There are two types of travelers: Those who arrive at the airport early (the recommend two or three hours prior to the flight time) and those who casually stroll in as the plane is boarding. If you recognize yourself as the first type, wait times may not often be an issue for you. But if you hope to breeze through security, chances are you've come close to missing your flight due to long wait times.
While early arrivals help to avoid the stress of travel and navigating security lines, all airports are not created equal. Some have a reputation for zipping passengers through security in under five minutes, while others are just considered slow. Which U.S. airports have earned the title of the country's worst for security wait times? We've got the info.
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According to a comprehensive report by Planet Ware, an online source for travel guides, these 10 airports have the longest average security wait times, so plan ahead if you're departing from these destinations.
Some airports are more likely to be visited than others, so Planet Ware also narrowed down the list of the longest wait times to the airports with the most passengers on average each year. These are the busiest airports with the longest average wait times.
The website's travel experts collected data from more than 150 airports across the country. They gathered data each day for one week during the busiest time, which happens to be from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. From there, they ranked the airports from the longest to shortest wait times.
No matter which airport is the starting point for your next trip, getting through security can be a hassle. Here are a handful of tips that will help you zip through the line quickly, so there's no need to rush to your gate.
Depending on where you plan to travel, any combination of Clear, TSA Precheck or Global Entry may help you save quite a bit of time when getting through security. A Clear membership is a faster identification process that allows you to skip to the front of the line. TSA Precheck provides an expedited screening program for flights originating in the United States. And Global Entry gives prescreened, low-risk travelers the opportunity to pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection faster when returning to the U.S. from an international flight.
If you plan to pack your toiletries in your carry-on, it's important to know about the TSA liquid limit and exceptions, as well as TSA food rules. For instance, liquids under 3.4 ounces are permitted in carry-on luggage; larger liquids must be packed in a checked bag or they will be confiscated by TSA agents.
The earlier your flight departs, the less likely there is to be an overcrowded security line. If you book the first flight of the day, you are bound to zip through security quickly, and you're far less likely to experience flight delays.
It's not just larger liquids that can't go in your carry-on. Familiarize yourself with the TSA's carry-on rules in advance of your flight and pack accordingly. If you need to pack items that are not permitted in a carry-on, arrive at the airport early in order to check your bag.
TSA agents are responsible for verifying your identity before allowing you through security, which means you'll need an up-to-date license or passport. If you arrive at the airport with expired identification, you are likely to spend far more time navigating security, and in some cases you may not be permitted to board your flight at all.
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The post Traveling Through These 10 U.S. Airports? Better Arrive Extra Early appeared first on Reader's Digest.
2023-08-18T04:35:34Z dg43tfdfdgfd