How often do you find yourself running the whole expanse of the airport to your check-in counter? How about begging the airline personnel to let you board the plane? This has happened to the best and most cautious of travelers.
If this has not happened to you yet, most likely it will. There is just no knowing in advance whether you’ll get caught in a traffic jam, make a u-turn back to your place for a forgotten passport or be held up in the security line for some questioning. So, it is important to arm yourself with time saving tips for a trouble-free passage through any airport in the world.
If you have several heavy bags with you, look for a cart. It is tempting to just run with your luggage if you are late. But those bags will weigh you down. The few minutes you will use looking for a cart will save you plenty of time on your way to the counter.
What you wear will have an impact on how fast you can move from the airport’s entrance to your gate. First, make sure that you are wearing shoes that are easy to take off and put back on. Shoes with complicated laces are a big NO. If possible, wear ones that you can just easily slip on and off your feet. Next, do not wear clothes with plenty of metallic ornamentation; the same goes for your jewelry and bling. You will pass through the security check and cause an alarm in one of machines which will guarantee further delay.
When you are closing in on the security line, keep your cell phones, keys and anything metallic away from your body. Place it in your carry-on bag if you have one. I’m sure you are pretty much aware of what things are prohibited from carrying on to the aircraft, so make sure that you do not bring them with you. Better yet, check on line with the TSA in the United States (or your own country's transport regulators before you leave for the airport. Know before you go will certainly help avoid delays at security.
If you brought along regulated items that are only allowed in checked baggage, never place them in your carry on bag with a thought in mind of transferring them later in the airport. It’s just a big time-waster.
Place your passport and other relevant travel documents in your pocket or in an accessible part of your carry on bag. If these are asked for you can just easily fish them out without having to spend minutes looking for them in the bottom of your bag.
Of course, go to the airport early. This one is pretty obvious but it is often overlooked and disregarded. Again, you just don’t know what lies ahead waiting for you on your way to the airport. It is better to be sure than sorry. Just think of how much money you will waste if your plane leaves without you in it.
Finally, immediately after you are done with the security line or the check-in counter, make room for those behind you. Do not dillydally by needlessly blocking the queue because you just have to receive or make a call, check your itinerary or review how to say good morning in the language of your destination right there and then. There may be people in that line with the an urgent need to make a dash for the boarding gate to avoid getting left behind by their plane. So, give them the same courtesy that you would want to receive if you were in their shoes.
Sunee is author of this article on Hotels in Thailand. Find more information about Phuket Hotels here.
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