Nobody likes waiting in airport security lines. The good news is that with a little preparation, you can consistently get through TSA in under 10 minutes at most airports.
Before You Leave Home
The single most impactful thing you can do is check predicted wait times before you head to the airport. Atlas Navigation shows you real-time and predicted TSA wait times at over 100 US airports, so you can time your arrival perfectly.
Arriving too early means wasting time at the gate. Arriving too late means stress and potentially missing your flight. The sweet spot is knowing the current conditions before you leave.
At the Airport
Wear simple shoes. Slip-ons save 30 seconds every time. Boots with laces are the enemy.
Use the 3-1-1 rule. All liquids in containers 3.4 oz or less, in one clear quart-sized bag, one bag per person. Have it accessible at the top of your carry-on before you reach the belt.
Laptop and large electronics out. Unless you have TSA PreCheck, pull your laptop out of your bag and place it in a separate bin. Tablets too if they're larger than an iPad Mini.
Empty your pockets completely. Phone, wallet, keys, belt — everything goes in your bag or a bin. Metal detectors are sensitive and a single forgotten coin means a pat-down.
Consider TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck costs $78 for five years and lets you keep your shoes on, laptop in your bag, and belt buckled. The lines are almost always shorter. It's the single best investment for frequent travelers.
Know Before You Go
Atlas Navigation provides predicted wait times so you can plan your arrival. Whether you're flying out of AUS, DFW, LAX, or any of 100+ US airports, checking Atlas before you leave takes 10 seconds and can save you 30 minutes.