[Macworld]

Post your comments for ?Checkpoint friendly? laptop bags explained here

[rickcarl]

The checkpoints at SFO remind me of the old I Love Lucy candy sorting skit more than a friendly event. I'll stay with my old bag since I carry two MacBooks on trips and I've got the shoes, carryon, two notebooks, briefcase and ziplock system already practiced. ;)

[biff]

This is all well and good but what are they doing to ensured that ALL the TSA screeners know, understand, and follow this?
And, I don't mean to be dense here, but what's the big deal with laptops in the first place? I remember (way back when) when you had to pull them out, mostly because travelling with a laptop was a new thing; then it was common practice to just leave it in the bag and pass the whole thing through. What changed? And don't tell me it was 9/11 unless you have evidence that laptops were somehow involved in that. If it's an issue of the batteries being too dense to scan then why not just make everyone pull those instead of the entire laptop. It would be a lot easier in my opinion.

[rdas7]

Adopting this new standard now will make it easier when they make stop-and-search legal out on the street, or when they come and search your home.
But at least we'll all be safer.

[dilgil2]

rdas7, I couldn't agree more.

[moose_n_squirrel]

biff said:

If it's an issue of the batteries being too dense to scan then why not just make everyone pull those instead of the entire laptop. It would be a lot easier in my opinion.

No, it would be a disaster. Many casual users who hardly ever take theirs out wouldn't be able to remove the batteries quickly ("Oh...is that how you do it? Hey, anybody in line got a coin?" "Sorry, mine are in the metals bin already" "Sir, this lady dropped her battery hard on the floor and it appears damaged" "Evacuate this terminal and call the hazmat squad" "Hey, my flight's in 20 minutes!")

Much easier to take the laptop out, everybody knows how to do that.

[biff]

OK fair enough, although I don't see it as being any different than putting all your liquids in a zip-loc baggie in advance as you are now asked to do. I'd rather have a zip-loc to pass through than take my laptop out. Sure it means you need to shut down but that's not that big a deal. A few tables outside security (which they should have anyway) would help anyone who wasn't prepared.

In any case I'm still waiting for someone to explain why pulling my laptop is necessary in the first place.

[montgomery_burns]

moose[u]n[/u]squirrel said:

No, it would be a disaster. Many casual users who hardly ever take theirs out wouldn't be able to remove the batteries quickly ("Oh...is that how you do it? Hey, anybody in line got a coin?" "Sorry, mine are in the metals bin already" "Sir, this lady dropped her battery hard on the floor and it appears damaged" "Evacuate this terminal and call the hazmat squad" "Hey, my flight's in 20 minutes!")

Much easier to take the laptop out, everybody knows how to do that.

Apple: "MacBook Air helps fight terrorism because you can't remove the battery".

[dpalmer]

It is interesting... here in the United Kingdom where we have had heightened security for many years after 9/11 asked us to take our laptops out at airports. However, in the last 12 months they have installed machines that will allow them to scan laptop bags of any type and this requirement has been removed. Why can't the TSA do the same thing rather than pass the cost and hassle to the consumer?

[moose_n_squirrel]

montgomery_burns said:

Apple: "MacBook Air helps fight terrorism because you can't remove the battery".

Are you kidding? :) The TSA might freak out over a MacBook Air (as the link proves) and pull you aside as a suspected terrorist.

[Speed_Racer]

biff said:

This is all well and good but what are they doing to ensured that ALL the TSA screeners know, understand, and follow this?

And, I don't mean to be dense here, but what's the big deal with laptops in the first place? I remember (way back when) when you had to pull them out, mostly because travelling with a laptop was a new thing; then it was common practice to just leave it in the bag and pass the whole thing through. What changed? And don't tell me it was 9/11 unless you have evidence that laptops were somehow involved in that. If it's an issue of the batteries being too dense to scan then why not just make everyone pull those instead of the entire laptop. It would be a lot easier in my opinion.

At least most screeners know about the bags, but as stated in the article, any screener has the discretion to demand that any laptop be taken out if the scan isn't clear enough.

The big deal with laptops is that people are often in a hurry and you'd be surprised how many leave their laptops behind when they're juggling carry-ons, plastic bags, coats, shoes, etc. I've seen figures in the tens of thousands in US airports every day. Most people come back for them quickly, but do you want to risk forgetting yours in the first place? Then there's the theft aspect. You take your laptop out and it's an invitation for an airport thief to grab it from the belt when you're not looking. It's harder to grab your entire bag. And finally, assuming you're not using a laptop sleeve, when you take the laptop out, you risk damage to it because it'll be unprotected. All of this is avoided if you keep the laptop in your main bag at all times.

It's not a matter of batteries being too dense. Read the guidelines. It's very simple. They don't want all sorts of zippers, cables and accessories showing up in the scan of the laptop, which could make it harder to recognize as a genuine laptop rather than a bomb constructed to look like a laptop. That's why they want nothing else in the way, just a clear shot of the laptop. No metal zippers above or below (although around the edge is presumably acceptable, even though no bag maker uses metal zippers in laptop cases for fear of scratching the laptop). No pockets for accessories on the laptop compartment or even pockets for papers since people are always tempted to stuff cables, USB lights, adapters and other things in there then forget about them.

[folklore]

biff said:

In any case I'm still waiting for someone to explain why pulling my laptop is necessary in the first place.

In order to get a clear view of the inside of the laptop. With lots of metal junk (zippers, buckles, etc) and padding on top of and underneath the laptop, it's hard to get a clear view of the inside of the laptop with the TSA's equipment.

They need a clear view of the inside of the laptop because one could pack enough C4 inside of a laptop chassis to blow up an airplane.

[maremare]

They need a clear view of the inside of the laptop because one could pack enough C4 inside of a laptop chassis to blow up an airplane.
There are other places were one can do that but [sic] nobady have used those so the TSA doesn't check them.
And even if a plane gets blown up with C4 hidden in body cavities I'm sure they will keep that fact quiet because having a mandatory check of body cavities would disrupt air travel completely and kill a lot of airlines. They will be bailed out of course by the governement, but still...

[donbarger]

It is great to have new rules that are easier for the frequent traveler but if the TSA agents continue to be ignorant about the rules, what does it help. In the past three weeks I have flown through Houston 4 times, DFW twice, Orlando twice, and MEX 4 times.

Three of the four times in Houston I have not been able to leave my laptop in the sleeve. Once I was.

In Orlando I was not only told to remove it from the APPROVED sleeve, I was told that next time I should not bring so many electronics in my checked bags. I had a cell phone, digital voice recorder (very small), Ipod touch, portable hard drive, and my laptop. The ignorant TSA agent said that I had too many electronics for carry on baggage. I should have let it go but I did not. Next time they need to give the TSA agent a stupid sign then I will know not to respond to him.

In MEX I am not only allowed to leave my laptop in the sleeve but also in my laptop case!

In DFW they told me to remove it fromt he sleeve, I told the person that it was an approved TSA bag (it was early in the morning and I wasn't up for their ignorance). The person literally said... can't you read! It says right here that all computers must be removed. I responded, I can read and I read on your Web site that this an approved bag. I then mumbled something about being consistent in the rules and the lady said, “Sir, we are on the frontlines of fighting terrorism here.” I said, you are a few thousand miles away from the front lines... you are a security guard who does not know your own rules. My laptop is in an approved bag, there is nothing else in the bag, there is nothing else in the bin, it is exactly as it is supposed to be. Finally another TSA agent confirmed that my bag met the criteria. They still rescanned it!

All I am asking for is some consistency and some required classes on common courtesy for TSA agents. It seems that some go out of their way to be helpful and others are out to show you who is in charge.

These new bags are a great option but only if those “on the frontlines of terrorism” know about the rules.