5 Ways to Get Through the Airport Faster
Updated: Oct. 04, 2018
International travel doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are five ways to get through a terminal with minimal fuss.
Airport Travel Tips: Plan Ahead
Minimize your wait by scheduling your departure to avoid peak hours such as weekend mornings. Some airports have more than one access point for security; do a quick Internet search or ask an airline agent for the fastest line. If you often travel outside the country, the $50 fee for a five-year NEXUS card could save you as much as 90 minutes in a busy customs queue.
Airport Travel Tips: Pack Smart
Avoid an unwanted search – or having to toss your beloved face cream – by packing properly. Bottles or containers of liquids (100-millilitre format max) belong in a clear re-sealable bag (no more than one litre), and only one per person. The exceptions are baby food and milk.
Airport Travel Tips: Suffer the Search
Since 2010, Canadians airports have installed full-body scanners that reveal what’s under clothing. If you’re selected for such a scan, you can choose a manual pat down instead. Someone of your gender will do the search, and you can request a private room with a witness.
Airport Travel Tips: Share Your Gadgets
If an agent asks for your phone or computer password, do you have to give it to them? It’s a hot-button legal issue, but the short answer, for now, is yes. You could be criminally charged for refusing. And remember, why kick up a fuss if you know you have nothing to hide?
Airport Travel Tips: Say Just Enough
Unlike cops, who need “reasonable grounds,” customs agents can ask you anything, including common questions such as “what is the purpose of your trip,” “how long do you intent to stay,” and “where will you be staying?” To co-operate, aim for succinct, direct and polite answers. Travelling through airports can be relatively quick and easy if you follow these five tips.
