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Sooooooooooo I wanted to keep this a SUPER Secret but it's too good to keep to myself. We, meaning my wife and three kids, flew from Palm Springs to Seattle and the final stop was Boise. 

 

Normally, depending how far the airport is and the fact we live in California, we like to have ample time for traffic, hazards (flat tire) or any other issues that may come up. So for example if we are 30 minutes from the airport we like to leave anywhere between 3 to 4 hours prior to our flight leaving. This gives us time to drive, find parking, check luggage in and get through TSA. 

 

Here’s the best kept secret, CLEAR. Clear is a clearance you can sign up for through credit card perks that will reimburse you after your purchase or you can simply purchase it. WELL worth it either way. 

 

FIrst things First, get a morning flight. MORning flights have less chance of cancellation and delays. As the day goes on into night, flights are delayed and sometimes canceled due to staffing, mechanical, shift change and any other thing that can go wrong. We have found that when we book morning flights we are always on time and have yet to have a canceled fight. 

 

WIth that said, in the morning you're dealing with less traffic, easy to get parking and less lines to check in bags. Since we signed up for CLEAR, which is simply a security system where you initially put all your info (drivers license) and submit your eye and finger prints, you are “Cleared” through TSA. Once they confirm you through your fingerprints or eye scan to check your boarding pass, they walk you to the front of the line at TSA, passing the long line of passengers. 

 

Next, if you have the luxury and I mean luxury of being TSA pre checked, you go to that line and walk through. If not, don't fear, you're still several people ahead, making up for any lost time. WIth TSA precheck you don't have to remove your shoes, putting your bare feet or socks on the dirty airport ground, ewwwwwww. It's quick and painless. 

 

So recently, you could go into lounges and take a guest or two however because of the overcrowding, only the card holder can go into the lounge, UNLESS you have priority pass. With Priority pass you can get 2 guests in with you. 

 

GAME CHANGERRRRRRRR- Lounge’s  make your time fly. They have business sitting areas, kids rooms, clean restrooms, a bar, free drinks and free food and most importantly , charging stations. You can even take food and drinks with you. I literally wait to board last so that i can enjoy a beverage and maybe some food and walk around without sitting on a plane watching people trying to shove their oversized carry on in the overhead. 

 

IF you plan or need or simply want to take two vacations in one, want to see a family member or want to see the city, you can do up to a 12 hours layover, the airport keeps your luggage if it's checked in or you can pay for a locker to store suitcases. 

One of our children is in the military and we took an 8 hour layover and got to visit her at a nearby mall. We got to have lunch at a nice restaurant with her, walk around a mall visit and simply just be with her. ALthough it was too short of a time it was better than nothing. I can't tell you what a great visit it was after taking a short weekend business trip. YOu can even have family /friends go to the airport and get a day pass. These passes go fast so plan ahead.

 

And because we stayed with her as long as we possibly could, we got to the airport, didn't have to check in at the counter because we didn't have luggage and technically we were on a layover, so we went straight to CLEAR. Once through CLEAR we were walked to the front of the line in TSA pre check, passing over 100 people. We timed it, it took us 11 minutes to get out of the car, go through clear and TSA at the Seattle AIrport on a SUnday in the evening. Which was busy busy busy. And if this sounds NUTS, when we flew back from Boise to Seattle, we turned our rental car in, checked a bag in, went through CLEAR and TSA Pre check in 14 minutes.

 

So if you're traveling with your spouse, kids , business, pleasure, travel in style and luxury without the high stress of getting there hours before, or arriving on time just to be in long lines and possibly missing your flight.

 

Things to look up;

 

CLEAR-SECURITY CLEARANCE

PRIORITY PASS-LOUNGE

TSA PRECHECK-SECURITY  

LAYOVER TIMES-THINGS TO DO PEOPLE TO SEE