While we are in full swing with the holiday season, it would be remiss of me not to share tips on how to save time at their airport, but make life easier for you to boot. I’m not the biggest fan of air travel. Maybe if it still retained an air of glamor and mystery (and lobster — a girl can dream).
Most of these tips are common knowledge, some common sense. No matter what, they are designed to help you save time traveling and hopefully save the headache that a trip to the airport bar for overpriced drinks won’t help.
- Don’t check your luggage. Roll your clothes to prevent wrinkling and mix and match outfits. You can wear a dress three different ways in one week, especially if it’s a neutral color.
- Wear shoes that slip on and off easily. I prefer a simple pair of Clarks loafers for air travel. They are comfortable, I can sprint in them if needed and anything looks better than flip-flops and bare feet.
- If you can pack your coat in your suitcase before going thru security, do it. Nothing says “inconvenient” when you’re having to shuck layers of clothing in order to go thru security. (I also put my jewelry, minus my wedding band, in my carry-on.)
- Electronics (phone, iPod, etc) can be put in your bag as well. Everything goes thru the scanner once and your not trying to empty your pockets, struggling with your jacket, removing your shoes, all the while joyfully awaiting the mandatory TSA feel-up. The only thing I have on me when I’m going thru security these days is my ID. Everything else is in my bag.
- Have your boarding pass ready. I also utilize my smartphone and have everything opened with my travel information
- Take your laptop out of its case.
- Separate your liquids to easily place them on the conveyor belt. You’re only allowed a quart-sized Ziploc bag, so pare your beauty routine down, or stock up on samples.
While this is just a small sampling of what you can do, every little bit counts with our hectic schedules. I’ll be sharing my absolute favorite app for travel prep on Thursday to help you pinch a little more time out of your day.
This post was written by...
Lisa – who has written 269 posts on Daily Pinch™.
Lisa Frame is a under-organized, over-achiever. She's a freelance writer covering tech, travel, business, parenting and food. The need for more "me time" has lead her to search the seven corners of the earth in order to find the ever-elusive lazy streak without success. When she's not living online, she's pestering her husband and son in order to test their breaking point and give them something to discuss with the shrink.
