How to Get Through Security Faster

The Biggest Secret: Preparation Happens Before the Line

Most of the time wasted at airport security happens because passengers aren't ready when they reach the front of the line. Everything from shoes to electronics to full pockets slows things down — not just for you, but for everyone behind you. The good news: a few minutes of preparation dramatically speeds up the checkpoint.

Before You Even Get in Line

Consolidate your pockets into your bag. Take your phone, keys, wallet, change, and anything else out of your pockets and put them in your carry-on or personal item. Do this before you reach the X-ray belt, not while you're holding up the line. At most checkpoints, there are bins or ledges before the belt where you can start organizing.

Have your boarding pass and ID ready. You'll show these to the TSA agent before the X-ray machine. Have them in your hand before you reach the front of the ID check line — don't dig through your bag when it's your turn.

Separate your liquids bag in advance. Your quart-sized clear bag of liquids needs to come out of your carry-on and go in a separate bin. Have it in an easily accessible outer pocket of your bag so you can pull it out quickly.

Pack Your Carry-On with Security in Mind

The way you pack your carry-on affects how long the X-ray takes. A well-organized, relatively sparse bag goes through faster than a densely packed one where the screener can't distinguish items.

• Keep cables, electronics, and liquids accessible and toward the top of your bag
• Don't bury your laptop at the bottom (unless you have TSA PreCheck)
• Avoid packing food items that are difficult to identify (e.g., a bunch of snacks jumbled together)
• Don't overstuff your bag — a packed bag takes longer to X-ray

The Right Clothing Makes a Big Difference

• Wear slip-on shoes — the single biggest time-saver at security
• Skip the belt, or wear one that's easy to remove quickly
• Minimal metal jewelry — large metal pieces slow you down
• Empty coat pockets before placing the coat in the bin

Know What Needs to Come Out of Your Bag

For standard (non-PreCheck) screening, remove these and place them in separate bins:

• Laptop and large tablets (iPad-sized and larger)
• Your quart-sized liquids bag
• Shoes (unless you have PreCheck)
• Jacket or coat
• Belt (if wearing one)

Everything else stays in your bag in most cases. Small tablets, cameras, phones, books, and other electronics don't need to come out.

Use Multiple Bins Efficiently

Don't fight to share a single bin with another passenger. Pull multiple bins down the line if you need them. Use one for your shoes, one for your liquids and small items, and your bag(s) on the belt. Trying to cram everything into one bin creates a cluttered mess that slows down the screener.

Fastest Option: TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck is the single most effective way to speed through security. With PreCheck:

• You keep your shoes on
• You keep your belt on
• Laptop stays in your bag
• Liquids bag stays in your bag
• You use a dedicated PreCheck lane (usually much shorter)
• You go through a metal detector, not a full-body scanner

Enrollment costs $78-$85 and lasts five years ($15-17 per year). Application is done at a TSA enrollment center and involves a brief background check and fingerprinting. 99% of PreCheck passengers wait under 10 minutes. If you fly more than twice a year, it pays for itself quickly.

CLEAR: Even Faster, But Pricier

CLEAR is a private service that uses biometric verification (fingerprint or iris scan) to skip the ID check line entirely. At airports with CLEAR, you walk to a CLEAR kiosk, scan your biometrics in seconds, and a CLEAR agent escorts you directly to the X-ray machines. You still go through X-ray, but you skip the document verification wait entirely.

CLEAR costs around $189/year, though Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus members get discounts. It's most valuable at extremely busy checkpoints with long ID check lines.

The optimal setup is CLEAR + PreCheck: biometric ID skip + expedited X-ray screening = fastest possible security experience.

Global Entry Includes TSA PreCheck

If you travel internationally, Global Entry ($120 for five years) includes TSA PreCheck as a benefit. It also gives you access to dedicated passport control lanes for returning international travelers. Better value than PreCheck alone if you travel internationally at all.

Choose the Right Security Line

Not all security lanes are equal. Look for:

• The PreCheck lane if you're enrolled
• Lanes with experienced travelers (business travelers tend to be fast)
• Avoid lanes behind large family groups or passengers who look unfamiliar with the process
• At some airports, security lanes are labeled "Expert Traveler" lanes — use these

After the Scanner: Move Quickly

Once through the scanner, move efficiently. Grab your bins, move to the side table, and reassemble your belongings there — not at the end of the belt where you block the next person's bins. Put your shoes on, repack your bag, and move clear of the checkpoint before you check your phone.

If You Get Selected for Additional Screening

Sometimes you'll be flagged for additional screening regardless of what you did. If your bag needs a manual search or you triggered the body scanner, stay calm and follow the agent's instructions. It's usually done in a few minutes. Fighting, arguing, or being uncooperative slows everything down further.