Habits of the experienced traveler: small rituals for success

Preparation starts the evening before

Choosing shoes without laces and a jacket with spacious pockets for documents and phone speeds up passage through security, where every metal item to remove and put back lengthens the queue. Always having a charged external battery and travel documents also offline (photos or PDFs saved on your phone) prevents problems if your connection or smartphone battery fails.

In queue and waiting for the flight

At security, queues with more frequent flyers and fewer families tend to move faster because these passengers already have their baggage and liquids organized for screening; it pays to observe for a moment before joining a line. Carrying an empty water bottle to refill after security and avoiding heavy meals before the flight helps you digest better at altitude.

At boarding

There is no need to rush in line the moment the gate is called: staying seated until the final call reduces the time spent standing in the airplane aisle, especially on longer flights. For those traveling with only carry-on baggage, organizing it well before departure, as described in our guide to traveling light, makes this phase simpler too.

Put your smartphone, documents and liquids in the outside pockets of your jacket or backpack instead of at the bottom of your suitcase: at security you save the time you would otherwise spend searching for them.