It’s not your imagination, airports are packed. AAA says 122.4 million Americans are expected to travel this holiday season. That’s an all-time record, and it means longer lines, bigger crowds and more frustration at security.
Let’s start at the airport.
⏰ Reserve a TSA time
Some major airports let you book a time slot for TSA screening, so you don’t have to stand in a 45-minute line. Let me tell you, it works great!
Airports including Phoenix (PHX Reserve), JFK (JFK Reserve), LAX (LAX Fastlane), Seattle (SEA Spot Saver), Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP Reserve) and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW Reserve) offer this through Clear Reserve and similar programs.
👉 This isn’t TSA PreCheck or Clear+. There’s no background check, no biometrics and no fee. If you do have PreCheck, you can still use the Reserve lane to skip the wait, but you’ll probably have to take off your shoes and remove electronics.
You pick a 15-minute entry window on the airport’s website or the Clear Reserve page. When you show up, you flash a QR code to a staff member at the special Reserve lane and go through security like a celebrity ahead of the general line. Most airports open reservations 3 to 7 days before your flight.
Pro tip: Each airport uses its own name. To find yours, search: [Your airport name] + “security reservation.”
🚕 Beat surge pricing
You landed, and Uber or Lyft is showing ridiculous surge pricing. Don’t take the bait.
Hop on a free airport shuttle to a nearby hotel or the rental car center. These spots are often outside the surge zone, and your fare can drop by $20 to $30 or more for the exact same ride.
No shuttle? Force-close the app and wait five minutes. The algorithm often backs off once it thinks you’ve given up or chosen another ride.
Also check both Uber and Lyft, then toggle between regular and shared ride options. Sometimes switching to Lyft Shared or UberX Share (even if you’re solo) instantly cuts the price in half.
Pro tip: Surge pricing usually spikes at the top and bottom of the hour, especially during flight dumps. Booking at :17 or :42 past the hour sometimes sneaks you in at a lower rate.
🛋️ The aisle seat trick
On aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, the aisle armrest usually isn’t fixed. There’s often a small hidden button or latch underneath it, near the hinge at the back. Press it, and the armrest lifts all the way up.
Pro tip: On some newer slimline seats, the button is a small recessed lever right where the armrest meets the seat back.
It’s there for accessibility, but it’s a big win. You get more hip room, it’s easier to stand up, and getting off the plane is faster. Not every plane has it, and flight crews will ask you to lower it for taxi, takeoff and landing.
✈️ Know someone who’s traveling over the holidays? Forward this newsletter or use the share icons below. That TSA line hack is pretty much unknown right now.