How do you prepare for TSA?

[dakotix]

I have to chuckle sometimes at the airport when ever I see certain people dressed so elaborately that it takes them 10x as long to get through TSA. Personally I dress very simply: sweatpants, tshirt/ sweatshirt and a pair of flip-flops or shoes that easily slip on/off. No belts, no shoes. I know that may sound a bit extreme to some. But I have to tell you in addition to breezing through TSA, it also makes for a very comfortable flight. They make those seats so cramped now that wearing something that comfortable is so nice.

As far as my carryon? Wallet and phone of course (and charger!). I also have my tablet if my flight has wifi (not all do). All my disney paper work stays with me too...basically everything i can't afford to loose. Oh and of course depending on the time of day, I purchase a meal inside the terminal to enjoy in flight. Nothing obnoxious like a quarterpounder meal which would smell up the whole cabin, but usually something like a muffin/ bagel or salad.

 

[kamik86]

I fly alot for work. Sometimes I have to be in less comfortable clothes (Going right from airport to meeting or didn't have time after meeting to change)

Here are the things I always do though.

From home:
If I have a liquids bag it is next to my laptop.

Just before going to security (or while in the line if its long)
*If its cold enough that I have a coat and it won't fit in my bag (so only if its cold enough to snow and its a huge coat) my credit cards, money, cell phone, etc all go in the coat.
*If its not cold enough to have a coat or the coat is in my bagI save a pocket of my backpack for these items.
* Only my license and my boarding pass stay out in my pocket

When I get to the bins:
*My boarding pass and license go with my phone (so either coat or bag)
*My laptop comes out and goes into one. I put another bin on top of that one with my laptop, most of the time the person in front of me is slow and still hasn't given any space on the table so I put my shoes coat and toiletry bag if I have one in that second bin.
* I stand there and wait for the person in front of me to move
* Both bins go on the belt, then my backpack, then my rolling carry on if I brought it (I fly SW so sometimes if I know I'm not in a hurry on either end I just check that bag so I don't have to deal with it) The backpack has everything I can't afford to lose

After I get to the other side
*Laptop and toiletries goes back in bag, coat on my arm, backpack on, shoes in one hand and roller bag in the other (worst case assuming I have all this stuff)
* I find a bench after security and put on my shoes, get all my cards, phone, boarding pass etc back out etc.

If this airline doesn't have a frequent flyer line most of the time while waiting for others to move I also end up explaining to 2-3 other people what they have to do because they ignored all the signs and waited until now to figure this out.

I once got to do TSA precheck it took me longer then the frequent flyer line becuase the person in front of me had a stroller full of stuff and had NO clue. Things like needing to put stuffed animals on the baggage line etc he didn't do, yet in the TSA precheck line he took off his shoes, including the shoes of the kid in the stroller that wouldn't have to do that in any line.