The Science of Airport Survival: Why Flying Feels Terrible & What You Can Do About It
The modern airport is an equivalent to an endurance test. They do not cater to their customers very well. You are forced into long lines and sometimes, seemingly, into line just to get to the next part of your journey. You have a traveling companion, I suppose, to ease the discomfort, but don’t count on that unless you are really good at having “airport conversations.” Airports seem always to be overcrowded, every corner packed with overstuffed bags and overstuffed people. You are not going to feel at ease until you’re past security — and even then, you might have cause to worry. Still, it is surprising how easy it is to get through, with some science-backed common sense turned to hacks.
Tailor Your Luggage to Your Needs
Imagine that you’re on a treasure hunt with high stakes. You have to find your suitcase among the millions of black ones that are spinning on the conveyor belt. Almost any characteristic you might add to the suitcase would help you find it with greater ease and efficiency — another way of saying that the treasure hunt with high stakes becomes an easy and efficient escape. To get a better idea of what this kind of treasure hunt might look like, think of trying to find a black-cornered suitcase in a whirlwind of black-cornered suitcases. Anything that makes our suitcase the not-black-cornered one is a characteristic that serves to mark our suitcase as unique.
2. Be a good guy, but don’t be the guy who’s not a good guy.
Anyone can be slowed down by security checks, but two categories of people make it worse: the overthinkers and the rememberers. Getting through security is much easier if you think it through and remember what to do and what to have on hand. The secret is to don’t let your stalling body cause a bottleneck in the line. These same principles will also help you get through TSA faster.
3. Provide a Power Splitter — Become the MVP
One always finds a frantic traveler battling for an outlet. Our remedy? The power splitter. Not only will it solve your charging crisis, but you’ll look like the hero of Gate 34B. Oh, science, you say. Well, yes. This is helping. And power splitters help make friends, too, with that oh-so-humble appeal. By doing a little less and looking a little more heroic in the helping pursuit, power splitters may well help you keep your runway calm amid those high-tension travel situations.
4. Research-Backed Hack: Queue Left
Surprisingly, studies indicate that when it comes to selecting a line, the vast majority of us tend to favor the right side, and this preference isn’t usually conscious. Whether at an airport, a theme park, or even a grocery store, making the choice to stand in a left-sided line may well be an effective way to cut down on wait times. That’s because our inborn bias toward the right side creates inherently unbalanced wait times.
5. Basic Needs for Survival in the Wild and Packing the Right Gear
Delays may happen, or even occur frequently, and not just for flights. The better organized and prepared you are, the more unfazed you will be when adversity strikes. Hand luggage should contain the essentials for both comfort and survival, and you should have plans for potential alternative realities that require both. Among the smart plans and countermeasures of the smart traveler is preparing mentally for an offline existence.
6. Wait for Free Upgrades After the Board is Finished
Finally, if you have some flexibility, boarding last could earn you a better seat. When you’re not the last person in line but close to it, pass by the agent and eye the cabin door. Don’t look at the agents; look at the door. Ideally, stand in a place in line where it feels like you’re about to go in but kind of aren’t. Timing this right might get you business class—without the fee.
Every step in the airport experience is inefficient — but many of these inefficiencies are avoidable. If you understand the psychology of the airport queue, prepare for unavoidable delays, and get around small bottlenecks like security and luggage claim, you’re not just a passenger at the mercy of the airport system. You’re a passenger in control of your own airport destiny.
