Atypical Events

Will Laptop Policy Change Reduce Airport Checkpoint Stress?

Posted by jessie under News, Travel

As of last Saturday, airline passengers are no longer required to remove laptops from their cases at airport security checkpoints. As long as the laptop is inside a “checkpoint-friendly” carrying case, the passenger will not have to remove it from the case for inspection.

The TSA has set guidelines for what constitutes a “checkpoint-friendly” bag; including a few common styles of laptop cases like butterfly style, trifold style and sleeve style.

Backpack and accordion style cases are not on the approved list because they can obscure the x-ray image. It is essential that the bags provide a clear and view of the laptop that is not obscured by any other contents that the bag might have.

It is hoped that the use of x-ray friendly bags will help speed things along at airport checkpoints, but not everyone is so sure that will be the case.

As this article points out, many styles that are x-ray friendly do not allow much extra room for items and components that usually accompany a laptop, and might mean that people will need to bring an extra bag along to accommodate all of their belongings.

The change in security procedures for laptops will allow laptops to go through security without TSA having to stop and open them up. This will hopefully speed up security lines and result in fewer damaged, lost or forgotten laptops. Bags that do not offer a clear view of the laptop will still be removed from their cases and inspected, no matter what kind of bag it is.

The TSA is posting its guidelines for bags at airport checkpoints. Some companies are embroidering “checkpoint-friendly” on their bags even though the TSA is not approving any specific brands. So, even if you buy one of these bags, it doesn’t guarantee to get you through the line faster.