The Perpetual Tourist

It’s hard to say if airport security lines have gotten better or worse since 9/11/01. Travelers don’t have to jump through quite so many hoops to bring electronics on board a plane, but there are all those new things we have to do like removing our shoes and separating our liquids into tiny clear containers. Getting through security is still a drag, no doubt.

That’s why I was shocked to learn that the TSA plans to lift some restrictions at airport security checkpoints. According to a press release from the TSA, passengers will no longer be required to remove laptop computers from their cases to go through the x-ray scanner, provided that the carrying case meets certain guidelines.

In March, the TSA reached out to bag manufacturers to encourage production of these checkpoint-friendly designs. While the TSA is not endorsing any particular bag, manufacturer, or design, they have announced that approximately 40 new bag designs available for purchase this August meet the acceptable criteria.

The criteria provided by the TSA are as follows:

• The bag must have a designated laptop-only section
• The laptop-only section completely unfolds to lie flat on the X-ray belt
• No metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on top of the laptop-only section
• No pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section
• Nothing packed in the laptop-only section other than the computer itself.

Bags like this are checkpoint-friendly, according to the TSA

You will still have to remove laptops from accordion and backpack style cases

My only concern is that this initiative could backfire when people try to sneak around the restrictions, sending non-checkpoint-friendly laptop bags through the scanner without removing the laptop, thus causing further delays when they have to send the bag through a second time after taking out the laptop. You know it’s going to happen, just like every person on your flight is going to bring oversized carry on luggage.

It’s really nice to see the TSA working with the public to make the airport experience a little less miserable, but until everyone learns that the rules actually do apply to them, I predict that delays are going to be a regular part of the process.