OMG TSA PreCheck rocks!!!

[MineralMan]

14. I thought about that program, but decided it was overkill for my

couple of flights each year. I'm strictly a carry-on guy, and I've learned how to make my trip through security as painless as possible. The lines can be an issue, at times, but I've found screening areas in most terminals that are less well-known, and use them rather than the ones being used by most travelers. A little more walking, but

I really fly between only two airports, MSP and LAX, and both are quite efficient. Their TSA workers are all professional and the ones at MSP are even friendly. It's just not an issue for me.

I fly on Sun Country airlines exclusively now. It's in the smaller Terminal 2 at MSP and in Terminal 2 in LAX, as well. At MSP, there's a second security screening area at the very end of the terminal. It's small, and most people don't even know it's there. You just walk down, go up a flight of stairs and walk right through. There's a similar one at LAX in Terminal 2, also. It's quite a way from the check-in kiosks, but I always have my boarding pass from home, so it's not an issue, since I don't check a bag. Going back, it's the same thing. I just go in the door nearest the screening area.

Most people see the nearest security screening location and just get in line. If the line's long, ask one of the nice TSA folks if there's another screening area in the terminal. They'll point it out to you, and you'll see that very few people are using it, so there you go. You'll walk a bit farther to your gate, but...you won't be standing in the long line, watching people fumble through their stuff.

I stopped carrying a notebook computer long ago, and just have my little Kindle Fire tablet. That's already in my carry-on. Everything else on my person, including my belt goes in one of the pockets in my travel jacket, which I chose for its numerous large pockets that have button flaps. It's actually a Czech Army dress uniform coat that I bought brand new at a surplus store for $10. It's a great travel garment.

When I get to the belt, I slip out of my shoes, put the carry-on on the belt, put my jacket and shoes in a bin, and I'm done. I walk through the metal detector or the scanner, and then pick up my stuff off the belt, sit down on one of the handy chairs, put my shoes on, put my belt and other crap on or in my pockets, put my jacket on and roll my carry-on to the gate. It's a simple routine. The whole thing just takes a few minutes, and I'm done.

Oh, yeah, I arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare, too, so I usually have a bite to eat at one of the handy places near my gate. I'm in no hurry.