All Aboard!! Speedy Airport Queuing Tips

When I hear the word 'airport', the first images that come to mind are those of: queues, delays, crowds, chaos, liquids.. What a pity that the word is not synonymous with ease, excitement, punctuality, speed!  If you're keen to explore the world and sea-travel is not your forte, then you're stuck with the crazy world of airports... until they master the art of teleporting of course!

I've listed a few tips to ease the painful airport experience and help start off your holiday on a positive note.  It might even give you extra time to enjoy another latte or cappuccino before you board your flight!

Know your airport	Familiarise yourself with the airport, especially when it's a large international one. For many of these airports, buses/trains are required to travel from one terminal to another so it's a great timesaver to view their websites before travelling.
Online check in	You'll be able to bypass the airport queues, and print your boarding passes at home (or get bar-coded boarding passes on your mobile)! The shorter 'bag drop only' queue can then be used to check in any luggage if required. The same applies to bus/train tickets to the airport itself - book in advance!
Dress to clear security	Before joining the queue place metal items, scarves and jackets in your carry-on bag, not on your person.  Laptops and cameras must be taken out of carrying cases and placed in the trays.  Remember, if you set off the security alarm you'll be subjected to a further search (and waste valuable time). How about wearing slip-on shoes for security checks? Perhaps opt for trousers that don't require a belt?
Document organiser	Avoid fumbling through your bags, looking for your passport and ticket while in the security check queues. Keep all your documents in one place (holder/pocket)
Clear plastic bag	Packing all your 100ml liquid items (incl toothpaste, lotion, hair products) in a clear sealable plastic bag at home when packing, and place the bag at the top of your carry-on for easy removal at the security check point. Another tip would be to avoid carrying powder/talc in your check-in bag. This might attract unnecessary attention and increase the chance of having your entire bag's contents individually scanned (drug alert etc)
Forex online	Consider purchasing foreign currency in advance, before reaching the airport. You stand a great chance of receiving a better exchange rate, and you'll have one less task to worry about at the airport.
Be punctual	Aim for arrival at the airport 2hrs in advance for domestic flights, and 3hrs for international trips. This should ensure that you have excess time to cover any unexpected situations on the day.
Be patient	An old placard in our family doctor's surgery displayed the following text: "Be a patient patient. Remember, it could be you". Apply this same logic to the airport queues - impatience and frustration won't speed up the process any further!
Meet & greet parking	If you're driving to the airport don't immediately shrug off the 'valet' option just because off-site parking might be cheaper. The convenience and peace of mind could be ideal for business trips or travellers with excess luggage.

I've purposely excluded the topic of 'packing light' vs 'luggage check-in'...

Although packing light would mean avoiding the check-in/bag-drop queues, the inconvenience of lugging a heavy carry-on bag around the airport (and the hassle if security officials choose your bag for a random contents search) might be less appealing.

Checking in your lugagge (even if for a fee), might save you time in the security check zone and increase your chance for bagging the more spacious 'cheap-flight' seats as your timesaving techniques ensure you're right in the front of the boarding queue.

These are just a few ideas to help save time and energy as you head to the departure gates. In the spirit of keeping the list concise, I've held back from rattling off an essay of ideas! I trust that this summary of, albeit simple, steps encourages you to book that next trip abroad ... HAPPY TRAVELS!