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There are plenty of things to keep track of when traveling by airplane. Whether it's ensuring you've booked the relevant transfers, ticking everything off your packing list, or making sure your carry-on bags fit with the airline's restrictions, jetting off on vacation comes with its fair share of complexities and annoyances. One of the biggest issues travelers face at the airport is getting through security. The TSA line can be extremely long, and it is really easy to forget to take all your liquids out of your carry-on or miss a restricted item. Worst of all, during the busy seasons, the long wait times at security can sometimes mean you have to rush to make your flight, or risk missing it entirely.
For those travelers who hate to wait in the security line, the TSA PreCheck program, or the brand-new airport security program TSA Gold+, are great options. They let you go through screening in advance, so you can skip the lines at the airport. But not everyone wants to add yet another extra cost to their vacation budget. Luckily, at certain airports, there is another option that not many travelers know about, which helps you save time at security but doesn't cost a cent! These programs allow passengers to book a TSA screening slot in advance, turn up at the correct time, and use a dedicated lane to sail through and avoid the lines.
Read more: 12 Quintessential Airport Security 'Dos And Don'ts' Straight From TSA
How does it work?
Although not many people know that you can reserve a security slot in advance at certain airports, the process is remarkably simple. To begin with, you need to fill in an online form, which can be found on the airport's website, with various personal details, including your flight date and number, the number of people on your booking, and your preferred time to go through security screening.
Once you've completed the form, you'll get a confirmation email giving you all the details you need to know, and a QR code to use to check in for your appointment. There's no need to worry about when to book your reservation, as most of the airports that run this program only allow reservations to be made up to around a week in advance, and there are usually same-day slots available.
On the day, you arrive at the airport as normal, and head to the designated lane at the time of your appointment. Check in with your QR code, and you'll skip the lines and go straight to general screening. Unlike TSA PreCheck, you'll still have to go through the security procedures, but you won't need to wait.
Which airports offer this service?
Sadly, advance TSA security screening reservations are only available at six airports in the U.S. as of the time of writing. John F. Kennedy International Airport, Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and Denver International Airport, the most sustainable airport in America, all offer their versions of this program. At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the program is called Spot Saver, but the details are more or less the same.
Denver's reservation service offers the longest lead time, with bookings available up to two weeks in advance. By contrast, the other airports open their reservations between five and seven days before your scheduled flight. And this useful travel hack isn't just available for domestic travel, either. Several international airports offer similar programs, including Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), London's Luton Airport (LTN), Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL), and Uruguay's Carrasco International Airport (MVD).
For more help successfully flying the friendly skies, check out these airport security secrets you need to know.
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Read the original article on Explore.
