Frozen shampoo, and six other airport hacks you didn’t know about
Airports are an experience to endure rather than enjoy, particularly in 2022 when stories of staff shortages and queue chaos emerge almost daily.
However, there are a number of ways to make the experience that little bit more bearable. While we are all well aware of the need to arrive at the airport in good time and many have an intimate knowledge of various airline’s baggage allowance rules, there are a slew of under-the-radar tips that could save both time and money.
From smart little hacks to frankly bizarre ideas, here are some surprising ways to beat airports’ rules and improve your journey this summer.
Flying from the US? Frozen liquids of any size can be taken through security
Since coming into force in 2006, the ban on liquids over 100ml in hand luggage has led to untold litres of lost perfumes and ointments. Just think of all the expensive beauty products cruelly snatched away because passengers forgot about the strict limit. However, when travelling from the US there is an unusual way of circumnavigating this rule – if you are rather determined. A former flight attendant recently highlighted to Yahoo! News that frozen liquids of any size are allowed to go through US security, stating: “If you have an important liquid, but you don’t want to pay to check a bag, it’s worth trying to freeze it so it goes through the security scanner as a solid.”
"Even if it melts a little bit on the ride to the airport, it shouldn’t be a problem as long as it’s stored properly," they clarified.
So freezing shampoos and other products could well solve some toiletries issues, though arguably packing a solid shampoo bar would be a more straightforward option. The hack would also, in theory, work for frozen water in bottles, though of course this could be a challenge to keep solid, depending on your journey time. A better solution would surely be taking an empty bottle and filling up at a water fountain – the vast majority of airports now have plenty of re-fill points after security.
Unfortunately, the UK Government hasn’t confirmed it follows the same protocol.
Choose the security checkpoint on your left
We’ve all been there – when standing in a lengthy queue for security, you are suddenly confronted with a choice of which lane to plump for. One is always quicker and inevitably you pick badly. As time ticks on, you haven’t even secured a plastic tray while that loud couple behind you who went the other way are already through and munching on their Pret croissants. However, there may be a way to ensure a speedier process. Studies have shown that people naturally tend to turn right when presented with a choice (due to the majority of us being right-handed), leaving queues on the left often a little shorter. So next time remember left is best.
Use the check-in line closest to first/business travel
While by no means a hard and fast rule, next time you fly it might be worth choosing the check-in line closest to the one reserved for first- and business-class passengers. Some frequent flyers have noted that if the economy queue becomes unwieldy (certainly not an unusual occurrence at the moment), the nearest passengers may be beckoned over to enjoy an expedited check-in. While there, you could always try your luck asking for an upgrade or at least how much it might cost to bump up to business class (some airlines offer special deals on the day) as staff on the premium desks may be more plugged-in to what’s available.
Dress with purpose
Dressing for the airport is an art form. The key rule is layer up, first because your travel day may see you exposed to various different temperatures but also because it’s a way of lightening your luggage load and avoiding those pesky baggage fees. How extreme you want to take this is up to you – wearing three jumpers, two jackets and a heavy coat, for example, could get uncomfortable. Another tip to avoid budget airlines’ extra charges would be to decant your personal items into some duty free bags – you can’t be charged for items that appear to have been purchased in an airport shopping spree.
In terms of footwear, trainers are a better choice than heavy boots which you are likely to be asked to remove when going through security – and it's wise to avoid belts and lots of jewellery, which are prone to setting off the buzzer. A long scarf is also a good bet to use as a blanket on the plane or even a makeshift neck pillow.
Book night flights to avoid the crowds
In the wake of reports of seven-hour queues at Manchester and passengers missing flights across the country due to lengthy lines, avoiding the crowds has never been more important. A good tip is booking an evening flight, when fewer departures mean there will generally be less people travelling through the airport. If you want to swerve other passengers for more misanthropic reasons, why not set up camp in an empty gate in view of a departure board and close to your designated gate, which will likely be packed. You’ll also have more chance of finding a spare power outlet or plug to charge up your devices.
Take photos of your baggage and parking space
We all know by now that it’s a good idea to tie a brightly coloured ribbon or attach a distinctive tag on our luggage to avoid any mix-ups, but going one further and taking a picture of your case can help staff locate it faster in the event it goes missing. While you have your phone out, take a picture of your car parking space to avoid desperately trailing around the multistorey on your return.
Check in your bag in late and it might be the first one out
The wait at baggage reclaim can feel intolerable – your fellow passengers standing excessively close to the carousel and anxiety rising as time ticks on and your case still hasn’t emerged. If only there was some way you could increase the chances your bag arrived first. While there’s no guarantee, baggage handlers have previously revealed that being one of the last on your flight to drop off your bag can mean you receive it back first. The usual pattern seems to be that the last bags to be checked in are the first to be loaded onto the plane, the last to be taken off and finally the first to be moved from trolley to carousel.
However, this tip should come with a warning – cutting it fine at a UK airport (and elsewhere) these days is a risky business and most airlines now advise arriving at least three hours before your flight departs. Arguably waiting a little longer for your bag to be returned is preferable to a missed holiday.
