15 Airport Security Tips to Get You Through Fast and Easy

15 things know before YOU go through airport security! Breeze through security at the airport with these tips that I've learned through over 1 million miles of travel! I will also share some surprising items that ARE NOT allowed through TSA security screening checkpoints. EXPAND DESCRIPTION FOR TABLE OF CONTENTS.

00:00 - Airport Security Basics

00:40 - 1 - Print your boarding pass and itinerary
Itinerary can be useful through customs… or getting through connecting security when you don’t have a boarding pass

01:44 - 2 - Travel during non-peak times. At most major US airports the busiest times are typically Mon-Fri in the morning.

02:27 - 3 - If you’re flying in the USA, sign up for TSA PreCheck.
But not all airports have PreCheck… and the PreCheck lanes aren’t open for 24/7.. So be prepared to go through regular security if you have to.
According to the TSA, 93% of travelers wait in line less than 5 minutes!

03:43 - 4 - Wear as little metal as possible
You can get hoodies with plastic zippers
You can get belts with plastic buckles
Massive Body piercings.. Take it out.

04:25 - 5 - Wear easily removable shoes and socks
if you are over the age of 75, you are exempt from removing your shoes and jackets

04:58 - 6 - Liquids and Gels in 100ml or less containers that fit in to a one-quart zip closure bag
Put powders in your check-in. Athletes Food Powder often gets popped for secondary screening
If you have medical liquids, ice, powders, etc… keep them seperate and tell the screener thats what they are. Same goes for baby formula or food for baby.
Due to COVID-19, up to 12 ounces of hand sanitizer is permitted until further notice as of March 2020.

06:19 - 7 - Keep your laptop and big electronics someplace easy to remove.
Lots of wires, cameras, etc.. take them out.
I take out my laptop, ipad, camera, and bag of wires.

07:07 - 8 - Pack the rest of your stuff with packing cubes
So it’s easy to remove in the event they are going through your stuff
And make sure your bag isn’t SUPER stuffed… really hard to close it again when they mess it all up
If you have gifts.. Don’t wrap them

08:34 - 9 - There is often more than one security line
Regular security might be shorter than pre-check… other terminal might be shorter.
At LAX I often go through security in the American Airlines terminal and then walk over to the International Terminal

09:51 - 10 - Drink your water…
But save the bottle!
One exception to this is if you are traveling with a baby and the water is clearly for them. No limit is set there, except for "within reasonable quantities."

10:49 - 11 - Be Polite and cheerful.
Especially if you get selected for special screening.
But no jokes.

11:57 - 12 - Keep your boarding pass and ID handy
Even after you pass the place where they check them
They might ask for it again… some countries scan it again at the xray machine

12:45 - 13 - Empty your pockets
I often get popped for some tissue or chapstick in my pocket.
For airports that use body scanners you can generally request a pat down instead

13:01 - 14 - Electronics
Best to just ask… it changes so much… laptops in the bag.. In the bin.

13:37 - 15 - Keep calm, cool, composed
Make sure you take all your stuff
Nothing is worse than leaving your laptop at the security checkpoint

14:15 - Surprising TSA Restrictions

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[McMansikka]

Security Officer from EU here. Most tips are quite correct.
I want to say about tip 11 that it's so true. If you cooperate it's so much faster and easier for you and everyone (I know some officers are cranky, but just ignore it and do as they ask). Even if you're randomly selected to secondary screening (which really IS TOTALLY RANDOM, at least in EU) just let us do the random check, often with this days technology it's gonna take you 1-2 minutes. Also we (security officers) don't enjoy them either. We work long days, with minimum pay and have already ton of work to do.
Tip 13 yes, please empty your pockets, even if it's not metal.

Finally i'd like to add that resent years have been confusing about the rules because they change airport to airport very much because new tech is being used and tested. Probably in the next 5-10 years rules will be pretty much the same everywhere. The tech is now at point that it's really accurate and reliable.
Also metal detectors won't harm you or your baby if you're pregnant. But you always have the right to ask for pat down.
Also people get confused about what counts as liquids. A really good guideline that we use is: is the good spreadable with a butter knife. If it is, it's a liquid. So e.g. butter is counted as a liquid.

Anyway. Great video about airport security. Finally a video that got everything pretty correct and not spreading false information :)

[iGrabBit]

Good to know I can travel with my emotional support lobster 🦞

[richardmercer]

Don't just print out your boarding pass and itinerary, print *3 copies* of each and pack them in different places. Yes, I'm paranoid, but sometimes paranoia pays!

[scottman]

These are great tips! I was able to get TSA Precheck via Global Entry, and it has been wonderful every time I fly. I will share a few tips which I have that have helped me get through security:
1. If you normally get TSA Precheck and you are flying from an international destination and then have a connecting flight within the US, don't be surprised if the boarding pass for the domestic flight within the US does NOT have TSA Precheck printed on it since the boarding pass was printed outside of the United States. However, if you print out your boarding pass again for your US-based domestic flight connection, there's a good chance it will show TSA Precheck on it. This happened with me when I was flying back from Indonesia last year, and I had a connecting flight from LAX to Detroit.
2. Before getting to security, I highly recommend putting all of your pocket contents such as your cell phone or keys in your carry-on bag. That way you won't have to spend a lot of time at the security checkpoint having to empty your pockets and put everything in a bin full of germs.
3. Always wash your hands after going through security whether a pandemic is going on or not. You never know what viruses or bacteria may be in those bins!

[paula..z]

I’m gonna be going to Florida in 2 weeks and my stomach just drops thinking about flying! I never thought I would be that nervous to go on an airplane..

[bibwitheart]

One item I was surprised I was allowed to take on an airplane was metal circular knitting needles, those suckers can get sharp the thinner they get and the plastic cord connecting them can be pretty sturdy.

[NickolasFuentes]

Great tips! Flying solo for the first time!

[auroraheshiki]

Use to work for airport security and the reason for not allowing scissors, blades, cutters is because depending on the length, those items can severely damage any internal organs once stabbed into somebody.

[annaburch]

Im glad to know I can bring my lobster in carry-on! Whew!! Good news! 😆🦞

[jameshiga]

Hi Chris. Great tips. Always print out my travel documents when I travel . Nice to have a backup in case of emergency. Just follow the rules and it will be a much smoother way to go through security. Thanks for sharing.

[BujoldComa]

Get to the airport on time. Show up to the airport two hours ahead of time for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. Then don't blame anyone but yourself if your late. Remember, no TSA screener wants to touch a passenger. So make certain there is nothing in your pockets when you go through the body scanner.

[joanna.mojanora]

I usually have a routine when I go through security. I know where everything is and it is easy to pull out. The line can be short or really long to get to the checkpoint but once I am at the belt to put my stuff on, it usually takes me less than a minute to have everything on there and be ready for the metal detector or the body scanner. I am very methodical and it is easy to put things back in.
I still get surprised how many people will argue with security personnel about liquids, metal, electronics etc as there were not posters and notices everywhere to remove them and because of that they take a long time to get ready to go through. I have been a witness to it everytime I go to the airport.

[Mudinyeri]

I've been through dozens of airports with professional camera gear and have never taken it out of my personal bag. I did leave my camera/personal bag unzipped once. A TSA agent picked up the bag, flipped it over and (accidentally) dumped out all of my camera gear into the tub the bag was in. ALWAYS re-zip your camera/personal bag after taking out your laptop!

[Pazzazz]

I love the keeping the empty water bottle!!! My girlfriend put a water bottle in my carryon in Salt Lake City & TSA yelled out DEHYDRATION ALERT & not only did they take the water bottle they found, I was subjected to a full pay down etc!!! 🙄

[come_explore_with_me_IL]

Always nice to see an American not just assuming everyone on youtube is American.

[creativesparks]

JEEZ I HAVE BAD ANXIETY

the thing worrying me most is sercurity and sitting next to people when he said TSA PreCheck I was like IM DOING THAT


He said “small fee” i was thinking like $15.... 😒 $85! More than my ticket

[khatiyachendaprem]

I alway print everything on paper as a back up because I just never know the what if situation arise.

[nexusSix_]

Wow! Great tip! I've seen hundreds of packing videos and they always have the same old stolen and recycled "tips/hacks" ....that's so much ! Appreciate all your hard work

[joekilani]

Very helpful Info, Thank you, By the way we love your informative show .