Airports: Making The Journey Less Horrifying

Airports can be stressful places, but there are ways to make the experience less horrifying. From adopting the right mindset to taking advantage of airport lounges, there are several ways to make your time at the airport more enjoyable. In this article, we will explore tips and tricks to help you navigate the airport with ease and make the most of your time before boarding your flight.

Make use of airline lounges

Airports can be stressful places, but there are ways to make the experience less horrifying. One way to do this is to make use of airline lounges. Lounges are oases in the chaos of an airport, offering complimentary food, drinks and even a place to take a shower. They also have comfy chairs for relaxing, tables, charging stations and free wifi for working.

You can get into an airline lounge by having specific frequent flyer status or through credit card benefits. You can be a member of Priority Pass or LoungeBuddy. You can even buy day passes at many lounges.

If you can get CLEAR for free through your airline status or credit card, do it. If you’re paying for it, it’s absolutely worth it as long as CLEAR is available at the airport in your city or the cities you visit frequently. You can find the list of participating airports on their website.

TSA PreCheck gives you access to a shorter security line. According to the TSA website, “In November 2022, 92% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 5 min.” You’ll need to apply online and schedule an appointment that includes fingerprinting for a background check.

The first thing to do if you want to actually enjoy yourself at the airport is to put yourself in the right mindset for it. Try to talk yourself out of the mindset that the airport is a terrible, horrible place. Instead, try to look at it as a great place for people watching, or somewhere to try a new restaurant.

Get CLEAR for free through your airline status or credit card

If you can get CLEAR for free through your airline status or credit card, it's worth doing. CLEAR is available for free if you have Delta Diamond status or are the primary cardholder of an American Express Platinum card. It's also worth noting that TSA PreCheck gets you through security faster via a dedicated line that lets you keep your shoes on and your laptop in your bag.

If you want to get into an airline lounge, you can do so by having specific frequent flyer status or through credit card benefits. You can be a member of Priority Pass or LoungeBuddy. You can even buy day passes at many lounges. Lounges offer complimentary food, drinks and even a place to take a shower. There are comfy chairs for relaxing and tables, charging stations and free wifi for working.

Download the MPC app

Airports can be a stressful place, but there are ways to make your experience less horrifying. One way is to download the MPC app.

The MPC app is a free app that can help you get through the airport faster and with less stress. Although it's not available at all airports, it's still worth downloading so you have it when you need it. The app can help you make your connecting flight by getting you through security faster.

To download the MPC app, simply go to your device's app store and search for "MPC". Once you've found the app, click "Get" or "Install" and follow the prompts to install it on your device.

Once you've downloaded the app, be sure to create your profile. This will allow you to take advantage of all the features the app has to offer. You can also use the app to find out if it's available at your airport.

In addition to downloading the MPC app, there are other ways to make your airport experience less horrifying. For example, you can get access to airport lounges, which offer a more relaxed environment with complimentary food and drinks, as well as places to charge your devices and free WiFi. You can often get access through specific frequent flyer status, credit card benefits, or by purchasing a day pass.

Another way to make the airport less stressful is to put yourself in the right mindset. Instead of dreading the airport, try to look at it as a great place for people-watching or trying new restaurants. With the right attitude, you can actually enjoy your time at the airport.

TSA PreCheck

One way to make airports less horrifying is to sign up for TSA PreCheck. TSA PreCheck gives you access to a shorter security line, allowing you to get through security faster. In November 2022, 92% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 5 minutes. To sign up for TSA PreCheck, you need to apply online and schedule an appointment that includes fingerprinting for a background check.

In addition to TSA PreCheck, there are other programmes that can help make your airport experience less stressful. For example, CLEAR is a membership programme that offers expedited security screening at select airports. CLEAR uses biometric technology, such as fingerprints or iris scans, to verify your identity and speed up the security process. If you have Delta Diamond status or are the primary cardholder of an American Express Platinum card, you may be eligible for complimentary CLEAR membership.

Another option to consider is enrolling in a trusted traveller programme, such as Global Entry. Global Entry allows pre-approved, low-risk travellers to receive expedited clearance upon arrival in the United States. This can be especially useful if you frequently travel internationally and want to speed up the customs and immigration process.

By enrolling in programmes like TSA PreCheck, CLEAR, or Global Entry, you can make your airport experience more efficient and less stressful. These programmes offer expedited security screening, shorter lines, and a more seamless travel experience. So, if you're looking to make airports less horrifying, consider signing up for one or more of these trusted traveller programmes.

Put yourself in the right mindset

Airports can be stressful places, but there are ways to make the experience more enjoyable. The first thing to do is to put yourself in the right mindset. Try to talk yourself out of the mindset that the airport is a terrible, horrible place. The more you can, the better off you'll be. Instead, try to look at it as a great place for people watching, or somewhere to try a new restaurant.

If you can get CLEAR for free through your airline status or credit card, do it. If you’re paying for it, it’s absolutely worth it as long as CLEAR is available at the airport in your city or the cities you visit frequently. Lounges are oases in the chaos of an airport, offering complimentary food, drinks and even a place to take a shower. There are comfy chairs for relaxing and tables, charging stations and free wifi for working.

You can also get into an airline lounge by having specific frequent flyer status or through credit card benefits. You can be a member of Priority Pass or LoungeBuddy. You can even buy day passes at many lounges. TSA PreCheck gives you access to a shorter security line. According to the TSA website, “In November 2022, 92% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 5 minutes”. You’ll need to apply online and schedule an appointment that includes fingerprinting for a background check.

Finally, do yourself a favour and download the free MPC app and create your profile now – before you actually need it at the airport. Although it’s not available at all airports, you never know when it will come in handy. It could make the difference in whether you miss or make your connecting flight.

Frequently asked questions