( Budget Travel ) -- Airport security is a traveler 's rite of passage : the long lines , the ID check , the shuffling of personal items . Get through security faster with these easy strategies . To move through security quickly , wear slip-on shoes , minimal jewelry and no belt . Pack like you 're making lasagna ( no , seriously ! ) You probably do n't want a security official inspecting your carry-on bag by hand . Time-consuming inspections usually only happen when an X-ray machine operator ca n't identify items . Avoid this hassle by packing in a way that keeps your curling iron , hair dryer , and other hard-plastic or dense items separate in your bag , instead of allowing them to get tangled in a pile -- and look suspiciously like a bomb or a weapon on an X-ray scan . Layer your electronics and toiletries in between your clothes like you 're spreading ricotta cheese in between strips of pasta to prepare lasagna . Put heavy clothes on top to act as a weight and secure loose items . Remember the 3-1-1 rule If you plan to go carry-on only , any liquid should be kept in a 3.4-ounce bottle or smaller . You 're only allowed as many bottles as can fit in one quart-size , clear ziplock bag . Find bottles in your local drugstore 's travel or $ 1 section , or online . Buying products packaged in small amounts can be expensive : We recently found face wash in a two-ounce bottle for for $ 9 , shaving cream for about $ 6 , and contact lens solution for $ 10.50 . By transferring your liquids from standard-size bottles into TSA-friendly containers , like these squishy bottles from humangear.com , you should save a lot of money . Dress for success Slip-on shoes ( preferably with socks ; think of the dirty feet that have been on that linoleum ) , minimal jewelry and no belt is the standard uniform for moving through security fast . If you insist on wearing jewelry and a watch on the plane , take them off and slip them into a pocket in your carry-on before you enter the security cordon . Use flight-ready toiletries Keep your travel bag stocked with `` flight ready '' items that do n't break the TSA 's liquid rules , such as solid perfume , and lip balm instead of lip gloss . Buy a TSA-approved laptop bag The TSA allows laptops to go through the X-ray in checkpoint-friendly laptop bags , like a simple $ 20 Skooba Skin . The most common and cheapest is a laptop sleeve . Consumer Reports recommends a few here . Laptops are also among the most-forgotten items at security , so label yours with a business card or ID tag . Keep an eye peeled for new security programs Fifty airports ( including Boston , Chicago , and Seattle ) have security lines split among Expert , Casual , and Family travelers . Look for the signs and hit the line that 's right for you -- we suggest Expert now that you 've read our tips . Also , remember that 18 airports and five airlines are currently participating in the Paperless Boarding Pass pilot program . If the program covers your flight , you can go straight to the security checkpoint and use your cell phone as a boarding pass . Read about it on our blog . It 's showtime Once you 've presented your ID and boarding pass , get moving . Find the shortest line -- look especially for lines toward your left because studies show that Americans are more likely to turn right than left when entering a building , so lines on the left will tend to be shorter . Grab two bins . The TSA is asking travelers to put shoes directly on the X-ray belt , so do that first . Pull out your quart-size bag of liquids and small electronics ( like an iPhone ) and lay them on top of your jacket . In the second bin , put your laptop ( or , if you 've got just got one bag or purse , use this bin for that ) . After successfully passing through the metal detector ( because we know you will ) , grab your shoes and slip them on , then snag your other belongings and slip them back in your bag . Look around quickly for anything that may have come loose , and then exit the security area to keep the line moving . Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you FREE - CLICK HERE ! Copyright © 2009 Newsweek Budget Travel , Inc. , all rights reserved .
Keep electronics and toiletries tidy by layering them between clothes . Transfer liquids from standard-size bottles into TSA-friendly containers . Lines on the left tend to be shorter than the right .