SCAN-DALOUS
Three types of passengers that airport security hate to see – and the biggest mistake travellers can make
Some passengers are more bothersome than others to airport security staff
MANY travellers will hate the hassle of having to go through security but there are also three types of passenger staff hate to deal with.
Fliers may be frustrated by hold-ups and delays having everything checked but security staff say there are things you can do to minimise the time it takes to be cleared.
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The one mistake many travellers make is to be simply underprepared for the trip.
A traveller who is stressed and mentally unprepared can hold things up as they search for their passport, lose their wallet or simply miss their flight.
While it’s easy to get flustered, some passengers are more bothersome than others.
Eric Guthier, an advisor with the US government agency Transportation Security Administration, has revealed to , the types of passengers who slow the whole process down.
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The Rule Breaker
Top of the list for any security staff is the rule breaker.
Anyone trying to break the rules, such as carrying a pocket knife or even oversized liquid containers and bottle openers, are going to have their bags searched.
Guthier said: “More bag searches [mean] slower lines for everyone.”
Carrying a firearm, he explained can mean the “temporary closure of an entire screening lane.”
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No one wants that to happen.
To avoid inadvertently bringing something prohibited onboard, Guthier said travellers should do a once-over before heading to the airport.
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He said: “Travelers taking a few minutes to methodically go over what they have in their bags would go a long way toward ensuring they have maximum efficiency in getting through the checkpoint.”
The All-over-the-place/Impatient Passenger
The biggest mistake Guthier has to deal with is the person who is disorganised.
He said travellers should have everything in order before they even join the security line.
Guthier said: “We prefer when passengers arrive with plenty of time to spare, are organised, [and] have their documents ready.
"When passengers are frenzied, worried, and disorganised, they tend to do things they wouldn’t normally do such as sending their pets through the x-ray.”
Equally annoying for security personnel is the impatient person.
Guthier recommends travellers simply practice patience.
He said: “We wish travellers would keep in mind that we are there for their safety, as well as the safety of everyone else in the airport… At the end of the day, we are people who go home to our families, just like they do.”
Faulty Luggage
Simply having faulty luggage can cause a major headache for security and cause delays as staff grapple with zips that don’t work or overly-stuffed suitcases.
Guthier said: “[Those with] missing zipper tabs may cause problems.”
While sometimes travelling with a broken bag might be unavoidable, there is an easy and quick fix.
He recommended using zip ties as temporary pull tabs.
Meanwhile, UK airports are slowly ditching the the 100ml liquid rules which should see security wait times slashed.
Once in place, the new scanners will allow passengers to carry much more liquid in their hand luggage, putting an end to the strict 100ml liquid rules currently in place.
Hand luggage rules for UK airlines
We've rounded up how much hand luggage you can take on UK airlines when booking their most basic fare.
Ryanair
One personal bag measuring no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
EasyJet
One personal bag measuring no larger than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm
Jet2
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm weighing up to 10kg
TUI
One personal item that its underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm weighing up to 10kg
British Airways
One personal bag no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm 25cm weighing up to 23kg
Virgin Atlantic
One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 36cm x 23cm weighing up to 10kg
Last year, the Department of Transport implemented a deadline of June 2024 for airports to have the new scanners in place.
However, some places are facing delays until as late as 2025.
This is due to installation issues with the new security equipment, as well as the need to keep security in operation while bringing the new scanners in.
Liverpool, Bristol and Birmingham are all expected to hit the deadline, while East Midlands could also finish their instalment in time.
Edinburgh airport looks set to fall short, with work to change the scanners there expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, London Heathrow has partially introduced some of the new machines, but isn't expected to finish until some time next year.
Manchester and London Gatwick are also set to miss the deadline.
Elsewhere, onward travel from the airport can be expensive - but people often pay much more than they need to.
At UK airports, buying tickets for train travel from the machines at the stations is often much more expensive than buying them online.
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It's always worth checking the prices online when you arrive before buying the tickets.
Meanwhile, these two sneaky methods can help you avoid flight cancellation chaos.
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