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View on the aiport window with woman walking with suitcase at the departure hall of the airport
rh2010 | Adobe Stock

23 Best Airport Hacks

Getting through the airport can be a tricky and harrowing business these days, so just showing up and hoping for the best won’t cut it. You need to be prepared, nimble, and wily. To help you pull it off, we’ve compiled 23 airport hacks to help you slip from the parking garage to your gate with as little trouble as possible at every step along the way.

Additional reporting by Megan Johnson

1. Check for information about destination and layover airports.

You’re probably familiar with your home airport, but layover and destination airports can be disorienting. The Trippie app can help with airport maps, including amenities available in each terminal. This can save you time when finding food or toiletries during a tight connection. The app also has information about airport Wi-Fi options, which can eliminate the hassle of figuring out which of a dozen available networks are legit.

2. Put a few Ziploc bags in your luggage.

Zip-top bags can be helpful in countless ways when traveling (for liquids when going through airport security, to stow snacks, to keep your phone dry), so I always stow a few in the pockets of all my travel luggage. I leave them in between trips and then replenish the stash as needed.

3. Have a dedicated set of “air travel clothes.”

Men's casual outfits with man clothing and accessories on rustic wooden background, travel concept
arthorn | Adobe Stock

Having a favorite set of clothes to wear on planes can make the minutes before you leave for your flight easier and guarantee comfort at the airport and in flight. Your air travel clothes should be comfortable but presentable, neither too warm nor too thin ,and somewhat durable. Once you have chosen your air travel clothes, make sure they are clean and at the top of your packing list a couple of days before you travel.

4. Wear more clothes if your luggage is overweight or close to it.

When packing, if you suspect your luggage might be close to your airline’s weight limit (a small luggage scale can help you figure this out), put a jacket, sweatshirt, or other heavy item of clothing in a front pocket or right at the top of your bag. If the airline calls out your bag overweight at check-in, you can open it, pull out the garment, and put it on. (This tip also works on the way home from a trip if a few extra souvenirs weigh down your suitcase.)

5. Pack stuff you will need within easy reach.

This applies to your carry-on, your “personal item,” in which you might carry your ID, boarding pass, and other critical items, as well as your checked luggage. Pack stuff you will need first or frequently in easily accessible locations to avoid the misery of digging through your bag because of dozens of fellow travelers.

6. Take a photo of your parking spot.

Snap a picture of your parking spot before heading to the terminal, including signage identifying your location (level, aisle, etc.). At some airports the garage or terminal number is not obvious on the signage (this is the case in Philadelphia), so you may need to remember which garage you were in.

7. Put in-flight essentials all in one small bag.

Travel Essentials Pack For Trip, Things Pack In Carry-On.
irissca | Adobe Stock

Put everything you’ll need during the flight into a single small bag — earbuds, e-reader/book, a snack, etc. — so you can just grab it and stick it in the seatback pocket before you stow the rest of your stuff in the overhead bin or under the seat. (Note that if your in-flight necessities include liquids like antibacterial hand gel, you may have to transfer them into the small bag after you get through security.)

8. Pack an empty water bottle in your carry-on.

To avoid paying huge mark-ups for bottled water at the airport, bring your own empty bottle (which will go through security just fine) and fill up at a water fountain after the checkpoint.

9. Check in next to the first/business class line.

As check-in becomes more automated, with most economy check-ins taking place at kiosks, standing in big lines is becoming less common. Still, some travelers swear by the tactic of using the check-in option closest to the first- and business-class counters, where agents will sometimes help economy travelers if no one is at their counter.

10. Use a jacket to carry on more stuff.

One photographer I know wears a vest with a half-dozen large pockets designed for lenses, which he fills with his stuff. When he gets on the plane, he folds the vest and puts it in the overhead bin next to his carry-on bag.

11. Wear a belt with a plastic buckle.

Some security agents will let you leave your belt on if it is not made of metal; a belt with a plastic buckle might save you the trouble of taking off your belt and having your clothes half falling off.

12. Bring a portable phone charger.

Female hands connect power bank and smartphone
o_lypa | Adobe Stock

A portable phone charger can be a lifesaver if you can’t find an open outlet at the airport. You can also use it in flight when your phone is likely in airplane mode and therefore does not use much power. This can be a great way to ensure you have a charge when you land.

13. Bring a multi-plug adapter.

Especially if you are traveling with family or a group, bring an adapter that can turn one outlet into multiple ones so more people can plug in. Even if you arrive at the gate and all the outlets are in use, often a fellow traveler will share one with you if you have such an adapter.

14. Go to the left at security.

Apparently most humans are biased toward their dominant hand, so the fact that the majority of people are right-handed causes most people to select the security lane on the right when faced with a choice. Zig when they zag by checking out the lanes to your left. 

15. Stow your stuff while going through the security line.

Don’t wait until you get to the front of the line to take your phone, keys, loose change, and other stuff that security agents don’t like out of your pockets; take care of it while winding through the inevitable security line.

16. Find an empty gate during layovers or delays.

If you have a few hours to kill, opt for a more peaceful and comfortable experience by finding an empty gate where you can have seating, power outlets, Wi-Fi signals, and brain space to yourself. Just be careful not to be too far away when announcements affecting your flight might kick in.

17. Sneak your stuff into a shopping bag.

If you’re having trouble adhering to the “one carry-on and one personal item” rule, some devious travel hackers suggest asking for a shopping bag at an airport store and putting your extra stuff in it. Gate agents will think it’s just some things you purchased, which they may not count against your carry-on allowance. This may backfire, though, as some airlines are extremely strict on the number of bags you can bring, shopping bags included. 

18. Be careful when wearing headphones at the gate.

Listening to music, streaming a podcast, or watching a movie on your mobile device helps pass the time at the gate but also puts you at risk of missing important gate announcements. Be careful when tuning out the noise so that you don’t also tune out the signal.

Do you have any cool or innovative airport hacks that we missed? Add them in the comments below. Until then, see you at the gate!

19. Use Airline Apps for Real-Time Updates

To ensure you are up-to-date to any flight changes, including connections, download the app for the airline you are flying. You’ll get gate changes, time changes, and any important information as they change. 

20. Sign Up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

TSA Precheck Directional Sign With Arrow
wolterke | Adobe Stock

The easiest way to skip long security lines and long customs lines when you are on your way home is to sign up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (for fliers who often travel internationally). You won’t have to take your shoes off with TSA PreCheck or take your computer out; the lines usually are shorter (though as more people sign up, they can be long). Global Entry cuts your time waiting in customs on the way home way down. 

21. Wear Compression Socks for Long Flights.

Reduce swelling by buying a pair of compression socks. They will improve your circulation and help you stay comfortable when you have a long-haul flight. 

22. Download Entertainment Before You Leave Home.

You don’t want to spend your entire time at the airport trying to download a movie or tv show for your flight, the Wi-Fi is unreliable with a slow bandwidth, so download anything you’ll want to watch before you head to the airport. 

23. Use Google Translate for Foreign Airports

While several foreign airports have signs in English and their native language, many do not. Give yourself a leg up by downloading a translation app like Google Translate to make navigating the airport a breeze upon arrival.

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