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BETWEEN THE HIGHS of leaving the office for the last time and actually arriving at your holiday destination, there’s one final obstacle to overcome before you can enjoy your holliers: the airport.
Some trips through an airport can be completely hassle-free. Everything goes right and you speed through check-in and security.
But then there’s all the other times. Tight security, long queues and increased stress means negotiating your way through an airport can be tricky.
But never fear. We’ve put together these tips on how to get through the airport as quickly as possible, based on our own hard-fought, bitter experiences…
1. Check the weight limits for your luggage before you pack
Sounds obvious, but the hassle (and the cost) of getting this wrong is not worth it. Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus allow for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 10kgs and, unsurprisingly, Ryanair can be strict about implementing this – their staff at some airports will check the size of your hand luggage and may measure it before deciding whether you can take it on board. Check how much luggage you’re allowed to check-in too: there’s a higher limit if you’re going on a long-haul flight, but the limit often applies to your total baggage, rather than to each individual piece of luggage. Weigh your bags at home or at an empty check-in desk at the airport before you check in if you’re worried that they could be too heavy.
2. Separate your liquids, gels and pastes before you get to the airport
If you wait until the airport to do this it will be time-consuming and it will cost you – most airports now charge around €1 to get two of the clear plastic bags you need to get through security. Buy a load of them in a supermarket for less than €2 beforehand and save yourself the cash. All items in the bag will have to be under 100ml and Dublin Airport has a useful FAQ about what can and can’t be taken through security. Aerosols, shaving foam, and some make-up items, such as certain types of concealer, are all on the list, as well as regular liquids and gels.
3. Check in online if possible
It means you can avoid the queues at the airport.
(Photo: James Horan/Photocall Ireland)
4. Otherwise look out for automated machines which will save you having to queue at check-in
Ones that look something like this:
(Photo: James Horan/Photocall Ireland)
5. Have your passport and boarding pass somewhere safe and easily-accessible
Everything else can be thrown into your hand luggage but you’ll need these close at hand in a secure place if you want to get through the queues quickly.
6. Choose your security queue carefully
If you have time, it’s worth taking a minute to check if there’s different departure gates and if any of them have a shorter queue than the others. Next, you’ll have to join a queue to get through the security check. Look at the people ahead of you in the queue: avoid standing behind families with small children – buggies and children’s food can be finnicky to get through security. Ideally you’re looking for people who already have their clear plastic bag out, their belt off, and are already eyeing up which tray they want.
7. Wear something that you can take off easily
No, not like that. You’ll definitely have to take off metal jewellery and big coats or jackets when you go through security, and there’s a high chance – depending on the mood of the security guard you encounter – that you’ll have to take off your belt and shoes (less likely if they’re flats or runners, definitely going to happen if they’re giant boots). Don’t wear something that will take forever to take off, delaying both you and all the people behind you.
8. Be prepared to take things out of your bag
You’ll be asked to remove any electronics – such as a laptop, e-reader or tablet – as well as any umbrellas you have in your hand luggage.
9. Willing to pay to speed things up?
You’ve probably already paid enough for your flight, but if you’re willing to part with some cash for a speedier trip through the airport, there are options. Dublin Airport has a service called Airport Genie which can fast track you through security, provide someone to help carry your stuff or give you access to a lounge, depending on what you want and are willing to pay. Less salubriously, Ryanair has priority boarding for around €5 which lets you be one of the first people to get on the plane.
Got any useful tips to share? Let us know in the comments…
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Ugh. People who vote for gobshites like the Healy-Reas should be ashamed of themselves. If they weren’t voted in this crap wouldn’t happen. Parish pump at its’ best.
at it’s worst surely ?
But he fixed the road
“I was told very, very clearly that nobody could say whose phone they were from” – so, he did check before hand? :)
Just amended the article Danny. He said he checked this out last night as opposed to beforehand.
If they held an election tomorrow in South Kerry, I’d say he’d still get in for stickin’ to de Dubs. FFS.
I hope the media are requesting details of phone calls from Kerry County Council and other Local Authority offices, and St Luke’s! The Healy-Rae’s are a disgrace to this country.
He’s a clown !
I think youll find its we are the clowns for putting up with it
I’m no fan of the mail, but this is a public interest story. Very good.
Yet another proud day for Ireland!
Look at the type of person that Kerry voters return again and again
Martin Ferris (convicted terrorist)
The Healy-Raes (gombeen men)
The ‘Bull’ O’Donoghue
Draw your own conclusions……
I agree with everyone that this is a disgusting story which brings Ireland to new depths . However , Kerry people aren’t alone in voting for ‘Gombeen Men’ ( Michael Lowry springs to mind) and as far as I know John O Donoghue wasn’t elected at last election. As for Ferris that’s another story …..
Garrett Fitz. got a state funeral even though he got a non recourse loan from AIB, Haughey likewise. Garrett was the man behind the first bank bailout (AIB) and refused to hold any of his close friends on the board accountable. Hey it only cost several hundred million and unemployment was 18% but they were just the unwashed masses. If you look at every FG or FF Govt. over the last 50 years you will find endemic corruption at the highest level, some blatant brown envelope stuff but mosty, and at a greater cost it is the turn a blind eye to friends, award them jobs and contracts or do not bother working on some issues as no one you know personally or politically will benefit.
Sounds like Manuel from Fawlty towers. I am from Kerry I know nothing.
He didn’t know, but what has daddy got to say about it. Hmmm he’s very quiet for some reason
planned it before he went into the competition maybe? you know, then not having a mobile with you would make no difference! I mean does he actaully think he actually won, look at him for god sake!
Who told him ‘ very very clearly that no one could say whose phone they were from ‘ ? I thought it was possible to trace phone calls.
It is, but he’s hoping we’re as intelligent as him (by that i mean stupid) and won’t figure that bit out ;)
And the tax payer paid for every one of the calls. I like to decide where my own charitable donations go and I dont like a politician making that decision for me .
Does it really matter who voted for who in these sickening shows. The only correct vote would be to ban them.
What else would you expect more cute hoor behaviour
Just email finegael@finegael.com and voice your opinion there, I’m sure if enough people do this they will have to take notice.
Bloody Kerry Gobshites have they no shame
I was just waiting for another Healy-Rae theft. Absolutely no shame whatsoever.
This disgusting cretin should resign
As a Kerryman I am sorry to say that I am ASHAMED of that whole family. They are an embarrassment to our county, our country and our political system. We need to get rid of this gombeen politics ASAP.
Apologies from the Kingdom ………….
Well done to the Irish Daily mail, for once.
Surely the phone systems in governement go through a PABX and therefore every handset can have their numbers dialled reported upon? Well, unless the Healy-Rae’s still have the A/B button phones in their office. Wouldn’t surprise me – buffoons, they should be held to account.
I don’t care if you had or hadn’t a phone in Mayo, just resign and go NOW you pleb
It’s funny how all Kerry people are being slated as though they were the ones making the phonecalls. I think the real gobshites are the people on here who are condemning a whole county for the behaviour of a few. Kerry people hate losers so maybe Healy Rae felt he had to keep the winning tradition that emits from the county. And btw-I’m from Dublin.
Its the good people of South Kerry who keep electing the Healy Raes.
While I don’t condone what occurred I can’t help but notice that this revelation has occurred soon after Healy Rae refused to step down from A state board after Minister Burton expressed she had no longer confidence in him. How convenient for her agenda that this incident, which occurred four years ago, should find it’s way into the national media.
Exactly. How would the journalists have known to check who rang the competition?
Well it has to be pointed out that he should have stepped down from that board as well.
Gobshite …………
This family are straight out of Boganville or Hicks Corner or Red Neck county!
Talk about embarrassing, next thing he will try and convince the gombeens – his followers that someone not related to him, sat and made all these calls!!!!!!!!!!
Talk about moronic! The people who vote for him and his ilk, not the pollies, they must be laughing at the voters who vote for them cos no matter what they do, the idiots still continue to vote for them.
Lowest, common denominator seems to win everytime, it would seem!
maybe his daddy got ff to vote for his son, in exchange for supporting the last government, and that why jackie and his son kept the seat, they had the last government by the balls,
Some ppl have no shame esp those who sit in a warm and cosy seats of the Dáil.
I’d say he not the first and wont be the last ;)
According to the Annual Report of the Houses of the Oireachtas for 2009 there were 226 Politicians and their staff and 435 civil servants. That is an average of 3636/661 = 6 calls per head of staff – take out sick leave and unfilled posts and it gets interesting.
Like my boy Shaggy says: “If you don’t know what to do… say it wasn’t you!”
Yet another insult to the Irish people.
We pay the cost of this guy becoming a celebrity so he can reap the benefits for himself.
The Irish people are insulted again. Like idiots we just accept it.
Look! This all happened during the Celtic Tiger years. It couldn’t happen now. We’ve all moved on since then, Haven’t we?
I don’t see how the fact this happened when we had money makes any difference in the least.
The point is these people don’t change their spots.
The sad thing is, as bad as this is, and it is vile. It is not a patch on what FG and FF Govt’s have done over the last 30 years. When they abuse public funds for the benefit of friends and donors they do it in the tens of billions.
God I hate the look of these gobshites, and when they start to talk it makes by blood boil. They sound like f’n turkeys. No sign of him handing money back as a sign of good faith.
The cheek of those Healy Reas is unbelievable.Jackie seems to have gone silent all of a sudden.I hope that Joan burton manages to dislodge Michael from the citizens information board.
He looks that thick and ignorant it’s almost believable HOWEVER he is a Healy-Rae and I wouldn’t believe a word out of his gob!
Hes Podge and his dad is rodge
Considering it’s an obvious abuse of power at the tax payers expense he should not only resign but the Gardai should be involved. That’s the trouble in this country. Clowns in the Dáil.
Finfacts had a very interesting article about the secrecy of Irish journalism a longer time ago.
It really fits, looking back at it all.
http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10002526.shtml
To the people who havent woken up yet about our ‘media’, that link is a good starting point.
This is why we need to keep foreigners out of Ireland, to ensure that there is no cultural dilution of the good people of south Kerry ;-)
How does 3,636 call to a premium number only amount to €2,639?
I read on another site that the calls were charged at 60 cent each.
Dáithí Ó Sé should demand a recount…
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