Portside's top 6 tips to beat brutal airport security lines

Top 6 tips to beat brutal airport security lines

Everyone loves travelling, but you’d be hard pressed to come across a person who enjoys the time they spend in airports - especially when it’s coming home from a vacation!

Take a look at our six handy hints below, and you’ll be owning airport queues in no time!

1. Get to the airport two to three hours before your flight

You probably feel a bit like responding with ‘Yes, Mum’ when you hear this, but being early can actually save you a lot of time in the long run. Remember, you’re not the only person that thinks you’ll be able to show up and get away with gliding onto the plane with a minute to spare. Be early, breeze through the various airport queues, and spend that extra time waiting for your flight doing something you would rather do - drink, anyone?

2. Look for shorter lines

Again this seems pretty logical, right? But you’d be surprised by how many people are happy to be headed like cattle into any old queue during the many procedures that come as a part of the routine of catching a plane. Keep your head out of your smartphone – you’ll be one of very few – and pay attention. You could be relaxing in the airline lounge in no time while your fellow passengers are still trying to catch Pokemon back at the X-ray machine.

3. Choose your line carefully

While this may seem contradictory to the above point, it’s another good reason to be paying attention – even though to the naked eye one line may appear shorter than another, take into consideration the types of passengers in it. That lady who’s somehow going to get away with four carry-on bags? She’s going to take awhile to get them all cleared by security. The single mum travelling with three kids? It’ll probably take awhile for the customs officer to check all of their passports.

4. Be a smart packer

Do you really have to take your toiletries in your carry-on bag? If not, put them under the plane so you don’t have to worry about getting into a debate about whether your shampoo bottle holds 100 ml or 110 ml. Can’t travel without your laptop? Then make sure you pack it at the top of your bag, so you don’t have security personnel rifling through all of your personals – potentially in front of a captivated crowd - to find it.

5. Carry-on only

Coming home from a holiday is depressing, right? You know what will make it slightly less upsetting? Being able to get off the plane, walk straight out of the airport, and head home for a good night’s sleep in your own bed. Waiting for the baggage carousel can add up to an extra 90 minutes to your trip!

6. Be charged up and connected

Heading to the airport to catch a flight is not the time to have an angry red phone battery flashing at you! In this thing we call the 21st century, airlines regularly communicate important messages with us - like if a flight is delayed or if there is a change in boarding gate - before we get to the airport. Don’t stress yourself out getting somewhere in a hurry only to find out that things have changed!

Bonus tip - don’t forget to smile!

It may see frivolous, but being patient and polite may be a free pass to the front of the pack. Whilst in the moment you may find waiting in a queue or standing around for ages frustrating, airport security staff are less likely to make your journey faster if you’re rude to them. After all, you’re the one going on holiday while they’re stuck at work!

Kingsford Smith Airport Parking has been merged into Portside Parking!