine. The frequency of these “random” selections seems to vary by airline, and it’s really no hassle as long as you are aware that the airline and airport can do this and it is not to single you out, but to secure the safety of all of the passengers in theairport.
When your average customer gets to the walk through metal detector you’ll be prompted to place any carry on luggage, purses, and other personal belonging in bins that will go through the metal detector to be screened. You may also be asked to remove your shoes before going through the detector. While removing your shoes is probably the last thing you’ll want to do when you are trying to get on a plane, it’s best to comply than to have your shoes set the detector off and be delayed even more. Remember during the moments when you do not appreciate the process that it truly is for your security. As you pass through the metal detector you will usually be asked for your photo identification and boarding pass again so that the agent on site knows that you are allowed to proceed through to the boarding areas.
Much has changed since September 11, 2001 and while many people are annoyed at the delay in the airports due to security it really does help to protect us all from another airline related tragedy. So, before you go to the airport prepare for the security demands that will be placed on you and all other passengers. Being prepared for these things will help expedite the process, and save you much aggravation. When you make your airline reservations, be sure to ask how long in advance of your departure time you should arrive at the airport. It might seem like you do not need that much time to get checked in, but these times vary from airport to airport and it’s better to have too much time than end up missing your flight because the security checkpoints were backed up because of a heavy travel day. Arrive early and be prepared and you’ll find that the security checkpoints are actually working with you, not against you. Read more
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