You know the story.
You’re rushing to catch your flight. This proposal has taken you and your firm weeks to organise and the big meeting is coming up. But for some reason, there’s always a line at airport security when you are on that time crunch.
The rules about what you can and can’t take seem to change without notice and you wind up throwing out a can of deodorant or nail file at the checkpoint while struggling to get everything out of the bag that you need to have in that tray.
Travelling and dealing with airport screening and security can be stressful especially when you’re in a rush.
To make that process a little less stressful, we’ve got the inside tips to help you glide through from the airport security experts at Asset College.
Trainer and assessor, Lynn Meechan has worked security and airport security for over 20 years as an Operations Manager.
Lynn is the dedicated Airport Security Trainer at Asset College and she has given us the inside scope for getting through airport security quickly.
- Check your bathroom bag and leave the expensive hand lotion at home
Ensure you have nothing over 100mls/100grms of Powders/Liquids/Aerosols/Gels/Creams/Paste in your carry-on luggage.
These are known as PLAGS and you must have all PLAGS inside a snap-lock bag that’s approximately 20x20cm.
- What can stay in your carry on and what needs to go in the tray
You’ll need to remove all PLAGs – small bottles of liquid, powders, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry on and place them on the trays to go through screening.
You’ll also need to put all electronics – phones, laptops, iPads in the tray as well.
Be prepared and have these easily accessible to remove at the screening point and you’ll get through quicker.
- Take off your Jewellery
Prior to arriving at the airport security checkpoint remove any bulky jewellery including gold and place it in your carry-on bag.
This can set off the metal detector and you don’t want to be standing there watching the clock tick closer to your boarding time while they run a metal detector over you because you didn’t take off your gold chain.
This also applies to heavy belt buckles.
- Leave the work boots at home or in your checked luggage
Many people don’t realise steel-capped boots, boots with decorative metal and footwear with metal bars will set off the metal detectors.
RM Williams is one company that has metal bars in the instep of their footwear and you could be standing there for 15 minutes removing various items from your person only to continue setting off the metal detectors and becoming increasing anxious about missing your flight not knowing it is a metal bar in sole of your shoe causing the problem.
Plan ahead and put any shoes that could cause a problem in your checked luggage.
- The manicure can wait
Rules around nail files and manicure kits have changed in recent years. These can now only travel in your checked luggage so if you only have carry-on, leave the nail kit at home and treat yourself to a manicure at your destination.
- Get a fresh pack of batteries
You can’t bring any loose batteries on the airplane so if you need them for a device, pick up a fresh unopened packet to avoid throwing them out at the checkpoint.
- Check the gifts
If you have a wrapped gift for someone or you’ve been given something to bring back, make sure you know exactly what is in the wrapped gift.
It could be something that could get you stopped or needs to be thrown out.
Avoid the hassle and put it in your checked luggage.
Remember, airport security can see everything in your bags so make sure you do the right thing and you’ll glide through the screening process without any issues.
Asset College, winner of Large Training Provider of the Year 2020 has over 15 years’ experience in offering first rate training across a range of fields including airport security, armed and unarmed security, work health and safety, project management, business plus more.
