top five tips for the best airport experience

SFO International Terminal, photo from Wikicommons

There were HUGE lines when I entered Terminal Two at SFO a week ago. Finding yourself at the back of a slow-moving queue can stress out even the most experienced traveler. Try these strategies to ease your way through the airport and make flying a pleasurable experience. Usually.

(1) Plan your arrival. I'm one of those travelers who has anxiety about getting delayed in transit, arriving late, and feeling like I have to rush to make my flight and find overhead space. So I plan accordingly. 8:15 a.m. flight from SFO? Coming from the East Bay? Because the Bay Bridge has huge rush-hour back-ups at the toll plazas, I took BART. I parked at the North Berkeley BART station, having taken advantage of BART's airport long-term parking program — it cost me just $28 for four weekdays + Saturday. Took the 6 a.m. train, got into SFO at 7 a.m. The AirTrain deposited me, five minutes later, at Terminal Two.

(2) CLEAR-ing the security lines - part I. It goes without saying that I checked in online and already had my boarding pass in hand. But arriving at the terminal, I saw HUMONGOUS lines clustered in front of the security area, hundreds of fellow travelers who had arrived before me. But not to worry, I have a membership in CLEAR, $99 per year for Delta SkyMiles members. I went straight to the separate CLEAR check-in area where there was no line. They identified me using biometrics on file (fingerprints or iris scan), stamped my boarding pass, then escorted me to the very front of the snaking lines.

(3) PRE-CHECKING your way through security - part II. Enjoying TSA Pre-Check is the best part of having Global Entry. I didn't have to remove my shoes. I didn't have to remove electronics from my bag. I didn't have to remove my one quart bag of toiletries. I just placed my carryon and my briefcase on the conveyer, walked through the magnetometer, and waited for my bags to emerge. That was literally the longest part of the security check. The entire process required maybe two minutes.

(4) Lounging in comfort. Even though I was flying Virgin America Alaska, I was able to check in to American's Admirals Club Lounge, thanks to the membership that comes with my AAdvantage Executive MasterCard. (Lounge access is accorded all cardholders on the account, at no additional cost per card.) I relaxed for a short while in a quiet comfortable place, had a small breakfast, and even made a Sabre booking on my laptop computer, taking advantage of the fast WiFi and an actual table.

(5) Get me to the gate on time. I actually messed up on this one, neglecting to pay attention to the location of my gate. It was in Terminal One, about a five minute walk airside from Terminal Two, so I ended up rushing to the gate, arriving after boarding had already begun. Fortunately, my First Class award ticket let me bypass the queue of passengers in economy, and I was able to snag overhead space just behind my seat.

My mantra: I don't mind standing at the front of a long line; I just don't like being at the back of a long line. It works for me!

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