How do I get through an airport with minimum stress?

Airport stress comes from uncertainty and from being unprepared at security. Both are largely solvable at home the night before, which is where the useful work happens.

What you'll need

• Boarding pass
• Documents
• Clear bag for liquids (optional)

Step by step

1. Check in online and download the boarding pass.Save it offline in a wallet app or take a screenshot. Airport wifi and mobile signal are unreliable exactly when you need them.
2. Check the specific baggage rules for your airline.Cabin bag dimensions and weight vary considerably and are enforced inconsistently. Measure yours rather than assuming.
3. Pack liquids and electronics where you can reach them.The top of the bag or an outer pocket. Unpacking a full bag at the scanner is what causes most personal delay at security.
4. Know the liquid rules and comply exactly.Containers within the stated limit in a single transparent bag. Rules are changing at some airports but assume the strict version unless confirmed otherwise.
5. Wear clothing that makes security quick.Shoes that come off easily, no belt if you can avoid it, minimal metal. Empty your pockets into your bag before you reach the queue.
6. Allow more time than the airline recommends.Particularly at busy periods. The stated minimum assumes everything goes smoothly, which it frequently does not.
7. Keep documents in one accessible place.Passport, boarding pass, any visa or health documentation together. Searching for a passport at a desk is avoidable stress.
8. Take a water bottle empty and fill it after security.It saves money and there are usually fountains. Also take snacks — airport food is expensive and options after security can be limited.

Tips

• Photograph your luggage and its contents before checking it in. It makes any lost baggage claim considerably easier.
• Put a change of clothes and any medication in your cabin bag. If checked luggage is delayed, that is what you will need.
• Check whether your destination requires anything beyond a passport well in advance. Visa and entry requirements change and are checked at the gate.

Common mistakes

• Packing liquids at the bottom of the bag — You have to unpack everything at the scanner, which is slow and stressful and holds up the queue behind you.
• Relying on mobile signal for the boarding pass — Airport connectivity is unreliable. Download it to a wallet app or take a screenshot before leaving home.
• Arriving at the airline's stated minimum time — It assumes no queues and no problems. Security waits vary enormously and missing a flight is expensive.

Questions people ask