How to Get Through Security Lines Faster

If there is one thing than can derail the happiness we feel when flying out of town for a vacation, it is having to wait in airport security lines.  Those who travel frequently know the frustration of watching someone who doesn’t know how to breeze through security take off shoes, empty pockets, take off belts and remove digital devices from bags. Familykenkel shares details on how to get through security faster.

It pays to pay for the TSA PreCheck program. For only $85, a frequent passenger can skip all the above for five years. Skip the long regular security line and head straight into the short PreCheck line. Breeze through and get to your gate.

International frequent travelers can sign up for the Global Entry program (only a little more than PreCheck). This speeds up the process when re-entering the U.S. from an international origination point. Both PreCheck and Global Entry require the fee and some other documentation, plus an interview with Homeland Security.

Know what to leave at home: cigarette lighters, lighters shaped like guns, anything that resembles a grenade, large jars of creams, lotions, and other thicker substances.

Familykenkel also reminds readers that the full body scanners take a cookie cutter image of the body now. There are no more scanners which show what appeared to be a naked body image.

If paying for faster security is not something one wants to do, this is what to do before getting to the security stand: empty all pockets of any items, remove shoes and hold them in your hand, do not wear a belt, take off your jacket, take out laptops and tablets, and take out the baggie with personal care items. All of these things have to go in the bins and be run through the X-ray machines. Lessen the load (and bins needed) by packing the rest in an under the seat bag. You can always take out what you want after clearing security. Fly through security faster and with less stress.

The Powerball is Yours – Now What?

It is hard to resist playing the lottery and powerball lottery when the jackpots are high. Now let’s image that you wake up Sunday morning and check your tickets to see if you won and learn that you won it all. Now what?

Keep in mind that about 70 percent of lottery winners end up broke. We are assuming you filled out the back of the tickets and contacted the state lottery to let them know you won.

• Make copies of the ticket and secure it in a safe place.
• Ask friends and relatives for the name of a good financial advisor. This person should not be someone who will agree with you about investments of charitable giving.
• Start making investment so you will be paid every month until the day you die. If not, it is likely you might spend all of your money on yourself and everyone else before making the life change to the other side.
• Take time to think about what you want to do with all that money. Generally speaking, younger winners spend it all and soon are back to living paycheck to paycheck. Older winners do not. Familykenkel suggests talking it over with a trusted person in your life. Write the plan down.
• Be careful. Don’t trust everyone you know who suddenly wants to be your new best friend/financial advisor.
• Find something meaningful to do with your life. Go overseas and volunteer. Stay in the States and volunteer. Buy land and start your own private dog park.

International Travel Updates

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issues an advisory to all people traveling into the United States from other countries and continents about digital devices. Familykenkel reviews this new rule and others that international travelers will need to know.

International travel will usually mean better security coming and going abroad. In light of this, there are some new guidelines that people traveling to the US from other countries should know: travelers will be asked to turn on any smart phones, cell phones, tablets and laptops they have. Failure to turn it on might mean it will be confiscated. Shoes are also another concern and travelers may be asked to remove them for the X-ray machine. At US airports, extra steps are already being taken to test random passengers for chemicals and compounds used in making explosives. Familykenkel urges those traveling overseas to be sure they pack a converter for electricity in order to keep electronics fully charged before leaving the country visited. This will ensure the device will go on if asked to turn it on by airport security.

International travel is fun and a rewarding experience. Be sure to pack what you need and want for the adventure and place important items in a carry on bag, such as a light rain coat, medication, clean undergarments and travel-size personal hygiene items. Chargers and cords can be corralled into baggies with the item name written with a Sharpie on the bag. Pack carry on bags so the items are easily identifiable to airport security and make getting through it as easy as possible.