Travel Tips

The Top Ten Ways to Speed Up Your Security Scan

Let’s face it ‐ we don’t complain about security scans at airports because at the end of the day, they stop the big bad terrorists in their tracks. However purpose serving aside, the public undressing, belt removal, shoe shedding and everything else is somewhat frustrating and rather time consuming. With that in mind here a ten quick tips to speeding up your scan and maintaining your dignity.

1. Toiletries
   

   The Beauty Terrorist series was born in the era of the hand luggage restrictions and you know what? The tips on what you can and can’t get away with still ring true! The security scan rules are simple. Don’t take anything bigger than 100ml, keep your transparent, re‐sealable bag at the very top of your hand luggage, replace shower gel with a bar of soap, only take the bare essentials and don’t take any flack about including medication as part of your liquid allowance. This can be separate as pointed out in point number two …

2. Medicines
   

   Asthma inhalers and monster sized tubes of eczema cream are generally cool with the airport folk so just pop them in a separate tray. However large amounts of liquid medication such as insulin may require a doctor’s note of explanation, so make sure you get it sorted ahead of your trip and have it to hand with your travel documents. This will save you and your fellow queue folk, from any hold ups.

3. Belts
   

   If you can fly without a belt then do it because inevitably, you’ll be asked to take it off. If however you can’t make do, then try a material belt. They’re thin and impossible to stow anything away in so they don’t attract scrutiny. Better yet the buckles are made of material too so they won’t set off the metal detectors.

4. Boots
   

   Again ‐ don’t wear them if you can avoid it. The same goes for platform shoes, wedges, high heels with a chunky support, wellingtons and dress shoes. Canvas Converse shoes are your best bet for walking on through without stripping down to your socks. Flip flops work too but they aint’ the best when it gets chilly on air conditioned flights.

5. Chunky Knit Wear
   

   To stream through security with the greatest of ease, don’t wear chunky sweaters, avoid hoodies and ditch the wrap arounds. You are asked to take your coat off for a reason and that’s because it’s easy to conceal potentially dangerous bits and bobs, in all that surplus material. The same principle applies so ditch the knits.

6. Coats With Pockets
   

   If you have coat with a whole load of pockets then wear it ahead of your security scan. You’ll have to take it off before you go through so ahead of that put your watch, mobile phone, passport, keys, loose change and everything else, in the coat pockets. On the post scanned side this eliminates all that scrounging around in trays to pick things up and it’s better than throwing everything into the deepest, darkest depths of your bag.

7. Computers
   

   Laptops always need to be in a tray of their own so if you’re taking one on the road, keep it to hand in the top of your carry on bag ‐ next to those toiletries! It’s also worth investing in a padded envelope or sleeve for your laptop. Unlike laptop bags, you don’t need to remove these before sending your beloved machine through the scanner. Furthermore such sleeves guard against scratches, dirt and man handling in the security trays.

8. The Spanish Rules
   

   The passport controls in Spain are a little stricter than the rest of Europe and the same can be said for the security scans at Spanish airports. With that in mind prepare yourself to remove all batteries and electrical devices from your hand luggage, before going through. This means more trays and more time, so make yourself more efficient by preparing well in advance.

9. Water Bottles
   

   Everyone knows that you can’t take a water bottle through security with you. What most people don’t realise is that you can take an empty one through without any hassle and then fill it up from the free water fountains, on the other side. This way you can dodge the extortionately priced bottles on sale after security and save the planet at the same time. Drained, metal bottles work a treat too.

10. Smile
    

    I’m not talking about giving the guards the Cheshire cat treatment but a courteous turning up of the lips always goes a long way. A nice smile portrays you as the travel loving, backpacking, human being that you are ‐ not a soulless suspected terrorist. Even if you do end up with a patting down, it always goes quicker with a smile.

‐ Rob Savage