Flying today? Say hello to the TSA for us

If you hadn't heard, TSA's new laptop bag rule went into effect today, so we're wondering: what sort of experience are you getting at the checkpoint? Like many TSA policies, they can take a few days to trickle down to the rank and file, plus your line compatriots could muck everything up by misunderstanding the fairly strict new guidelines for scanner-compatible bags, but hopefully somebody, somewhere is having a better flying experience this weekend.

Update: TSA's official guidelines are here, the cheat sheet is above.

[nik @ Aug 16th 2008 12:53PM]

you know, i don't mind taking my laptop out, I merely hate the pressure to put it back with 20 other people pushing me away.

[Jon @ Aug 16th 2008 2:16PM]

...and that's ironic is that their article's first sentence, "To help streamline the security process..."

[CraigJ @ Aug 16th 2008 2:58PM]

@nik

I agree. I go out of my way to be as quick as possible and have all my crap ready once I get to the head of the line, but there is always some asshole who is running late and being pushy. If they are that late, that's their problem, not mine, and it's likely they have to do the same thing I do, and there are people behind them too. Over time I've learned to ignore them, and on the rare occasion that one of them gets too pushy, I'm ready with an f-bomb and a middle finger. I generally travel with an SLR and a laptop, so this is always a big pain in the ass.

[kccboy2004 @ Aug 16th 2008 4:25PM]

I check my laptop everytime. I had found that the amout of time I actaully used the laptop on a journey was minimal (read = nothing).

[CraigJ @ Aug 16th 2008 4:28PM]

after watching the bag handlers there is no way I'd ever check my laptop...

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 16th 2008 5:26PM]

Its the TSA....the words streamline and process does not have anything to do with that gestapo like agency. Someone needs to gut that pile of shit. When your prerequisite for working there is a HS diploma there are going to end up being assholes who get a power trip off of the authority.

[erhan @ Aug 16th 2008 5:50PM]

lol i know what you mean. I have so many electronics like phone, laptop, psp, ds, etc. and all the chargers. So when i take my cables out, it looks like i can rewire the whole plane and there are people starring at me at amazement that i have so many electronics i am get embarrassed. I still don't know why i get "randomly searched every time"? lol
On a note. I have NEVER seen anyone NOT take there laptop out at the airport.

[snowenloe @ Aug 16th 2008 5:51PM]

Seriously, what's so hard about removing ones laptop? I have spent enough green on my current bag, screw buying another one just for the TSA.

[Adam @ Aug 16th 2008 6:34PM]

erhan, you are only required to remove your laptop, not all of your cables and other electronics. I have traveled with all kinds of electronic crap in my carry-on bags before, but because they only say to remove your laptop, that's all I remove, and I have never had a problem.

[Dave Dillard @ Aug 17th 2008 1:41AM]

Dare I say... (@ erhan) "I have NEVER seen anyone NOT take there laptop out at the airport." ... umm... you wouldn't see it if they left it in the bag... nice one.

[BrokenMonkey @ Aug 17th 2008 3:04AM]

I had this problem because I have a neoprene sleeve that fits tightly on my 17" notebook but today I only had to take the sleeve with the laptop out of my bag and it went right back in no problem when I got to the other side. Of course there was nobody else around so I could have taken my time anyway (it was a small airport) but it's nice to know that they got the message already and let me through with no trouble. Of course that was the ONLY good thing about my trip today, but that's another story.

[What About @ Aug 18th 2008 9:36AM]

@Jon Doe.: And those with college diplomas, don't get power trips from authority?

[OneLove @ Aug 25th 2008 3:01PM]

if you had a see through case would you still have to take it out?

[DooM @ Aug 16th 2008 12:53PM]

So do we have to buy laptop bags directly from TSA now?

[wickedpheonix @ Aug 16th 2008 1:10PM]

Yes.

[Bogaty @ Aug 16th 2008 2:46PM]

No, the article clearly states that the TSA does not sell or endorse any brand or model of bag.

I really wanted to say, can't you read?

[Ryan @ Aug 16th 2008 2:47PM]

no you do not need to buy any laptop bags from the TSA, as the TSA is not selling any. The new rules simply stipulate what style of laptop bag shouldn't need to have the laptop removed. There is no "TSA-certified" or other sticker/logo/anything else that comes on acceptable bags. If the TSA personnel wants you to remove the laptop from the bag, they can still require you to do so, regardless of the bag style.

[Darius @ Aug 17th 2008 12:33AM]

.....
I think you guys missed the sarcasm there.
Good job!

Cheers,
Darius

[wickedpheonix @ Aug 16th 2008 1:09PM]

Engadget says "hello", I ask you to tell them "go f*** yourselves" from me. Honestly, until they're held accountable like security was pre-9/11 since it was operated by the airlines...

[Tom Boucher @ Aug 17th 2008 10:22AM]

Having traveled on average 100,000 miles a year from 1998 - 2006 I can tell you that security never changed, just the shit they make you do to get through the line.

It's interesting to note that the 'checkpoint friendly' are like none of the styles made in the last 10 years that most corporations use. Wonder if someone lobbied for that to make a few million businesses upgrade their laptop bags. I don't know about every one but I don't get a new laptop bag that often, in fact, I've never gotten a new one in the ten years with the company i'm with. I haven't needed one. Sure the laptop changes but the bag didn't need too.

Now, to 'streamline' the process I have to ditch everything I've used for years. Instead of them adapting their process to work on bags people use, they come up with some new shit.

It's just tiresome, and why I switched positions to one where I don't have to fly at all.

[Dragod @ Aug 16th 2008 1:11PM]

I was at the airport today to drop off my sister. They had a sign up that said as long as the Laptop is in its own area with nothing on top of it or below it, and the laptop can be clearly seen, it doesn't need to be removed. They had like 4 examples of acceptable styles.

[Vanillacide @ Aug 16th 2008 1:26PM]

What always make me laugh (in tears at the stupidity of most "anti terror" airport security) is when security staff tell you to take laptop out of bag, and then because there aren't enough boxes to run through the scanner they tell you to put shoes, coats, bags on top of it.

Asking why it's okay if bag is on top of laptop as opposed to laptop inside bag was the start of one of my many incidents with airport security -- I'm a smart-ass trouble-maker apparently.

[nDee @ Aug 17th 2008 1:10PM]

Anyone with the old ThinkPad bag is in bad luck
fortunately now you can choose between the flappy old one or the new slim pack.

[Dan @ Aug 16th 2008 1:18PM]

America, the land of the free.

[Mario @ Aug 16th 2008 1:59PM]

"Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither."

--- Benjamin Franklin

[Jason Barlow @ Aug 16th 2008 2:07PM]

Dan, shut your word hole. Your civil liberties have been stripped because of this? Grow up.

[darx23 @ Aug 16th 2008 2:37PM]

He's probably referring to the overall heighten security all over America after 9/11.

You know, like tapped phones and emails. That's a big deal to me.

[BigD145 @ Aug 16th 2008 3:11PM]

Wrong quote. Here's the right one: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

[LC @ Aug 16th 2008 4:11PM]

I can see how the Franklin quote would apply if the TSA prevented one fro boarding with a laptop, or confiscated it, but the only thing being sacrificed here is convenience. Our liberties remain intact.

[Neebs @ Aug 16th 2008 4:15PM]

"...and will lose both!"

[Crooked Style @ Aug 16th 2008 4:43PM]

The rest of the world, the land of the fucked up people.

[Erik @ Aug 16th 2008 7:02PM]

Flying on an airliner is not an essential liberty.

[fucter @ Aug 16th 2008 9:51PM]

Give me convenience, or give me Death.

[BigD145 @ Aug 16th 2008 9:53PM]

Privacy is an essential liberty. If I'm not doing anything wrong, I should not be treated like I am doing something wrong. "Guilty until proven innocent" is backwards and counterproductive.

[m @ Aug 17th 2008 6:20AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/01/laptops-can-be-confiscated-and-searched-at-us-border-without-cau/

it's true you don't, technically, have to travel. but when the state
(the TSA) can confiscate your personal property (your laptop) at will
and without explanation, that is generally considered a threat to
liberty. it was a contributing cause of both the english civil war
and the american revolution. something has gone very, very wrong
here.

[Richard @ Aug 17th 2008 3:57PM]

@Mario,

I don't believe that when Benjamin Franklin lived they had airplanes or portable nuclear devices that could wipe out an entire city on take-off or approach.

[Rudy C @ Aug 17th 2008 3:47PM]

TSA != U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

[monstroy @ Aug 20th 2008 7:57PM]

@BigD145
I would also settle for cake, but of course I would have to fly Church of England for that.

[Mike B. @ Aug 16th 2008 1:22PM]

I just went through security, and besides having to put my laptop in a different bin, I had no issues.

[Adoniteking @ Aug 16th 2008 1:36PM]

At least they didnt splatter the design with the color, orange. it is just dillusional to think orange makes something look cool because it doesnt!

[Petethefreeze @ Aug 16th 2008 1:36PM]

I'd rather take my laptop from a brown italian leather bag and show it to security, than to keep it in this black abomination.. FUGLY!

[Jeremy Bogdan @ Aug 16th 2008 1:39PM]

I just went through the longest security line I've ever been through at LAX. I'm lucky I made my flight! Laptops had to be out of the bags in their own bin, and a few folks who knew otherwise held everyone up. Please people, just listen to the TSA officers and let the rest of us get on with our lives.

[Kilburn @ Aug 16th 2008 1:41PM]

Fliying to ibiza tomorrow morning at 6am. All im taking for hand luggage is my trusty iphone, wallet and passport.

[Prokanda @ Aug 16th 2008 1:57PM]

this article is about real computers... not glamphones... how does your comment pertain?

[Tohe @ Aug 16th 2008 6:21PM]

Ibiza in mid August? if you haven't heard, the party is over!

[rick @ Aug 16th 2008 5:43PM]

Enjoy your trip. I hope you don't get slammed with a huge I-Bill for International roaming when you return. My friend got hit with a $3000+ bill for Mexico!

[James @ Aug 16th 2008 1:47PM]

I flew from the the UK to the US last week and the signs all say 'DO NOT TAKE YOUR LAPTOP OUT YOUR BAG' now - which was handy as I couldn't be bothered to take it out of suspend mode.

[Prokanda @ Aug 16th 2008 2:00PM]

Could you be bothered to put the "of" in between "your" and "bag"? Or are the airlines as illiterate as they are overzealous?

[Charles @ Aug 16th 2008 4:10PM]

DO NOT TAKE YOUR LAPTOP OUT YOUR OF BAG? Or are the airlines as illiterate as they are overzealous?
I believe you put your 'of' in the wrong place, before insulting one's fellow man, be sure that your retort is a valid one.

[snowenloe @ Aug 16th 2008 5:58PM]

OMG, Prokanda just got served! LOL!