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.
Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports
81–90 of 255 posts
Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports
#82Wow new technology? What now-lost mysterious technology was it that allowed us to get along fine without taking our laptops out of our bags 20 years ago?
Not in passengers but in the officials: what if somebody sneaks something in, and blows a plane? To alleviate that, a "we are doing all we can" CYA strategy should be in place.
Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports
#83About 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…
Buy TSA friendly backpack. Problem solved. Bought mine at BestBuy. Samsonite 5580680. The zipper goes all the way down so the bag is split in 2, a pouch holding your laptop and the other half holds the rest of your stuff. This lets TSA X-Ray equipment inspect your laptop only without cables, cellphone, and gadgets on the way.
Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports
#84Earlier quoted context omitted.
Next, how about removing the ridiculous limitations on carrying a bottle of water with you?
On a flight within China, my parents were simply required to take a sip from their bottles.
Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
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
#86Just get TSA pre-check. It's so freaking easy and it makes airport security checkpoints not a big deal at all.
Works only for US citizens and Permanent Residents.
There was a time where what you say was true, but they've broadened access.
Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports
#87It's fascinating how the security theatre has gotten so big that now it basically just rolls forward under its own momentum. It's been around long enough that people accept it as normal, it serves no other purpose than to employ the unemployable and fill contractors' coffers, and it seems that no entity is able to stop or dismantle it.
It serves the purpose of removing liability for security from airlines, which is the major reason why it was created. It also serves the purpose of getting people used to progressively more intrusive government inspection during routine situations.
> and it seems that no entity is able to stop or dismantle it.
There are entities that are able to, but they don't want to, because they like what it does.
Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports
#88Earlier quoted context omitted.
Next, how about removing the ridiculous limitations on carrying a bottle of water with you?
On a flight within China, my parents were simply required to take a sip from their bottles.
Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports
#89It's fascinating how the security theatre has gotten so big that now it basically just rolls forward under its own momentum. It's been around long enough that people accept it as normal, it serves no other purpose than to employ the unemployable and fill contractors' coffers, and it seems that no entity is able to stop or dismantle it.
I just cannot understand the logic.
Re: Laptops to Stay in Bags as TSA Brings New Technology to Airports
#90It's fascinating how the security theatre has gotten so big that now it basically just rolls forward under its own momentum. It's been around long enough that people accept it as normal, it serves no other purpose than to employ the unemployable and fill contractors' coffers, and it seems that no entity is able to stop or dismantle it.
I'd say the last 15+ years of air travel has been pretty safe in the US. To say the security has accomplished nothing is a stretch.