For the busy man, an airport strategy is absolutely necessary. Whether it be for business or vacation, it is essential for a man to know how to navigate and board efficiently. Poor planning at the airport can land you in the poor box before you even take off, so pay close attention to the following steps.
Pack Light
For anything shorter than four days, there is no need for checked baggage. A carry-on and personal item should be more than enough storage for any weekend trip for a man. An extra shirt and pair of shoes will get you through just about any fashion emergency. Anything else can be bought at your destination if need be.
Think Time, Then Convenience
Yes, in that order. When picking out clothes or your route to the airport, think about what will save you the most time and then what will be most comfortable. It should already be understood that you should plan to leave the house at least two hours early. While in line to get your boarding pass checked, start putting all your accessories in your personal item. I've never left anything at the airport and don't plan because my wallet, watch, any change, and my phone are zipped away BEFORE I get in line to be searched. The only thing in my hand is my boarding pass and I.D., both of which I keep in my pocket since I will be using them often.
I recommend taking an "elevated business-casual" approach to your airport uniform. There's nothing wrong with sweat pants, per se, but if you want to be treated a little better than the average Joe by airport staff, dress the part. If I choose to wear a belt by the time I receive my tray, it's off, and my shoes are soon after. This isn't the time to bring your triple-laced boots or tightly strapped gym shoes. Something that you can easily slip on and off is perfection, and soon you will be done in a matter of seconds as opposed to the guy holding up everyone because his whole life is in his pockets.
I typically wear a sweater under my blazer every time I fly because it's also about comfort. You can have the lightest bag and quickest check-in, but if you are freezing in the airport or plane, you are going to be miserable. Nothing is worse than a dark, cold and constantly vibrating airplane when you are underdressed. Sleeping and reading are nearly impossible because you are agitated by too many stimuli that you cannot control.
Find an Outlet
During any downtime you have, you need to be charging your phone or laptop. Even if they are fully charged, you should plug them up while you can so they do not have to rely on reserve power. It's no secret sometimes there are turf wars over outlets because there seriously may not be a change to charge your electronics for hours. If you have someone picking you up, money you need to wire quickly, or flight information you need to look up a dead battery can make any normal situation an expensive one. Phone chargers at airports are outrageously priced, and everyone isn't happy when you dial down the center. Do add to your expenses, be prepared. Bring your charger and use it as much as possible.
Airport Cuisine
When it comes to airports, food inflation runs ramped. A sandwich that couldn't have fed four hungry ants will probably cost around $5.99, and we are assuming that you aren't going to go drink from the water fountain, right? But you have to eat, so this is an area where it is okay to spend some of your best bucks. Don't ever experiment at the airport. Stick with what you know you like and grab. The result of a terrible food choice isn't hunger at first, but anger. Airports don't mind charging five-star prices for novelty food, and if you fall into the hype, you will have no one to blame but yourself.
Your best bet is to get something new and something for later. Don't just go to the deli and get a sandwich when you have a 4-hour flight with a 2-hour layover in the middle. Who knows what can happen during that time, and if there's one thing worse than missing a connecting flight, it's missing a connection while starving. Grab some Chex Mix, a bag of mixed nuts, or some fruit that you can munch on in your downtime, but you can't finish in one sitting. This will carry you over until you reach your destination.