I love airports and am always looking forward to hopping on the next plane. That being said, I also love being efficient and try to sail through security as quickly as I can. These are my top tips and tricks for breezing through airport security.

Travel Light and Check Your Bags

The less you have the better. If you don’t mind checking a bag, do it! I try to only travel with my purse through security or maybe a backpack if my airline does not give me a free checked bag.

Empty Your Pockets

As soon as you get past the TSA checkpoint where they check your boarding pass and ID – put it all in your bag. Empty everything out of your pockets and even take off extra layers. Zip all those things into your one bag that will go through the scanner so they have less to check on your person.

It’s also important to put away any large pieces of jewelry – earrings and wedding rings are fine to keep on. I have screwball bracelets from Cape Cod that I wear every day and those are normally fine but I do unclasp them and that helps keep security detectors from going off.

Sign Up for TSA Pre-check and Global Entry

This is an incredible perk that I use all the time. If you fly more than a few times a year, it’s worth it. Sometimes the lines are about the same length but for the few times that the airport is packed and you get to sail past the line, it’s incredible. You also don’t have to remove your shoes or take out your liquids. You can get the fee for Global Entry/TSA Pre-check waived with some credit cards. It’s a perk of my favorite chase card. $100 value free with the card!

Pick Your Outfit Accordingly

You’ll have to take your jacket off to go through security. I like to wear comfy warm clothes on the plane with an extra layer in case it gets cold. My favorite airplane outfit of the moment is these leggings pants and this slouchy sweater.

You won’t be able to wear your shoes through regular security and even though you can wear them if you go through TSA pre-check, I find that my boots normally set off the security system so even in TSA pre-check lines, I also usually wear my Rothy’s Flats or Toms. If I don’t have pre-check, I wear comfy shoes that require socks. I wear boots in the winter – to save suitcase space, keep my feet warm, and because they require socks so I won’t have to walk through barefoot.

Be Mindful of Regulations

These change from time to time so if you don’t fly often, take a peek at the TSA website before you fly!

Does anyone else have tips and tricks for airport security? Let us know in the comments!