7 Airport Hacks: How to Make Your Next Take-Off So Much Easier

A world traveler shares what he’s learned about making airports more comfortable, from accessing lounges to making the most of your time.

With the right preparation, even the busiest airports can become gateways to smoother journeys. ozgurcankaya/Getty Images

For some, it’s a cause of minor annoyance. For other travelers, a trip through the terminal and onto their waiting plane is a source of major anxiety. But here’s the undeniable truth: Almost nobody loves spending time in airports.

As a travel writer who has visited more than 100 countries, I’ve spent a significant amount of the last decade or two taking off and landing. Security lines, tarmac delays, and just the general hurly-burly of people rushing to their gates don’t generally combine to create a fun and pleasurable place. However, it doesn’t have to be so bad—if you know how to properly navigate. Here are seven hacks I’ve picked up along the way, flying in and out of all seven continents.

Use Whatever Shortcuts You Can Find

Especially at peak times, standing in a security screening line can seem to take forever. Inching along, stop-and-go. That general purgatory of the hurry-up and wait. But you’ll find there are several ways to circumvent the line.