Clear the clutter, speed up security lines

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a request this holiday season: Please organize that carry-on before coming to the airport. The administration has dubbed the effort SimpliFLY, and it has a noble purpose: to speed up security lines, since cluttered bags are more likely to be searched by hand.

Here are some of the TSA’s suggestions for packing an organized bag:

Pack in layers to make it easier for security screeners to see what’s in your bag
Fold clothing
Coil cords
Keep electronics grouped and organized

This is all in addition to the usual TSA rules, you know, the 3-1-1 rule for liquids (three-ounce bottles or less; one quart-sized clear plastic zip-top bag; one bag per passenger), having your boarding pass and ID ready for inspection, taking off your shoes and coat and putting them in a bin, and so on.

For the full run down, visit TSA’s SimpliFLY information page. You can also find details about what kinds of foods and gifts you can carry on (hint: don’t try to take gravy, or cranberry sauce for that matter, through security). You can also listen to my new podcast interview with a TSA spokesperson for tips about getting through airport security with minimum hassle this holiday season.

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