The Airport as Obstacle Course

Phase 3: Checking in. All airlines are stressed financially and trying to automate everything possible. Give up trying to fight it because that trend is not going to change. Your best, lowest-stress method of dealing with what used to be a rather mundane, go-to-the-counter check-in procedure featuring real humans is to use the various airline Internet sites where you can check in and even print your own boarding pass before leaving for the airport. This is a very good idea!

If you don't have that capability, at least get familiar with the increasing number of automated check-in machines standing at or in front of most ticket counters. The key to using them? Have your so-called Confirmation Code (or Record Locator Code/Number) with you and instantly available, as well as a credit card in your name if possible. (Make sure, if you use Expedia or Travelocity, that you have the airline's code, not theirs), and NEVER head for the airport without some current, government-issued, photo ID. (If you have a passport, carry it, even domestically). Don't forget we're at war and special measures are necessary.

So what about checking bags with Internet check-in or machine kiosk check-in?

Follow your airline's signs for Internet or E-ticket bag check or use curbside check-in. If you use Internet check-in and have no bags to check, you're the happiest of campers because you can go straight to security and on to the gate.

Phase 4: Passenger screening. Things are 1,000 percent better than the pre-Transportation Security Administration days when a cats-and-dogs collection of private "security" companies pretended to provide passenger screening. TSA may not be perfect, but it struggles hard to train courteous, consistent and vigilant agents, and they deserve our support.

Our job? Take some time to consider how to make your passage through security faster. For instance, wear shoes you can quickly take off and put in the tray. Minimize jewelry or other metallic items that might be hard or time-consuming to take off and put back on. Make absolutely sure you have no prohibited items (penknives, lighters of any sort, objects with points or even corkscrews, etc.) in your carry-on luggage, because you will either lose them or have to leave security and find a place to put them before going through the line again.