Simple Tips to Speed Up Airport Travel

Book nonstop flights.

If you’re aiming to reduce your time at the airport, the first step is to book a direct flight. While this could result in a more expensive flight cost, it could also save you huge amounts of time and help you avoid travel complications. Flights that offer connections often add multiple hours to your travel day, as you land in one destination and await an onward flight to the next. There is also the risk of unexpected occurrences like delayed flights or missed connections, which add more time to the overall journey. If you want to give yourself the gift of a speedy airport travel experience, weigh the cost difference of a direct flight with the potential stress and time of a flight with connections.

Choose the right seats.

If you’re the type of person who likes to exit the plane as quickly as possible, make sure you choose your airplane seat accordingly. It’s a no-brainer that seats towards the front of the plane will usually exit before those in the back – and aisle seats are always a quicker choice than window seats as you have quicker access to the walkway. If getting off the plane as fast as possible is important to you, it may be worth the extra cost to even choose to fly Business Class or First Class. Plus, you’ll enjoy more amenities like extra legroom!

Check in to your flight early.

With all major airlines offering smartphone apps, it’s never been easier to check in to your flight. Most airlines offer check-ins as early as 24 hours – and some even earlier – before the scheduled flight time. With a click of a button, you can make sure you’ll be at the front of the boarding line. Plus, you’ll avoid the wait-time and disappointment of being told there’s no room for your carry-on luggage. Have trouble remembering to check-in? Set a reminder for yourself on your phone the day before your flight.

Get organized with documents

Being organized when you get to the airport can save time. Make sure you have your boarding pass ready – whether that’s a paper version or online (if it’s online, have it downloaded and stored in your phone’s wallet, don’t waste time scrolling through emails to find it). Have your passport in hand, open at the page with your personal details, so it’s easy for inspection. That way, you should go straight through airport security.

Travel lightly and opt for only carry-on luggage.

If you want to save a huge chunk of time on both ends of your trip, pack lightly. By choosing to travel only with necessities that can fit in a carry-on, you’ll avoid standing in line to check your bag in. Instead, you can just head straight to security with your boarding pass that’s already on your phone. You’ll also cut out the dreaded wait at baggage claim and ensure that none of your luggage is lost in transit. Another tip: double-check that your carry-on items abide by all of TSA’s current regulations so that you can breeze through security checks.

Enroll in TSA PreCheck^®

Everyone knows that one of the most unpredictable aspects of airport travel is the airport security screening process. If you want to speed up this process and avoid waiting in a long security line, sign up for TSA PreCheck. According to the TSA, most fliers who are registered with PreCheck wait on average no more than five minutes to get through TSA screenings. To join PreCheck, just apply online and then go to a TSA location (there are over 350 in the U.S.) for a ten-minute in-person background check. There’s a one-off cost and membership lasts five years. Memberships take about two weeks to process.

Use Hertz Fast Lane powered by CLEAR.

After you’ve landed at the airport, you’ll want to hit the road as quickly as possible. A new way to speed up the rental car process is to sign up for a Hertz Gold Plus Rewards® account. Membership is free, and provides some great benefits – and one of those is allowing you to skip any counter queues, go straight to the lot to pick up your car and get on your way. This saves you even more time.

We hope these tips make your next airport travel experience a speedy one. For more information about how to sign up for Hertz Gold Plus®, click here.