Before traveling by plane, you must pass through airport security, which usually involves long lines and some waiting time. In light of this, some UK airports offer a psychological trick to reduce the time spent queuing. Regular air travelers may want to give it a try.
Manchester Airport in the UK has shared its “Ultimate Airport Guide” on its official website, providing tips and tricks for frequent flyers to make the airport experience smoother.
The guide is divided into three sections: “Before Departure,” “Getting to the Airport,” and “At the Airport.” It covers a wide range of suggestions, from choosing the best footwear to decorate your luggage to ensure high visibility.
In the “At the Airport” section, the guide mentions a psychological technique to speed up the security screening process.
According to the guide: “If you can choose a security lane, consider taking the left one. Most travelers are right-handed and tend to subconsciously choose the right lane, so the flow of people in the left lane is often less crowded.”
The guide also suggests that for a small fee, passengers can purchase the “FastTrack” service to use a priority lane and bypass the queues at security screening.
This advice is particularly useful when dealing with a high volume of travelers, such as during peak holiday seasons. However, passengers may not always have the option to select their lane.
Nevertheless, passengers can expedite the security screening process by avoiding accessories that are difficult to remove, thus improving the efficiency for everyone.
In the “Before Departure” section, the guide advises: “To prepare for security screening, wear shoes that are easy to take off. Avoid wearing clothes with elaborate belts or complex fastenings, and minimize the wearing of jewelry. Make sure there are no unnecessary items in your pockets.”
Despite this, when planning your trip, it’s still wise to pack a few items of clothing that are easy to put on and take off to deal with temperature changes during the journey. The guide recommends bringing sweaters and other clothing that can be easily layered, as they are convenient for fluctuating temperatures.
“It is possible that the temperature inside the cabin may change, so it is advisable to wear layers of clothing that can be easily added or removed. Bringing an extra sweater can also be useful even if you don’t wear it, as it can be used as a pillow.”
Regarding luggage, the guide urges passengers to confirm the weight and size restrictions of their luggage with their airline, as regulations vary between companies. You definitely do not want to face difficulties during check-in due to luggage issues.
If you want to lighten the weight of your suitcase, the guide suggests wearing the heaviest items from your luggage. This may help you avoid overweight fees.
The guide also recommends using bright-colored ribbons or stickers to decorate your luggage, making it easily identifiable on the luggage carousel. Additionally, you can use Bluetooth luggage tracking tags to keep track of your luggage.