Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
Lately, the lines have been long at some airports and stress levels have been really high. Well, there are some ways to help make the process of making it through travel security lines a little better for you and your family.
“One thing that is very important is that you need to arrive at your airport gate two hours prior to departure,” said Senora Kelly, owner of Paradise Travel Services travel agency. “You never know if there will be any problems, delays, long lines or cancellations.”
Senora Kelly is owner of Paradise Travel in Kansas City.
Kelly says boarding starts 30 minutes prior to departure and once the doors of the plane are shut, even if you make it to the gate before the plane takes off, they can not and will not open the doors.
“Once everyone is on the plane if there are any seats not filled, your seat can be given to someone flying stand by,” she said.
Kelly says becoming TSA pre approved takes some of the stress out of going through security at most airports. A five year expedited screening program costs just $85.00. You only need your passport, birth certificate with drivers license as a form of proof of citizenship with a photo ID.
The best thing about this program is that with this registration there will be no need to remove shoes, belts, light jackets, laptops or 3-1-1-complaint liquids according to the TSA website.
“The best thing about this program is that with this registration there will be no need to remove shoes, belts, light jackets, laptops or 3-1-1-complaint liquids according to the TSA website,” Kelly says.
This makes going through security so much quicker, easier and less stress. For more information and to register go to https://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck
Mobile Passport Control
You may not know that there was a pilot program in August, 2014 to create an app allows you to download your passport info to your smartphone. This will make reentry back into the U.S. much easier and faster. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
According to the https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/mobile-passport-control website this process should reduce the traveler’s time spent with the CBP officer—helping to improve service levels and decrease wait times. More information can be found at this site.
Another way to save airport time is the Automatic Passport Control (APC). With this process travelers use self-service kiosks to submit their Customs declaration form and biographic information.
Visit the https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/automated-passport-control-apc website for more information on how to experience shorter wait times, less congestion, and faster processing.
According to Kelly, all of these processes are just ways to make your trip through the airport for both domestic and international travel more enjoyable and less of a hassle.
For more travel information, you can reach the agency at 816-765-7020 or by email at paradisecruises@hotmail.com or visit Paradise Travel one the web or Facebook.
