How to speed through airport security
Quick Answer: Enroll in TSA PreCheck or CLEAR before your trip, pack your carry-on using the one-grab method, and wear slip-on shoes. These three steps alone cut most security waits to under 10 minutes.
Airport security doesn't have to eat into your travel day. Whether you're a frequent flyer or heading out once a year, a few habits make a real difference at the checkpoint. This guide walks you through the preparation steps that matter most, explains what to expect once you're in the security lane, and shows you how eDreams Prime members get discounted access to airport Fast Track services so you spend less time in the security line and more time at your gate.
How to get through airport security faster
TSA PreCheck is a US government Trusted Traveler program that gives you access to dedicated security lanes where you keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on and leave your laptop and liquids in your bag. The online application takes about 10 minutes, followed by a brief in-person appointment at one of more than 500 enrollment centers across the country. Approval typically arrives within 3 to 5 days, and your Known Traveler Number stays valid for five years. According to the TSA, more than 99% of PreCheck passengers wait under 10 minutes at the checkpoint.
CLEAR is a biometric identity verification service that uses your fingerprints or iris scan to confirm who you are at the airport, letting you skip the document-check line and go straight to the physical screening belt. It works alongside TSA PreCheck rather than replacing it: CLEAR gets you to the front of the ID verification queue, and PreCheck means you move through the belt faster once you're there. The service is available at many airports across the US, and together the two programs are the fastest combination available to most travelers.
Before you leave home, organize your bag so that every item that needs to come out at the checkpoint (liquids bag, laptop, any large electronics) sits in one accessible pocket or at the very top of your bag. At the belt, you pull one grab and everything is out. This sounds minor, but it's the single biggest source of delay for travelers who aren't in PreCheck lanes. Liquids must be in containers of 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less, all fitting in a single quart-sized clear bag.
What you wear makes a real difference at the checkpoint. Slip-on shoes and no belt are the easy wins. Heavy boots, multiple layers with metal zippers, and a wallet full of coins all add time at the belt. If you're in a heavy winter coat, that goes in the bin too, so factor in the time to put it back on when you collect your things on the other side. Dress for the checkpoint, not just the destination.
Even with PreCheck, security lines can spike during peak hours: early morning departures, Friday afternoons, and holiday travel windows. Building in an extra 20 minutes beyond what you think you need means a slow line doesn't become a missed flight. Check your airport's wait time app or the MyTSA app before you leave for the airport; many airports publish live checkpoint wait times.
At larger airports, not all lanes move at the same speed. Lanes near the center of a checkpoint tend to process faster than those at the far ends. If you're not in a dedicated PreCheck or CLEAR lane, look for lanes with fewer families and large groups, which typically move more slowly due to strollers, car seats, and more items to screen. Some airports, including Seattle-Tacoma and JFK, also offer checkpoint reservation systems that let you book a specific time slot.
A few specific situations catch travelers off guard at the checkpoint. If you're flying with a pet in the cabin, take the animal out of its carrier at the belt: you carry the pet through the metal detector, and the empty carrier goes through the X-ray machine. If you're using a gate pass as a non-flyer accompanying someone to their gate, you go through the same security process as ticketed passengers, so bring a valid government-issued ID. Whatever your situation, empty your pockets into your bag before you reach the belt. According to TSA data, travelers leave more than $800,000 in loose change at US airport checkpoints every year.
What happens at the security checkpoint
A step-by-step look at the screening process so you know exactly what to expect.
Present your boarding pass and government-issued ID to a TSA officer. CLEAR members skip this queue using biometric verification.
Remove laptops, liquids, and large electronics from your bag. Shoes, belts, and jackets come off unless you have TSA PreCheck.
Your carry-on and bins go through the X-ray machine. Walk through the body scanner or metal detector when directed by the officer.
If the scanner alarms, a TSA officer will conduct a pat-down or swab test. Stay calm and follow the officer's instructions. It adds only a few minutes.
Gather your bins, repack your bag, and put your shoes back on. Move away from the belt before repacking so the lane keeps moving.
You're through. Head to your gate with time to spare. Grab a coffee if your buffer allows.
Get discounted airport Fast Track with eDreams Prime
eDreams Prime members get exclusive Fast Track discounts that let you bypass the standard security queue and reach your gate faster.
Exclusive Fast Track discounts
eDreams Prime gives you access to discounted Fast Track passes at participating airports, so you can skip the standard security queue. It cuts your checkpoint time without changing how you pack or what you wear.
Protect your connection time
Tight layover? A Fast Track pass can be the difference between making your connection and missing it. Prime members can add Fast Track when booking, so the time saving is built into your trip from the start rather than scrambled for at the airport.
24/7 VIP support when you need it
Prime and Prime Plus members get round-the-clock VIP customer support, with a commitment to answer most calls within 120 seconds. If something goes wrong on travel day (be it a delay or a question about your Fast Track pass), there's a real person available to help.
Savings across every trip
Fast Track is one benefit inside a wider Prime membership that covers flights, hotels, and more. Regular travelers typically recover the membership cost within a couple of trips through the savings on bookings.
Frequently asked questions
The most effective steps are enrolling in TSA PreCheck, packing your liquids and laptop in an easy-access pocket, wearing slip-on shoes with no belt, and arriving with at least 20 extra minutes of buffer time. TSA PreCheck alone cuts most wait times to under 10 minutes, according to the TSA.
Fast Track is a dedicated security lane service available at many airports that lets you bypass the standard checkpoint queue. eDreams Prime members get discounted access to Fast Track passes, which you can add when booking through eDreams. The pass is arranged before you travel, so you go straight to the Fast Track lane when you arrive at the airport.
Domestic travelers are not legally required to unlock their phone for TSA officers at a standard security checkpoint. TSA screening focuses on physical threats to aviation safety, not the contents of electronic devices. Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection officers at international entry points have broader authority and may request access to devices in some circumstances.
Travelers aged 75 and older receive modified screening procedures under TSA policy: they may keep their shoes on and may be allowed to go through the standard metal detector rather than the body scanner. TSA PreCheck is available to seniors on the same terms as any other traveler and is worth enrolling in for the consistent lane access it provides.
No. One of the main benefits of TSA PreCheck is that you can leave your laptop and liquids inside your carry-on bag. You also keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on. This is why PreCheck lanes move significantly faster than standard lanes.
Combining TSA PreCheck with CLEAR is the fastest option available to most US travelers. CLEAR handles the ID verification queue using biometrics, and PreCheck means you clear the physical screening belt without removing shoes, belts, or your laptop. The two programs work together at more than 60 US airports where CLEAR operates.
Yes. If your pet is traveling in-cabin, you take the animal out of its carrier at the checkpoint, carry the pet through the metal detector, and send the empty carrier through the X-ray machine. The pet goes back in the carrier on the other side. This applies to dogs and cats; other animals may have different requirements depending on the airline.
Yes. Some US airports, including Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) and JFK in New York, offer checkpoint reservation systems that let you book a specific time window for security screening. Check your departure airport's website before your trip to see whether this option is available.
Information in this article was last verified on 09/23/2026. Details such as prices, measures, and dates are subject to change. Always confirm directly with the relevant provider before travel.
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