Airport wait times: How to avoid long queues

AN UNAVOIDABLE part of international travel is spending hours at the airport. But these simple tricks will make the process much more bearable.

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Airports are both exciting and terrible. On one hand, they’re the starting point to many a grand adventure. On the other, they’re boring and filled with inescapable lines.

You know the deal. You get to the airport two hours before your flight is scheduled. You wait around to check in. You wait around to get through security. You wait around to get a cup of coffee, you wait around to actually get on the plane and then you FINALLY take off.

Travel is wonderful, but for many people, the process of getting from point A to point B can be very stressful. It doesn’t need to be that way. Having travelled extensively (and worked on the travel desk at news.com.au), I can give you a few simple tricks and tips to dramatically reduce the time you spend waiting around at airports.

• AVOID THE PEAK

Saving time starts when you book. In my experience, Friday and Sunday nights are by far the worst times to travel. Commuters are either on their way home or on their way back to work. Weekend travellers are either off adventuring or returning to town. Airports are packed and the queues long, so keep that in mind and purchase mid-week tickets wherever possible.

It’s also really important to be aware of things like school holidays and long weekends. Trust me when I say I’m not in a hurry to catch another evening flight to New Zealand with hundreds of excited kids screaming and haphazardly swinging skis around thanks to the onslaught of winter holidays. Know when they’re coming and book accordingly.

2. CHECK YOUR STATUS

It can be frustrating to arrive at the airport on time, excited for your trip, then find out your flight has been delayed or cancelled. One of the beauties of living in the 21st century (aside from the fact plane tickets are actually affordable) is that you can check your flight’s status via smartphone. Most airlines have real-time trackers on their websites and it’s well worth checking before you leave home.

Meanwhile, if your flight has been cancelled, your airline should notify you of alternative arrangements. Make sure you check your text messages and emails for updates and be ready to make a beeline for the airport (if you do need to hustle, it’s much easier to do it at the airline desk with a real person than over the phone with a computerised menu).

3. LESS IS MORE

You know those people who wheel carts through the departure terminal laden with huge mounds of bags? Don’t be them. Wherever possible, I travel with two compact bags.

The first is a small over-the-shoulder handbag that contains my wallet, phone, charger, keys, headphones, sunglasses, boarding pass and passport. It’s simple and streamlined so everything I need is right at my fingertips. An uncluttered handbag (or backpack if you prefer) makes check-in, security and passport control a breeze.

The second bag is a carry-on filled with clothes, toiletries, a water bottle I fill up at the gate and at least one book to keep myself entertained. Restricting your luggage to carry-on is an easy way to save time on arrival because you can throw your bag over your shoulder and waltz straight past the passengers waiting for their bags to come lumbering around the carousel.

4. KNOW THE ROUTINE

The trick to travelling efficiently with carry-on is to be prepared. Know what you can and can’t take into the cabin and pack accordingly. On a recent trip to the Cook Islands, I discovered nothing slows you down like forgetting you packed a large bottle of sunscreen. Waiting for your bag to be systematically and publicly unpacked onto a germ-covered bench by a conscientious customs worker is both gross and embarrassing. (So long, toothbrush.)

Pack only travel-sized liquids and gels and put them all into a clear zip-lock bag. Put your laptop, tablet and phone straight into a tray. Take off your shoes, belt and watch as a matter of habit rather than waiting to be asked to remove them. Once all your items have been scanned, slide them to the end of the bench to repack so you’re out of everyone else’s way rather than holding up the entire queue while you re-tie your laces.

5. TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Catching a plane requires a series of choices. For example, would you rather get to the airport three hours early, be the first in line, and spend your time leisurely knocking the froth off a couple at the bar? Or would you rather chill out at home, get to the airport 90 minutes early, catch the end of the line, and rush straight through security to your gate? Having once missed an international flight to Canada, I must say I’m a fan of the former, but it’s up to you.

The other bottleneck is the boarding queue. I like to wander around and stretch my legs while I can (particularly before boarding long-haul flights), so I’m usually among the last to take my seat. However, you might prefer to get on early and get yourself settled. The trick is just to figure out what works best for you and incorporate it into your flying routine.

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Originally published as Airport wait times: How to avoid long queues