Most people are not fortunate enough to have a private airplane, no, many have to go through long TSA lines and procedures to board a flight. USA TODAY's "Road Warrior of the Year," Joyce Gioia, has some clever ways to ease travelers through the TSA.
Many small-medium sized airports such as Reno/Tahoe International are getting TSA Pre-Check enrollment centers for travelers to sign up and get through security more quickly. Applying for pre-check status to expedite security procedures can make things easier at the airport. Gioia says Reno's TSA lines aren't too bad, but it is the other bigger cities that can give travelers a headache.
"When you're coming home from a Las Vegas, or Orlando...Orlando is a nightmare airport or any big city, you want to have this pre-check," said Gioia.
TSA Pre-Check costs $85 for a five year membership and means travelers do not have to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts or their jacket and generally get to go through a shorter line.
There are slower times of the day that Gioia says lines are shorter, even sometimes non-existent. Those times are in between 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and after 8 p.m. Booking your flight in between these times can save time and money.
"The bonus on that is that you'll also probably pay less because they're off hours and less popular flights."
When you buy your ticket matters a lot. "I went online, using my iPhone and placed a "Hold" on my ideal ticket; tomorrow night, at about 11pm, I will buy the ticket. Then Sunday night, if I find lower fares, I can cancel the ticket (and get a full refund) and repurchase at the lower fare. If the fares have gone up, I will do nothing and I will have the ticket at the lowest price," explained Gioia.
