Avoid These TSA Line MISTAKES at All Costs! (11 Airport Security Tips) 🛃

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Make sure the LAST thing you put on the security scanner is your valuables! Look first at the line flow. Don't walk through the body scanner unless your stuff is also ready to scan. Hold your passport with boarding card in your hand as you go for your body scan/check. Never take your eyes off your valuables.

My small tip: I also put all my electronics on a clear zip lock bag. That way I can just pull a bag with headphones, chargers, powerbank, kindle, etc.. and put it in the tray. I always carry a lot of electronics and it saves me a lot of time. Also helps me getting to my stuff when I'm in the plane.

I'm a seasoned traveller myself, both business and personal. These would be my extra tips: 1. Look ahead to the front of the line you're in - some split into two desks nearer the front so move twice as fast, others filter into one and go half as fast so pick the right line. 2. Make sure you follow the baggage size and weight rules of the airline to avoid problems and maybe extra charges at check in. 3. Print hard copies of your travel docs before leaving home in case your phone packs up or wifi is bad. 4. Keep a close eye on the info boards - late gate changes are quite common. 5. Getting visas on-line before travelling saves an extra line at the airport (and can be easier to extend if needed). 6. Do your research and make sure you're equipped e.g. some countries require cash payment in a specific currency for a visa on arrival. 7. Have some small change on you for tips/baksheesh. 8. Smile and be nice to people and you'll find nice people everywhere you go.

Not a TSA tip, but a travel tip. If you are carrying on a plain black back pack add something to it to make it distinctive, like bold stickers or ribbons. Don't put it next to another plain black back pack, where an absent minded lady grabs yours by mistake. Happened to me in San Francisco. An hour of sheer panic as airline staff and security did their detective work to find the lady and the bag.

I'm not gonna read through the entire list to see if anybody else has posted this but my number one tip is sending your possessions through the scanner in the order you need them to come out so they can easily be re-packed. Meaning send your backpack through first, so that as your items come out you can just place them right into your bag.

As a seasoned traveler who is now almost 60--and not as snappy with my memory as I was 30 years ago--I almost walked off without my tablet at TSA. Now I make a point to put my shoes on the belt LAST. That way everything comes out before I walk away.

My 6yo told them at security check that taking off her shoes is the dumbest thing she has ever heard in all her 6 years. Lol

I leave all my jewelry--rings, earrings, whatever off and in my personal bag when leave home and don't put it on until I get through security. Gives me less to worry about in the TSA line and less chance it will be lost. Based on someone's tip below I'm going to put those items in a plastic bag too,

My travel tip....when I travel with my husband, I know he will get patted down because of his pacemaker and knee replacements. I always go first and he lets another person go in front of him. That way it gives me enough time to get his things off the belt. I also try do this when flying with a friend, we don't go through one behind the other just in case one of use gets pulled to the side. That way someone's eyes are always on our things.

Tip #12 - move away from the end of the conveyor when your stuff has come out instead of just standing there packing everything while other people are coming through trying to get to their own items!

I'm 93 and I remember how exciting it was to go lunch at the airport dinning room and watch the planes take off and landing. My last flight was a year ago from San Diego to Charlotte NC and I could not believe how dreadful is was to fly now. My flying days are over and I am relieved that I won't be doing it anymore.

Also, if you are someone who needs extra help (elderly or frail, carrying a large amount of medical supplies, etc) please do NOT think you’re wasting anyone’s time to request extra help when purchasing your ticket. There are plenty of airport, airline and TSA staff ready to help you and take you through a designated security line. This helps everyone.

I have to fly several times a month, and this is how I do it. First, I have my Nexus ready (Global for Americans), so I always go through the express line. Before leaving home, I place my watch, wedding ring, wallet, etc., in a ziplock and put it in my personal bag. I only carry my phone (with boarding pass ready) and passport in my pocket. That way, those are the only personal items I have to place on the tray when I empty my pockets. I only wear a jacket over a sweater and comfy trousers without a belt. And, Salomon dark shoes. No metal, best comfort ever and easy to take off and on if ever needed (I have never had to take them off.) Finally, my laptop and iPad are ready to take from my personal bag—also, liquids in an approved ziplock within my personal bag and never inside the carry-on. So, the carry-on stays closed and just have to put it on the tray. Then, one tray for the jacket and personal bag. Another one is for laptop, iPad, passport, liquids and phone. And one more for carry-on. That way only takes 30 seconds to put everything on trays and a few seconds through the scanner. Once I clear security, another minute taking my stuff and walking away. I always go fast and always have my items on sight. Once at the gate, I take the ziplock with personal items and get my watch, wallet, etc. Oh, and I also get my neck pillow and blanket out from my bag at the gate and have them ready hanging from my carry-on so I can sit faster in the plane. Once I get to my seat, I place my neck pillow, iPad and cable on my seat and then put my carry-on in the bin and my personal item under the front seat. That takes me 30 seconds too. By the way, a four (double) wheels carry-on is a must; less space inside, but much easier to pull/push through lines and within the plane. Faster and easier for me, and a bit more considerate for other passengers.

Great tips, thank you! One more thing I’d add is to not be chatty with the person in front or behind you while standing in TSA line. One, you may miss something the agent says, two you might make that person miss something, and three, the other person may be already frazzled and struggling to remember all of the dos and don’t’s. 😊

My husband and I didn't fly much, but we had to once due to a very long trip that was too far to drive. We made a list of questions, then called the airline to make sure we did the right thing. I currently wear a colostomy bag and learned that myself and my supplies can be excused from TSA pat downs.

If you fly often, pay for TSA pre-check. You will get a Known Traveler Number which you give to the airline and it will appear on your boarding pass. Then you go through a separate, usually faster line at most airports. It cost $85 last year and is valid for 5 years.

I used to be a TSA agent for Newark airport for ten years, since it's inception in 2002 and it was a headache in the beginning, re-running the bags was constant because laptops and the likes would be in the bags. Over the years, majority of the passengers caught on to the procedure to make it an easy process. Working the x-ray, I made sure that the belt doesn't get backed up, I would wait until the passenger was ready to remove their belongings, if they were still putting their shoes and personal items together. To prevent too many bins going through the x-ray, I would put their laptop and other small items side by side in the same bin and their jacket and toiletries in another bin or vice-versa, nothing on top of each other. Working in the International checkpoint was a little difficult because of language barrier, you had to hand motion and at times they would still forget to divest their pockets before entering the body scanner. I remember the four SSSS on the tickets and I hated that just as much as the passengers. I recall this blind passenger, who often flew, and he did the process better than those that could see, no mistakes. I didn't suggest the passengers to leave their phone or other small items in their jackets, unless it was just the phone or wallet, sometimes multiple things in the jacket pockets cause confusion and you may still have to place the items back in the x-ray machine separately.

Airport security is becoming more an opportunity for abuse and less for the purported purpose of security or haven't we noticed.

Always keep your passport and boarding pass in the exact same pocket or pouch so you never have to fumble around looking for it when you don't have them in hand.