Pink’s Travel Tips — Intro
Pink’s Travel Tips — Tip #1
Pink’s Travel Tips — Tip #2
Pink’s Travel Tips — Tip #3
Pink’s Travel Tips — Tip #4
Pink’s Travel Tips — Tip #5
Pink’s Travel Tips — Tip #6

13 Responses to “Pink’s Travel Tip #7: Zip through security”

  1. mike says:

    My tip is: use smaller airports when possible. I live in SW Denver and recently flew from Colorado to Dallas. I found that flights from Denver Intl and Colorado Springs airport cost about the same, BUT, from long term parking in Colorado Springs I can easily walk to the terminal and going through security in Colorado Springs took about 15 minutes. Compare that to DIA where you’d better bring a book

  2. Katie says:

    Love it! Very informative… and even funny.

    As a seasoned traveler myself, I’d also recommend that if you want to get through security quickly, under no circumstances should you attempt to add a little right-brained appeal to your laptop by adding this: http://www.schtickers.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=103

    I’ve been pulled aside by security in Minneapolis, Connecticut, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Bremen, Germany… all because the security agents needed to examine the cover more closely, show it to the other agents, and find out where they could get one themselves (and if they come with other designs!)

    It’s amazing how adding that little bit of art to my laptop consistently gets a huge positive reaction. Reminds me of the beautiful toilet brushes you wrote about in A Whole New Mind!

    Can’t wait to go through the rest of your travel tips.

  3. This may go without saying, avoid lines with parents + small kids + strollers. It takes 20 minutes to unpack a stroller onto the security belt. And another 15 for the parents to wrassle-up the kids to go through the x-ray.

    Enjoying your tips!

  4. Ed Brenegar says:

    Another security line tip…put all the stuff that they don’t want going through the metal detector in your briefcase or bag that goes through the scanner. The result is that you get where you need to be and then put things back in your pockets. I have an outside pocket that zips. I put keys, change, money clip, pens, etc, in there. Later I always find a little extra change that I somehow missed.
    I vouch for these tips. Thanks.

  5. Peter says:

    All good pointers, Dan. My one additional tip – I always completely empty my pockets, take off my PDA and my belt and stuff them in an outside pocket of my roll-aboard or briefcase BEFORE getting in the security line. This gives you one less thing to slow you down and up your “performance anxiety” when you actually get to the xray belt.

  6. I’d never heard/read or thought to ask the agent. That’s brilliant! Next time I have to fly (at a big airport), I’ll be sure to ask the TSA agent which line they think will move the quickest. 🙂

    With Love and Gratitude,

    Jeremiah

  7. Terry Brock says:

    I always wear slip on shoes, empty pockets before I get in line, and always put my items on the conveyor belt in an order that makes sense: 1st bin belt, jacket, shoes, liquids 2nd rolling suitcase 3rd computer bag 4th computer. This way, I can start redressing first, set my suitcase down, put computer bag over the handles, then slide computer into the bag. Oh, I also make sure to pack my toiletries in my roller bag at the top, so I can just unzip a portion to remove, and repack them without emptying my entire suitcase. This also makes it easier if there is something in my kit that needs to be searched.

  8. Alana says:

    Another tip: Don’t go through DCA (I can’t believe that you call it “Reagan;” no Washingtonian ever calls it “Reagan” – it’s “DCA”) DCA has incredibly slow security, and they’re far more picky than almost anywhere else in the country. Go to BWI or Dulles, if you’ve got to go through DC.

    • Geordie Korper says:

      I disagree with your fundamental premise. In my experience lines at BWI and Dulles are often much longer, which makes sense since most of the senators and congressmen that legislate the TSA travel through DCA. The gates for the commuter flights to NYC and Boston are particularly fast.

      Also even I sometimes call it Reagan and I’ve lived in the DC area for 40 years. From a propaganda standpoint Congress did a great job when they passed the name change saying it was an honorary and no funds would be needed then later followed it up with legislation requiring that all signage and publications must be changed by local, state, and federal governments.

  9. Kari says:

    Dan- Yes, you are being sexist.