Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports • Hacker News Board

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#41

Post by TallGuyShort » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:29 AM UTC

simonsarris wrote: post #19

About a year ago I was at an airport (Boston? New Jersey?) outbound that had a sign or TV monitor saying "Great news, you no longer need to take your laptop out of your bag!" I read this sign as a TSA worker shouted every 30 seconds to the shuffling line about how everyone needed to take out all laptops, "ipads", cameras, etc. I wonder if it was a pilot program. Or more likely, just part of the constantly shifting fa…

If I had a dollar for every time I heard "listen to me, not the sign" from a TSA agent, I'd have enough money that the TSA would detain me for questioning about why I was traveling with that much money.

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#42

Post by JshWright » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:29 AM UTC

in_hindsight wrote: post #26

godelski wrote: post #15

But when are we going to have the real discussion about security theater?

What’s security theater? The elephant deterrence strategy?

Now that you mention it, I've never seen an elephant on the 'secure' side of a TSA check point. It's working!

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#43

Post by QualityReboot » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:29 AM UTC

finaliteration wrote: post #22

lordleft wrote: post #2

The moment I pull out my ipad and macbook and entrust the fate of around 3000 dollars worth of electronics to the competence and benevolence of government officials who barely give a shit is my least favorite part of the travel experience

I don’t know why, but for me it’s the shoes. My laptop bag makes it fairly easy to take my laptop out and put it back in, but dealing with taking my shoes on and off really fucking bugs me. It’s totally irrational, I know.

I think your feeling is pretty rational. It's pretty annoying for no benefit. I wish they also offered flights with lower security. I'm fine getting on a plane if everyone went through a metal detector and kept their shoes on.

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#44

Post by warent » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:30 AM UTC

seandougall wrote: post #24

simonsarris wrote: post #19

About a year ago I was at an airport (Boston? New Jersey?) outbound that had a sign or TV monitor saying "Great news, you no longer need to take your laptop out of your bag!" I read this sign as a TSA worker shouted every 30 seconds to the shuffling line about how everyone needed to take out all laptops, "ipads", cameras, etc. I wonder if it was a pilot program. Or more likely, just part of the constantly shifting fa…

Yeah, it's always up to the whims of the underpaid TSA agent who happens to be there that day. Back when iPads were new, I got scolded for taking it out of my bag, and scolded for leaving it in my bag, by agents at the same airport on two trips a few weeks apart.

It's always so strange to me that people seem to consistently have bad experiences with TSA. I've travelled more than the average person and have never had a bad experience with TSA. Maybe because I'm a young white male?

Once I even accidentally packed a small toolkit in my carry-on rather than my checked luggage and they let me keep it!

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#45

Post by bpanon » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:30 AM UTC

T-hawk wrote: post #40

narrator wrote: post #20

Just get TSA pre-check. It's so freaking easy and it makes airport security checkpoints not a big deal at all.

I refuse to pay TSA for "solving" a problem that they created. More customers paying for pre-check incentivizes TSA to make the regular experience comparatively worse .

You either pay with time or money.

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#46

Post by TallGuyShort » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:30 AM UTC

ekianjo wrote: post #25

godelski wrote: post #15

But when are we going to have the real discussion about security theater?

Next, how about removing the ridiculous limitations on carrying a bottle of water with you?

How hard is it to pour your possible explosive liquid into a bin with all the other possible explosives in the center of the largest, densest crowd in the airp... Oh wait I see your point.

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#47

Post by TallGuyShort » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:33 AM UTC

opportune wrote: post #21

randomacct3847 wrote: post #14

Global entry/TSA pre-check is the best $100 you can spend (or not since the application fee is covered by a lot of premium credit cards) Keep shoes, keep laptop in bag, keep jacket on, way shorter line...I’m simulateously happy that not everyone is doing it and dumbfounded why anyone who travels more than a few times a year wouldn’t have it by now.

I don't buy precheck out of principal. You shouldn't have to pay extra for a less invasive security experience

I used to feel the same way. I shouldn't have to, but if the choice is paying or getting felt up, I pay. Me not paying won't stop the feeling up anyway.

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#48

Post by elizabeth_olu » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:33 AM UTC

TallGuyShort wrote: post #41

simonsarris wrote: post #19

About a year ago I was at an airport (Boston? New Jersey?) outbound that had a sign or TV monitor saying "Great news, you no longer need to take your laptop out of your bag!" I read this sign as a TSA worker shouted every 30 seconds to the shuffling line about how everyone needed to take out all laptops, "ipads", cameras, etc. I wonder if it was a pilot program. Or more likely, just part of the constantly shifting fa…

If I had a dollar for every time I heard "listen to me, not the sign" from a TSA agent, I'd have enough money that the TSA would detain me for questioning about why I was traveling with that much money.

www.elizabethblog.com.ng

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#49

Post by blankobj » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:35 AM UTC

jcims wrote: post #37

seandougall wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it's always up to the whims of the underpaid TSA agent who happens to be there that day. Back when iPads were new, I got scolded for taking it out of my bag, and scolded for leaving it in my bag, by agents at the same airport on two trips a few weeks apart.

In the last 8 days: CMH->MCO ‘remove your belts please’ MCO->SEA ‘keep your belts on’ SEA->CMH ‘i’d recommend you take your belt off’

I was on a business trip in a suit years ago and had to take my belt off. By the time I got through, someone took my belt. TSA agents couldn't find it. Didn't have time to do much else besides suck it up. I was flying w/ a superior mentioned TSA lost it. Not sure if he believed me... but definitely cost a lot to buy a new belt at the next airport. Still had my laptop though.

Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports

#50

Post by chipx86 » Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 3:37 AM UTC

seandougall wrote: post #24

simonsarris wrote: post #19

About a year ago I was at an airport (Boston? New Jersey?) outbound that had a sign or TV monitor saying "Great news, you no longer need to take your laptop out of your bag!" I read this sign as a TSA worker shouted every 30 seconds to the shuffling line about how everyone needed to take out all laptops, "ipads", cameras, etc. I wonder if it was a pilot program. Or more likely, just part of the constantly shifting fa…

Yeah, it's always up to the whims of the underpaid TSA agent who happens to be there that day. Back when iPads were new, I got scolded for taking it out of my bag, and scolded for leaving it in my bag, by agents at the same airport on two trips a few weeks apart.

I actually got in trouble more for leaving a Kindle and a game system in a bag on my last trip than on the previous trip when I accidentally had a utility knife in my bag's pocket.

I was sure I was about to be detained for the knife, but they simply told me I could leave it there or exit the security line and mail it back to my house for a $15 fee. I took that mailer option, walked out of the line unescorted with a knife, filled out a mailing form, put the knife in the bag, and went through security again.

This most recent trip, I checked carefully for knives before heading to SFO. When I entered the line, they were low on bins. I started taking things out and asked if I needed to remove the Kindle and game system. The TSA agent said I could leave them in, so I did. By the time I got to the other end, I was pulled aside and questioned, as they checked for any suspicious residue on the devices. They eventually handed me the devices back and escorted me to the beginning of the line, where I had to go through all over again, this time with the Kindle and game system in a bin.