Flying is one of the fastest, safest, (and my personal favorite) means of transportation. There was also a rumor that stated people were more likely to die in a car accident than a plane crash. How true this is, I'm not sure, but the internet never lies, right?
Whatever the case, flying seems like a pretty great way to get from one destination to another. But have you ever noticed how long the lines are at the security check points in airports? Well, you're not alone. Ever since the 9/11 attacks, airport security have taken every precaution imaginable into consideration to ensure the safety of its pilots, flight attendants and passengers. However, these precautionary actions also leave some less than desirable delays in travel time.
The average suggested arrival time is already set to an hour before your flight, and sometimes even that isn't enough. This past January, I was set to visit my friends in Maryland for a weekend and had an early 6 a.m. flight. Thinking that an hour would be plenty of time to get through security, check my bag and grab something to eat before boarding my plane, I wasn't stressing out too much when we left the house five-minutes later than intended.
Boy, was I wrong. It took me nearly 45-minutes just to check my bag and get through security, and the remaining 15-minutes I had left to myself were spent racing to my gate number and securing my spot in line. Not only did I not have enough time to grab something to eat, but my nerves were through the roof! I was quite baffled as to why the security check took so long, or why there were so many people flying so early in the morning, but one thing was for sure: I was never going to underestimate airports again.
So, what is causing these delays and is it going to get better or worse with time? In a recent article from CNN, there are certain studies that show these lines for TSA are about to get a lot longer. According to the TSA, they are going to be expecting a 15-percent increase of revenue at airport security checkpoints, while also experiencing an alarming drop in hired staff and screeners.
To make matters worse, they are projecting that by 2034, the number of passengers globally will increase from 2015's 3.5 billion passengers, to 7 billion. Even with the increase of passengers, the TSA should be well equipped enough to handle this volume, so, what else is going wrong? The short answer? Carry on bags.
Because each airline has varying rules regarding luggage, many passengers prefer to stuff their things in a small carry-on bag that usually doesn't cost anything extra to bring on the plane. While this shouldn't appear to cause any problems, it actually prolongs the security check and adds anywhere from 5-20 minutes extra of standing in the security check. People often forget the 3-3-3 rule and try to bring liquids that are more than three-ounces, thus making TSA crew members stop and take out the prohibited item. During this whole ordeal, your private items get public access, you lose whatever money you spent on that item, and you've just made the 30+ people behind you incredibly annoyed. A word to the wise: when in doubt, throw it out!
This also goes hand in hand with checked luggage as well, due to weight limits and what happens next if your bag is over the allowed limit. No matter how hard you try, there always seems to be an unavoidable delay. It can be very frustrating for passengers and crew alike. When I went on vacation with my family last May, one of our bags was two-pounds over the limit. Doesn't seem like much, right? Wrong. My parents had to get out of line, open up their suitcase in front of the whole airport and shove what they hoped to be two pounds of luggage into their other carry-ons and desperately walk back and forth to the scale to see if they took out enough stuff. You may be thinking, "why don't they just pay for the overages?" Well, for every pound your bag is overweight, you get charged an additional $50. To put it lightly, my dad was not about to pay $100 for two pounds of luggage! I don't know anyone insane enough to do that.
Where does this leave me? Good thing for you, I have some tips:
1. Arrive early.
Don't be like me and assume just because you have an early morning flight that no one is going to be at the airport. This is the single most important advice I could ever give someone. Don't underestimate the airport! Aim for arriving two hours before your flight at least. Even if you happen to get through security fairly quickly, it's better to have time on your side to unwind, grab something to eat and have your head screwed on straight than running around like crazy afraid you'll miss your flight!
2. Don't over-pack.
I know it may seem like a good idea to bring your whole wardrobe just in case, but trust me on this: just don't. I cannot tell you how many trips I have regretted packing so much stuff! Not to mention I like to pretend it's my big, life defining moment where I walk the airport grounds and suddenly figure out my life's purpose or meet my Mr. Wonderful like every rom-com has taught me airports are actually for. So it really takes away from the glamour of it all when I'm walking like a donkey ready for its legs to give out at any moment because my bag is too heavy.
3. Be patient.
The airport staff and crew work really hard day in and day out to ensure your safety and theirs, so cut them some slack if it's taking a little bit longer to get from point A to point B. I know it may be super annoying to deal with in the moment, but don't project your bad mood onto someone else! This goes for anything, but especially flying! Flight attendants have a pretty thankless job, so when you treat them with kindness and respect, they'll return the favor!
4. Ask questions.
It's easy to feel out of place and lost in a big airport. I've been there, and sometimes I still get so overwhelmed when trying to navigate myself in a new place. The best thing you can do is ask for help. After all, that's what the staff is there for! Nine times out of 10, they'll be more than happy to point you in the right direction and get you on your way. They don't want you late for your flight, they definitely don't want to deal with your attitude by making you late, so rest assured knowing that they can help you faster than if you tried going it alone!
5. Plan for snack breaks.
Whether it's a one hour flight or 12, always pack a little something to tide you over should you find yourself in a situation where you can't stop for food or anything of that sort. The worst thing to endure is an empty stomach when you're required to walk a lot and carry heavy luggage. The excitement and newness of travel can also wear on your body mentally and physically, making you exert more energy than usual, which leads to you to get hungry faster. No matter how you do it, make sure your tummy is taken into consideration when planning your travels!
6. Don't travel alone.
*Says the girl who is always traveling alone.* But seriously, there are safety in numbers especially when traveling to new or foreign places. Also, it cures boredom on long flights, breaks up the monotony of the whole ordeal, and can make for some laughable memories to remember for a lifetime. "Omg, girl, remember that time you split your pants in the X-Ray scan? The whole airport saw your undies! It was so #instaworthy!" Ahh, yes, what would we do without our faithful travel companions?
7. Don't forget headphones.
Travel of any kind is always better with a playlist, but you can't always enjoy your music in public without getting weird stares from strangers. The fix? Always pack headphones! I don't know if it's just me, but time goes by way faster when I'm listening to my favorite songs.
8. Don't cause a scene.
OK, so I get it. The baby three rows over won't stop crying, your flight was delayed, you got kicked out of first class, everything sucks! But, just because you're going through something less than ideal, doesn't give you the right to start acting like that baby in aisle 23. Things are guaranteed to get worse if you let these circumstances dictate your moods and reactions! Life is full of ups and downs, you just gotta go with the flow. The flight attendants will thank you for your cooperation.
9. Don't blatantly ignore the rules.
This may seem like an obvious thing not to do, but I've seen enough stuff to know there are some people who just do what they want whether they know it's wrong or not. Pay attention to directions and what is expected of you during your flight, aka, don't go to the bathroom to smoke, leave your luggage unattended at the gate, and definitely don't sit in the exit row if you have no intention of following through with the responsibilities that come with sitting there
10. Thank the pilots and flight attendants.
After you've landed and it's time to get off the plane, don't forget to thank the pilots and flight attendants for getting you safely and comfortably to your destination! It was through their skill alone that got you there in one piece, so the least you could do is let them know you appreciate their service! Flying a plane is no joke, and we all should give these brave men and women more props for doing an incredible job!
Hopefully in time, the whole process of flying will get a tad bit more manageable. However, if we all do our part and take responsibility, the process would already be so much smoother!
