Fly through US airport security in minutes on any weekday. Traveling during a government shutdown could mean staring at hour-long lines. There’s no secret way to get through a TSA checkpoint faster than flying privately, but there are things you can do to get through airport security as smoothly as possible. Read tips from TSA officials and airline industry consultants on how to get through airport security faster and with less stress.
Enroll in TSA PreCheck or TSA Clear
TSA PreCheck is a trusted traveler program ($80 for five years) that allows enrollees to get through airport security lines, which are typically shorter and faster than regular lines. TSA PreCheck agents do not need to remove anything when passing through a security checkpoint. Laptops, liquids, belts, and even light jackets can all be left in the bag or on your person.
TSA PreCheck is not to be confused with Global Entry, which expedites immigration upon arrival in the United States. However, when you sign up for Global Entry, you are automatically enrolled in TSA PreCheck. “If you’re traveling internationally, Global Entry is the way to go,” says former TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein. A five-year Global Entry membership costs $120, is reimbursed with many travel credit cards, and includes TSA PreCheck.
Travelers can also enroll in Clear for $209 per year, which includes TSA PreCheck. After you sign up online and complete a short in-person scan to verify your identity, you can walk to a manned Clear kiosk or biometric eGate at 60 airports across the country and scan your boarding pass. Verify your identity using facial recognition. You will then go straight to the security checkpoint, bypassing the usual lines where TSA agents check your ID.
Mike Arnott, an airline industry consultant, told Afar: “I have Clear, and when I was really late getting to the airport one day of travel and needed to jump to the gate, I signed up on the spot at Dulles Airport and got through security. I don’t use Clear all that often, but it saved the day at least once, so it could be a win for frequent fliers.”
Check security wait times before leaving for the airport
Airline apps and MyTSA, as well as most airport websites, are updated regularly to display wait times at TSA checkpoints. CNN and of new york times We have also introduced a TSA wait time tracker. Granted, this knowledge won’t make the security line move faster, but just knowing how long you’ll be stuck at security can save you some travel anxiety. It’s easier to deal with potentially frustrating situations if you know you’ll be on the other side of security in, say, 30 minutes, and probably zipping into an airport lounge.
Pack your carry-on baggage (relatively) properly
You don’t have to be perfect at folding your shirts and pants, but cramming them into your carry-on can cause unnecessary headaches at airport security. Make sure anything you might have to take out during a security check, like your laptop, tablet, phone, e-reader, or toiletries, isn’t buried in the middle of your bag, Farbstein says. Additionally, TSA may randomly search your bags, but keeping your bags organized will make it easier to refill and get to the gate. (We recommend using packing cubes to keep everything contained.)
Make sure you follow TSA’s 3-1-1 liquid rule
If you pack liquids, gels, or aerosols in your carry-on bag, make sure they’re in containers no bigger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). All of these must be placed in quart-sized clear plastic bags, limited to one bag per passenger.
It’s not very clear what the TSA considers a liquid in the first place. “A good rule of thumb is if it can be spilled, sprayed, spread, pumped, or poured, it’s a liquid, gel, or aerosol,” Farbstein says. That includes peanut butter and other foods. “If[the peanut butter]is already spread on the sandwich, it’s fine, but if you put it in a jar, you won’t be allowed through airport security.”
If you’re not sure, check out TSA’s helpful What Can I Bring? Tools or Text TSA to ask a question.
Related: Yes, you can bring food through TSA with some exceptions
empty your water bottle
Reusable water bottles are important travel supplies, but make sure they’re completely empty before passing through security. Full water bottles are a common reason for TSA to stop passengers for further screening. After passing through security smoothly, fill up your bottle at the drinking fountain. Airplanes are dry, so it’s important to stay hydrated.
Plan additional time during busy travel seasons
“Summer travel is like peak highway travel,” Farbstein says. “On holidays, there are a lot of people with children, which can cause lines to be slow.” If you know your flight is scheduled during a particularly busy time, she recommends taking it in plenty of time. If you fly early in the morning, the PreCheck lanes may not be open yet. So don’t book your flight solely on the assumption that you’ll get through priority security lines.
This article was originally published in 2018 and updated on April 17, 2026 with the latest information. Sophie Friedman contributed reporting to this article.