Fliers are asked to dump out their beverages, take off their shoes, and go through a number of other time-eating security procedures at the airport, but at least some travellers may not have to unpack their laptops, the US Transportation Security Administration announced last week.
The TSA has deemed these three laptop bags "check-point
friendly."
(Credit: TSA)
Starting 16 August, travellers will not have to remove laptops from bags that are deemed "checkpoint-friendly". This category includes "butterfly style", "sleeve style", and "trifold style" bags. These styles were chosen after the TSA asked bag manufacturers to design bags that would not obstruct the image of a laptop when put through an X-ray machine.
The new guidelines were meant to "help streamline the security process and better protect laptops," the TSA said in a press release. It noted, however, that using one of the "checkpoint-friendly" bags would not guarantee that a flier will not have to unpack his laptop.
"Given TSA's use of random screening protocols, TSA reserves the right to re-screen any bag or laptop," the TSA said. And, while some bags on the market may not obstruct the scan of a laptop, "most current laptop bags will not present a clear X-ray image and should not be sent through the X-ray with the laptop inside."
Even travellers with "checkpoint-friendly" bags should place them on X-ray machines "completely unfolded ... so that there is nothing above or below the laptop-only section," the TSA recommended.
So this is about making it easier for US Customs/TSA to X-ray a lappy, but how does that help me if they still want to copy the contents of the hard disk without a search warrant (no probable cause to suspect a crime)?
If they were really interested in not screwing over the flying public (business travellers included, as well as scaring away tourists), they'd stop harassing foreigners (we're not all terrorists).
Until the former 'land of the free' (now a joke) stop violating human rights, I'm staying away from the USA, and spending my money elsewhere.