How To Get Through TSA Security Relatively Pain Free

Since 9/11 air travel has become a major pain, and unfortunately it will never revert back to the good old days when we could just walk through security with nary a worry, bags chock full of gifts and goodies over 3 ounces, and all the necesseties we wanted on hand. Now we have to strip down to the bare essentials to ensure a swift check through. It's off with the shoes and any outerwear we might be sporting- and we practically need to send everything through checked baggage. 

There are random searches that we have no control over, some of which are truly insane- like the 95-year-old woman in a wheel chair on oxygen, but apart from that we do have control over whether we will be singled out or not. The best way to ensure smooth flying is to be prepared.

PACK YOUR CARRY-ON BAGS ACCORDINGLY:

First of all check the TSA website, or your airline for the current restrictions. The TSA website has a plethora of useful information on how to get through checkpoints with relative ease. First of all:

Pack your bags in an organized manner. When it goes through the x-ray a jumbled mess, it might make something innocuous look suspicious, and your bag will definitely be checked.

You can still only bring a one quart clear plastic zip bag per person filled with liquids or gels in 3.4 ounce containers or smaller.  Place that bag in one of their bins. If you have medication, breast milk, baby food or formula in larger amounts, let the TSA agent know beforehand.  If you bring anything over the designated 3.4 ounce amount, be prepared to have it tossed out.  For safe measure I put everything in the little bag, including lipstick and makeup.
Put anything that has metal including belts, all your jewelry, body piercings, your watches and small change in a separate bag inside your carry-on luggage or purse.
Leave anything sharp out of your bag, along with certain sports items, flammable items, tools and firearms, unless you want them confiscated. TSA has a list here.

Traveling with liquid food or gifts, put those in your checked baggage. Don't wrap gifts- you will be wasting wrapping paper if asked to remove it.
Empty all your pockets and put those items in your carry-on.

PRIOR  TO GOING THROUGH SECURITY X-RAY SCREENING:
Take off your shoes. TSA now recommends putting your shoes directly on the conveyor belt rather than in a bin.
Take off your jacket or outer clothing and place in a bin.
If you have undeveloped 800-speed film, that should not be x-rayed, take it out and hand to an officer.

Unless you have a laptop friendly bag, remove it and place it in a bin.

BRING PROPER I.D.
Make sure the name on your e-ticket or airline ticket is exactly the same as your identification.


Photo H/T Nomadic Matt