***Update -- 4/11/12***
Why can an 11” Laptop Stay in and a 13” Laptop has to Come out?
I’ve read where some people are asking why an 11” laptop can
stay in and why a 13” laptop has to come out?
As with any policy or procedure,
we have to set general guidelines so passengers know how to prepare for
security and our officers know what procedures they need to follow.
For
laptops that need to come out of your bag, we describe them as a “standard
size” laptop – which loosely translates into approximately 12x14” or larger.
We’re not measuring every laptop that comes through the checkpoint but that is
the general dimensions of what we consider to be standard size. Also, the larger the laptop, the more stuff
that can be hidden in it. So if your laptop is approximately 12x14” or larger
it must be removed from the bag, but remember, if you choose to leave the
smaller ones in your bag, our officers still need to be able to see clearly on
the X-ray what else is in the bag with your laptop, so there is always a chance
they might ask you to remove it to give them that clearer view. ~ Blogger Bob Burns
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Why do Laptops Have to be Removed When Tablets can Stay in the Bag?
I saw some headlines today stating that TSA refuses to explain why laptops have to be removed and tablet computers do not. This kind of baffled me, because a post has been up on the subject since April of 2010. Most of the post explains what can stay in and what has to come out, but we give a reason why towards the end:
Why do Laptops Have to be Removed When Tablets can Stay in the Bag?
I saw some headlines today stating that TSA refuses to explain why laptops have to be removed and tablet computers do not. This kind of baffled me, because a post has been up on the subject since April of 2010. Most of the post explains what can stay in and what has to come out, but we give a reason why towards the end:
“Only electronics the size of a standard laptop or larger (for example Playstation®, Xbox™, or Nintendo®), full-size DVD players, and video cameras that use video cassettes must be removed from their carrying cases and submitted separately for x-ray screening. Removing larger electronics helps us get a better look at them and also allows us to get a better look at the contents of your bag.”
Basically, tablet
computers, netbooks, and e-readers are less dense than your typical laptop, so
it’s easier for our X-ray operator to inspect your bag. However, larger laptops
and game consoles appear more dense and need to be removed in order for the
X-ray operator to get a good look at your bag. With that said, there are still
times that tablet computers, netbooks, and e-readers have to come out. If our
Officer can’t get a good look at your bag or if they see something out of the ordinary,
they’ll have to remove it.
The
larger the laptop, the more stuff you can hide in it. Items have been found concealed in
laptops in the past, so we have to be able to get a good look at them.. Our
officers have about 3 seconds to make a call in order to keep lines moving,
so the less clutter, the easier it is to clear your bag and get you on
your way.
Now to get down to solving
that dad-blasted Easter Island mystery…
If you’d like to comment on an unrelated topic you can do so in our Off Topic Comments post. You can also view our blog post archives or search our blog to find a related topic to comment in. If you have a travel related issue or question that needs an immediate answer, you can contact a Customer Support Manager at the airport you traveled, or will be traveling through by using Talk to TSA.
