Once again, let’s be honest: Traveling for work can be both a blessing and a curse.
Yes, there are frequent-flyer miles to accumulate (albeit, less generous than they once were), hotel-stay points to add up, and places to see beyond where you’ve lived or visited previously.
However — especially in light of more-stringent security precautions that have evolved post-9/11, and heightened health-related restrictions brought on by COVID-19 — traveling can be stressful.
You’ve probably traveled by air before, so you know the drill. But just as a reminder (and because it makes for great spoiled-American sarcasm)…
First, there’s the packing — lightly and efficiently, if you want to avoid the risk your belongings board a different plane than the one you’re on because you had to check them.
While you’re culling unnecessary or impractical items from your potential “cargo,” you might as well remove anything that could be used as a “weapon” from what you carry day-to-day. Otherwise, TSA screeners will remove and keep those items for their ‘things-people-try-to-bring-onto-planes’ stockpile — like the very small, dull pocket knife (found on a Target parking lot) which yours truly carried in her purse because it included mini scissors that could be used to clip things like loose threads or news articles. Life lessons.
Also, there’s the volume limit on toiletries, and the requirement they be segregated in see-through ‘packaging’ so TSA agents can view them as your bag(s) pass through the scanner. Nothing of volume more than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item, got it?
You’ll need to remove all things metallic from your pockets and the watch from your wrist, along with the shoes from your feet and the belt around your waist (should you wear one). Those must be scanned via X-ray, as well. Oh, and remove that laptop from your bag, turn it on, and place it in its own bin for scanning.
You must arrive at the airport at least two hours before your scheduled domestic flight (add an hour for international travel) to ensure you make it through the security checkpoint before your flight boards — unless you’re checking no luggage.
This seems like the perfect time to quote Dr. Vladimir Dzhashi from his blog post about “travel hacks”: “TSA precheck is a MUST for a hassle-free airport experience.” As Dr. Dzhashi notes, its benefits more than makeup for the $85 outlay and the couple of weeks it generally takes to get approved. One of those benefits is reducing your pre-flight arrival time by a whole hour!
Also regarding packing, Dr. Dzhashi’s advice is to “unpack as little as possible” between trips, so adding clean clothes is the extent of packing for the next trip. “Basically, the only thing you remove from your suitcase is your laundry. Everything else should stay THERE (e.g., toiletries, gym shoes, utensils, thermos, lab coat, stethoscope, pager, badge).