Travel pros say these are the biggest mistakes people make at airport security

These insider tips will help you avoid common mistakes and breeze through security like a pro.

If there’s anyone who knows how to navigate air travel with ease, from choosing the best seat on the plane and avoiding certain drinks from the service cart to how to score some much-needed sleep, it's flight attendants and other airline professionals. When it comes to getting through the TSA line with confidence and calm, these air travel experts have the best advice. After all, they pass through airport security more often than just about any other flyer, so they’ve seen every mistake, shortcut, and time-wasting mishap. Their best advice is to learn what they never do—and mimic that—to help you sail through the checkpoint with far less stress.

They never argue with TSA.

Southwest Airlines flight attendant Christy Betbeze says keeping your cool is essential. “My advice is just do exactly what TSA says: no sass, no shortcuts, because arguing will only make the process more stressful,” she explains. “I’ve seen the craziest things get confiscated—peanut butter, hummus, even an apple corer—but not knitting needles, skateboards, or ice skates." But even if it feels arbitrary, just let the agents do their jobs for the most frictionless experience possible—on both sides.

They never sprint through the line.

Hurrying only slows you down, Betbeze says. Trying to rush (or showing frustration) tends to invite extra scrutiny instead of saving time, according to her observations. Calm, steady progress keeps everything moving.

They're careful about placing loose items into the bin—and they don't rush when collecting them.

For crew members, even small details matter. Dean Rotchin, travel expert and CEO of Blackjet, points out that flight attendants protect their professional appearance at every step. “We don’t simply dump our accessories in bins,” he says. “Flight attendant wings, name tags, and uniform pins can get lost or damaged." So they're mindful to place items with care and retrieve them one by one. That's great advice that also applies to smartphones, passports, glasses, and other small but essential loose items.

They're proactive about potentially suspicious-looking items.

Rotchin also notes that crew members make a point to clear out flight-specific items before screening. “Certain products might be senseless among TSA agents who don’t have airline experience,” he says. “I regularly check my crew bag. I take out anything that requires elaboration. This is to avoid fumbling conversations and also to make sure that the screening process proceeds smoothly on my side as well as those behind me." Traveling with something you think might raise some eyebrows? Call it out to the screeners before it becomes a bigger issue.

They carry redundant documentation.

While many of us trust apps or digital wallets, flight attendants know technology can fail. “We don’t count on our crew ID being enough,” Rotchin says. “I always have hard copies of my medical certificate, passport, and crew schedule. Having backups has saved me more than once when technology went down or paperwork was unclear on international flights.” This logic applies tidily to things like digital boarding passes, too.

They never cut it close on time.

Detroit-based Delta flight attendant Shannon Brown stresses the importance of arriving early; trying to shave off extra time just isn't worth the potential for a bad outcome. “I never assume a short line at security,” she says. “Even regional airports can get backed up unexpectedly. I always arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international. It’s not worth the stress or risk of missing your flight.”

They get ahead of the liquids requirements.

Brown adds that even seasoned travelers get tripped up by liquid rules. “I never pack liquids without following TSA’s 3-1-1 rule: containers must be 3.4 ounces or less, all fit in one quart-sized clear bag, and only one bag per traveler,” she says. “It’s a simple step that helps avoid delays and keeps the line moving smoothly.” The agency has hinted that changes to this rule could be coming—just as it recently did away with its longstanding shoe-removal policy—but for now, stay compliant and avoid delays or other drama.

Read the original article on Southern Living