Have Laptop, Will Travel

I've been traveling for business almost constantly since 1999. Here are a few tips regarding airport departures that I've picked up along the way.

Arrive early. The early-bird gets the exit row (more leg-room!), and possibly the free frequent-flyer upgrade to First Class (if you qualify). Be sure to bring a book or something to work on. Where I live, I can't estimate with any accuracy when I'll arrive at the airport. So I'm often very early. When I travel, I get caught up on books, magazines, phone calls.

Bring your own food. The airlines rarely feed you anymore, and when they do, it isn't all that tasty. Plan ahead and decide whether you're going to eat before you drop off your car, before you're going through security, or when you're comfortably at the gate. What can you bring? What will you do with utensils afterwards? Security may balk at metal knives and forks. But if you use them before you get there, you could drop them into your checked luggage, or your car.

Streamline your security screening. Laptops have to be removed from the case and passed separately through the x-ray. Get a laptop case that allows you to slip the laptop into a pocket. Those old briefcase-style cases with the velcro straps are a pain. Also, wear shoes that will slide off easily, and pants that won't fall off if the belt is removed. Or not. (I've seen some cute underwear, thanks to the baggy pants that young men wear these days! :) Give yourself enough time (see tip, above) just in case you get randomly selected for a full search. I've been through plenty of them, and I can assure you it's nothing personal, nor is it racial profiling (see photo - I think it's the "Insanity" T-shirt!). If you really want to get through it quickly, be polite and cooperative. Truly, most people are not trying to make your life miserable. We're all just doing our jobs and trying to get by.