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BETWEEN THE HIGHS of leaving the office for the last time and actually arriving at your holiday destination, there’s one final obstacle to overcome before you can enjoy your holliers: the airport.
Some trips through an airport can be completely hassle-free. Everything goes right and you speed through check-in and security.
But then there’s all the other times. Tight security, long queues and increased stress means negotiating your way through an airport can be tricky.
But never fear. We’ve put together these tips on how to get through the airport as quickly as possible, based on our own hard-fought, bitter experiences…
1. Check the weight limits for your luggage before you pack
Sounds obvious, but the hassle (and the cost) of getting this wrong is not worth it. Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus allow for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 10kgs and, unsurprisingly, Ryanair can be strict about implementing this – their staff at some airports will check the size of your hand luggage and may measure it before deciding whether you can take it on board. Check how much luggage you’re allowed to check-in too: there’s a higher limit if you’re going on a long-haul flight, but the limit often applies to your total baggage, rather than to each individual piece of luggage. Weigh your bags at home or at an empty check-in desk at the airport before you check in if you’re worried that they could be too heavy.
2. Separate your liquids, gels and pastes before you get to the airport
If you wait until the airport to do this it will be time-consuming and it will cost you – most airports now charge around €1 to get two of the clear plastic bags you need to get through security. Buy a load of them in a supermarket for less than €2 beforehand and save yourself the cash. All items in the bag will have to be under 100ml and Dublin Airport has a useful FAQ about what can and can’t be taken through security. Aerosols, shaving foam, and some make-up items, such as certain types of concealer, are all on the list, as well as regular liquids and gels.
3. Check in online if possible
It means you can avoid the queues at the airport.
(Photo: James Horan/Photocall Ireland)
4. Otherwise look out for automated machines which will save you having to queue at check-in
Ones that look something like this:
(Photo: James Horan/Photocall Ireland)
5. Have your passport and boarding pass somewhere safe and easily-accessible
Everything else can be thrown into your hand luggage but you’ll need these close at hand in a secure place if you want to get through the queues quickly.
6. Choose your security queue carefully
If you have time, it’s worth taking a minute to check if there’s different departure gates and if any of them have a shorter queue than the others. Next, you’ll have to join a queue to get through the security check. Look at the people ahead of you in the queue: avoid standing behind families with small children – buggies and children’s food can be finnicky to get through security. Ideally you’re looking for people who already have their clear plastic bag out, their belt off, and are already eyeing up which tray they want.
7. Wear something that you can take off easily
No, not like that. You’ll definitely have to take off metal jewellery and big coats or jackets when you go through security, and there’s a high chance – depending on the mood of the security guard you encounter – that you’ll have to take off your belt and shoes (less likely if they’re flats or runners, definitely going to happen if they’re giant boots). Don’t wear something that will take forever to take off, delaying both you and all the people behind you.
8. Be prepared to take things out of your bag
You’ll be asked to remove any electronics – such as a laptop, e-reader or tablet – as well as any umbrellas you have in your hand luggage.
9. Willing to pay to speed things up?
You’ve probably already paid enough for your flight, but if you’re willing to part with some cash for a speedier trip through the airport, there are options. Dublin Airport has a service called Airport Genie which can fast track you through security, provide someone to help carry your stuff or give you access to a lounge, depending on what you want and are willing to pay. Less salubriously, Ryanair has priority boarding for around €5 which lets you be one of the first people to get on the plane.
Got any useful tips to share? Let us know in the comments…
Nothing more annoying than idiots who stand in the security queue for 20 minutes and are completely unprepared for it when their turn comes. Then to really annoy you they laugh about!! Champagne and smoked salmon await me – move it idiot!!
These are undoubtedly the very same people who are taken by surprise every time they have to pay for their groceries in a supermarket and only start rummaging for their purses when everything has gone through and been packed.
Or the People who get to the ATM and look perplexed, confused about the next step………
Haven’t been able to afford a holiday since 2007. None of that airport stress for me!
Fly from shannon ..It’s the most stress free airport you’ll ever use.. no queues at check in or security and car park is outside the front door.
Fly from Knock its dirt cheap but they catch you with the €10 “development charge” that isn’t mentioned anywhere before you get to the airport!
Or flash the gold circle card and you can skip the security queues! And travel with a full service airline and get free hold luggage and food, so thers no hassle! Why put up with hassle in life?
Well the main reason would be it can be double or three times the price. Call be crazy but paying an extra few hundred for a bad ready meal and and hold space I do not need does not sound like value to me.
My top top is get good luggage. I have this really light carry on bag that I use:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2863599/Trail/searchtext%3ELIGHT+LUGGAGE.htm
Backpack are also a good option, and also buy your own luggage scale, a lot of euro shops do them.
Learn to pack light, people bring to much crap on holiday. I brought carry on bags when we went to Boston. When we landed in Dublin from the time the plane landed till we where on the bus home was only 20mins! No waiting around at the baggage reclaim saves you a ton on time, not to mention you don’t have the hassle of managing huge suitcases.
Doesn’t matter how many gold cards you flash or how much you pay. First class or economy. First through security or last. Your both on same plane so your holidays begin at same time.
Airports are not just for holidays, some of us are there for work amid the holidaymakers! Great tips, but common sense for business travellers, hope people will take note. Some more tips: stock up on little plastic bags at airports like Gatwick where they’re free, buy the mini-toileties which fit in the bags, and yes the 1-bag on board policy does apply to you and does mean your laptop and/or handbag have to fit in your bag, no exceptions! That’s being enforced a lot more these days, even if it wasn’t the last time you flew the same route.
Pay extra??????? Or just bend over and put a red hot poker up your arse while looking at a foto of Michael O Leary.
If that works for you Peter, then why not! Sounds a bit too kinky for my liking though!
How much did O’Leary charge for the photo?
All pretty common sense stuff The idiots who wait till last minute to get their stuff out of their bags at security are really annoying they should have a separate stupid line for them!! With ryanair ladies your handbag is considered luggage and I was told to put it into my carry on or pay extra I have chosen not to fly with them again
Or you could just get the ferry. Make the trip a part of the holiday.
As someone who gets the ferry regularly and thinks it’s great, I still have issues with that advice, as you need to be going somewhere te ferry goes to and you need to have plenty of time for travel. Also for short hops bringing a car on the ferry can work out more expensive than flying.
And don’t waste your time getting priority boarding with SwineAir. Chances are if the flight route is under pressure for time, they’ll just bundle everyone on together anyway after a token effort to separate the queues. They’ve already got your money so why should they care?
I fly a lot with Ryanair, I’ve never paid for priority boarding and I’ve often got on the plane before those that have.
WHy people are in such a hurry to get on a plane mystifies me. You are pushing and pulling so as to sit in a cramped aluminium tube waiting for the last passenger before you can depart. Better to stay sitting in waiting area and stroll up to boarding as last passengers are boarding.
Valid option Joe and one I would take if going on holidays. The reason I’d like to be one of the first on the plane means I can get a seat that has me off the plane first and speeds up my journey at the other end.
Yes Daithi, because after you land and on the taxi into the gate, the cabin crew are going to open the door and let you take the 10ft drop?
I wouldn’t fly Ryanair without the priority boarding, and have always been boarded before the folk who don’t have it. Though now that you have to pay extra for an exit row, which was the main advantage of getting on first, it’s less useful.
I fly from Dublin every couple of weeks and am amazed at how efficient the security is at getting people through. Not much hassle imo. With regards the carry on see through bags they charge a euro for: in terminal 1 departures level there’s a chemist that sells them for 30c ;-)
Totally agree Damien, I pass through 3 times a week on business and they are actually brilliant. Then I have to go through the shambles of security in Terminal 5 in Heathrow and it’s awful!
I better leave earlier to get through all this…..and then drive to the b+b in Wexford.
People should be holidaying at home here in Ireland, why bother going through an hour or two of airport stress to fly away for a fortnight on foreign shores when for the same price you can get a weekend away here?
A weekend in Ireland or a week away somewhere sunny and warm for the same price…. let me think about that..
To get away from our putrid summer weather
You were being ironic weren’t you… :)
Yes indeed :P
People stand up immediately the plane taxies to the arrivals area. They then push and shove, bags falling on peoples heads, to get out as soon as possible. they then get on the airport bus.
Whereas if they relaxed and waited for others to get organised and get on the bus they would be able to stroll off the plane and onto the bus. They would then be first off the bus and out of the airport with hand luggage.
Travelling long haul at this time of the year wear flip flops or easy to slip on shows as they’ll give you socks on board. Also wear layers, the temperature in airports varies with air conditioning, especially in Asia. Avoid caffeine as you’ll waste time queuing for the loo in busy airports. And definitely 1 bag for hand luggage preferably with wheels or on your back if you have the energy for that.
Wear slip on shoes & no belt. If two travelling,take a check-in line each,whoever reaches desk first calls other.Take the security line with business ppl queueing,they know the routine.
holiday in Ireland! that is the most idiotic remark here. The weather is a disgrace, food over priced, beer too. need i go on!? its only a dump!
He was being ironic..
spent a few days in nw Ireland end of June.Lousy weather,bad,rude service,prehistoric shower stalls,boring food.locals come first,tourists, who cares.
Happy to go back to new home in Florida..
Relax Gavin…….Re-read my comment, the clue to my sarcasm is the bit about the price of a fortnight away foreign costing the same as a weekend here.
Another tip, although I don’t know how widely spread it is… Last time I came home through Manchester airport, Ryanair allow each passenger one bag of shopping from duty free on top of their luggage allowance – I spent £6 on a pair of headphones and the nice checkout girl gave me a large bag when I asked for one. I’m keeping hold of that bag now! It held all those little bits that fitted in to my bag on the way out, but mysteriously didn’t on the way home.
The Airport Genie at Dublin Airport is brilliant!
going on what?
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