Over the past decade American air travel has become a pretty daunting task. What was once a mode of luxury and leisure has become a heavily trafficked and frequently esoteric experience. There's a ritual to making it through airport security smoothly and a number of ways to avoid the most common headaches of traveling by air. Here are a few tips for becoming a real pro of the plane experience.

1. Know How To Check In

In days past, getting your boarding pass was a matter of interacting with a real representative of your chosen airline. Today you'll be hard pressed to find a company that still prefers the face-to-face method. Call it a sad commentary on the state of customer service, but automation is the new standard for air travel in America. The most obvious way to speed up your trip to the gate is to print out an e-ticket at home or at work prior to arriving at the airport, but I'd advise against that. In the past two years I've done a fair amount of flying and I've never been to an airport where the barcode on somebody's e-ticket didn't give airline staff a problem. E-tickets just aren't reliable yet. To play it smooth and safe, go for the computerized check-in kiosks at your airline desk. You'll need a credit or debit card in your name, your flight number or your final destination to print your ticket. Done properly, you'll spend less than five minutes at the kiosk.

2. Travel Light and Compact

There's no reason, repeat no reason to lug around half your life in a cumbersome bag when flying. With some proper packing techniques you can fit as much as five days' worth of clothes, toiletries and business materials in your carry-on luggage without taking up too much space or inconveniencing other travelers. Wheeled cases are always a good idea, though soft and flexible hand bags with zipper tops can work just as well. Don't worry about wrinkles. Just like most of your toiletries, food concerns and sundries, an iron will almost certainly be available wherever you're traveling. And remember, most airlines have a policy of one carry-on plus one personal item (purse, laptop case, etc) that can be safely stowed beneath your seat.

3. Learn The Security Requirements

Going through the security checkpoints at the airport can be stressful, embarrassing and strange, especially if you aren't prepared for what's expected of you. In short order, here's what you will have to do: Remove your laptop from its case and place it in a separate bin; Remove all jackets and coats and place them in a bin; Have your shoes off and ready to place in a bin (likely with your jacket and everything in your pockets) before getting to the sorting table; Avoid wearing as much metal as possible; And finally, just don't bring liquids with you. No water, juice or soda, certainly no alcohol or lighter fluid, no cans of deodorant, shaving cream or soap. Unless you pack small, travel-size items, avoid it altogether. Airport security will take them all away and slow you down.

These are the basics of flying like a pro. Next time, we'll take a closer look at life inside the plane itself.