TSA on laptop bags

Here’s the TSA’s official pronouncement and explanation of the “checkpoint-friendly” laptop bag.

An excerpt:

If you intend to use a ‘checkpoint friendly’ laptop bag once they are on the market, make sure to check that:

• Your laptop bag has a designated laptop-only section that you can lay flat on the X-ray belt
• There are no metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on-top of the laptop-only section
• There are no pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section
• There is nothing in the laptop compartment other than the laptop
• You have completely unfolded your bag so that there is nothing above or below the laptop-only section, allowing the bag to lie flat on the X-ray belt

Remember, a well designed ‘checkpoint friendly’ bag must be packed appropriately if you intend to leave your laptop in your bag for screening.

TSA is not approving or endorsing any bag design or manufacturer and will only allow laptops to stay in bags through screening if they provide a clear and unobstructed
X-ray image of the laptop.

Update on August 20, 2008 by Frank@OBOW

TSA “Evolution of Security” blog thread on this subject - don’t miss all the comments…

Comments

[MaxD]

I like the idea of streamlining, and I am all for more rapid circulation through security checkpoints.

The part that I am hung up on is that when passing through security, taking my lap top out is about the speediest part of the whole process. Once you add in the liquids, the disrobing, etc...the time required to pull out a lap top computer is quite small. To me it's not worth the premium price for the TSA friendly bag.

[Frank@OBOW]

Good points - but there's a lot of fear and loathing associated with letting the TSA people handle (or mishandle) your $2000 laptop. Some people would pay a lot more just to keep it in the bag.

[MaxD]

That's a fair point Brad, I did not think about it that way. I am travelling with company issued computers that are cinder blocks, so if they are broken, then maybe that is my good fortune ;).

[Frank@OBOW]

So you're not one of those Mac people who kiss their machine good night and dress it up for Halloween?

[Alana]

After reading the TSA blog (and all the flyouts), I wasn't sure if I was amused, angry, or just plain eye-strained.

All the one man wanted was ONE list of what the TSA wants done at a checkpoint. That's all. One list, in one place, that any traveler could read and know they were following the regulations. The official TSA person basically told him to take a hike. The official made his responses sound like the man was a terrorist for asking for the rules!

I'd like to see that list. Really. Is my passport OK as ID in the US if I have a temporary no-photo DL while the permanent is being sent out to me? (According to someone at PHX, no.) If I'm flying in from London, with a 100ml bottle in my bag (about 3.4 ounces) and I change planes at SFO, can I get it home to SEA? According to the TSA blog, yes, according to TSO screeners themselves; according to someone at SFO, 'no, what were you thinking, idiot!'

Shoes in the bin, or not; either way I'm probably going to hear I was wrong. There's no one rule, so different airports do things different ways. If TSA won't give us the full guidelines - and make them good for ALL airports in their jurisdiction, is it any wonder the TSA blog seemed rather contentious?

I love Tom Bihn bags; I have a few. But the Checkpoint Flyer (or any other maker's 'checkpoint-friendly' bag) won't be in my closet unless it's a gift - TSA can't agree on what they're already doing - throwing a new bag design at them is just a recipe for trouble.

They can't even agree on whether it's 3 or 3.4 ounces of Liquids-Gels-Aerosols allowed in that 3-1-1 bag. (Don't even get me started on which quart bags they'll accept - even if it's a quart bag and measures inside the guidelines, don't bet it will get through if it's not a Hefty or Ziploc bag - saw this one at LAX). It's their JOB to screen items at the checkpoints and they don't know the official answer to the liquid question? Posting that on the official TSA website for all to see worldwide? Sheesh.

If the bags could be marked with a symbol like the approved padlocks, then I'd think about it - but the TSA has expressly forbidden such marking or branding.