What most people don’t know about airports

Duty-free isn't always cheaper

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Duty-free shops are super tempting, but be aware before shopping prior to your flight. The prices of duty-free items are often still more expensive than what you’ll pay at home.

Your ETA includes more than just flying time

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Your estimated time of arrival (ETA) actually includes wiggle room for taxing to and from the runway, and other potential small delays. This is why the total announced flying time doesn’t add up to when you booked the flight.

Checking your bag at the gate might be free

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

When flights are full, you'll usually hear a message from the gate asking people to check in their hand luggage. Take this as an opportunity for a complementary checked bag to your final destination.

Your gender can be confusing

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

If the security can't figure out your gender, you may get an old-fashioned pat-down. This is because when you enter a full body scan, the device operator must tell the machine which gender the passenger is, so it knows which anatomy to consider as it scans.

Water is free

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Airports do prefer that you overspend on a disposable plastic bottle of water, but avoid this by bringing an empty bottle and look for the reusable water refill stations positioned near the restrooms.

Taxi rides from the airport are expensive

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Taxi rides from the airport can cost up to twice the usual cost of the trip. So if you're not renting a car, use a rideshare app to get a ride instead.

You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Sometimes it can take hours to clear security, but for the most part you don't need that much time at the airport. In the end, the longer you're there, the more you'll spend on food and shopping. Instead, check in early and bring only a carry-on if possible.

Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

If you're a frequent flyer and have an airline credit card, you may get up to 25% discount on in-flight food and drinks. This is around half the price of a meal purchased at the airport.

You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Throughout American airports, the Department of Homeland Security has installed facial recognition scanners to track passengers throughout the terminals.

They’ll sell your stuff

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

When you leave or lose anything at the airport, you get 90 days to collect it. After that, most airports will donate unclaimed items to charity or even sell them off.

Security isn’t as secure as you think

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Understaffed and with overworked employees, staring long hours at a screen, airport security isn't as secure as you might think and hope.

Many US airports are understaffed with security

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Together with unorganized travelers who fail to read instructional signs placed throughout the queue, long lines are even worse with many understaffed TSA security checkpoints. This has caused many people to miss their flights.

There's a trick to getting your bag first

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

If you check in your luggage late, chances are it will be one of the first ones out onto the carousel at the destination. You'll be the first one out the exit doors!

Wi-Fi is often free at the airports

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Some airports still have the audacity to charge for slow Wi-Fi, but most offer complementary Wi-Fi nowadays. Log on for free and take the opportunity to download some shows for the flight.

You may have access to a private airport lounge

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Airport lounge areas are a bit hidden away, and with the help of your credit card you may get the perk of accessing them. Just pop in and ask, and you may find yourself in a calm spot, filled with free food and drinks.

Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Duty-free isn't always cheaper, Your ETA includes more than just flying time, Checking your bag at the gate might be free, Your gender can be confusing, Water is free, Taxi rides from the airport are expensive, You don’t need to arrive two hours before your flight, Eating during the flight may be cheaper than in the airport, You could be tracked by facial recognition scanners, They’ll sell your stuff, Security isn’t as secure as you think, Many US airports are understaffed with security, There's a trick to getting your bag first, Wi-Fi is often free at the airports, You may have access to a private airport lounge, Airports are designed so you don't get lost

Airport layouts are carefully designed so that travelers don't get lost. This is done through subtle but effective cues that help people find their way from security to the gate.

Sources: (Reader's Digest) (Grunge)

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