Multimedia Intelligence for Travel Professionals
No More Separate Bins for Laptop Computers
- Aug 18, 2008
- By: Kirk Cassels
- TravelAgentCentral
Business travelers and computer junkies entered a refreshing era in travel Saturday as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dropped requirements for all laptops to be removed from carrying cases and placed in separate bins for passage through the X-ray machine. The new regulation will speed up the screening process at airports as well as prevent the accidental swapping or misplacement of travelers' computers.
Carrying cases, however, must meet certain criteria. They must have a designated laptop section which lacks metal snaps, zippers or buckles. The laptop section also cannot have extra pockets inside or outside of it. The only item that can be packed in the carrying case is the laptop itself. The criteria came about after five months of testing by more than 60 manufacturers to explore how many variations would still allow an unobstructed X-ray view of the computer.
Visit www.tsa.gov.
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Comments 1-2 of 2
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Tony Bell (AUGUST 19, 2008)
I don't see any improvement with these new regulations only more confusion and of coarse sales/profit for the makers of the "approved" cases. What is so difficult about pulling a laptop out of it's bag/case. People are smart enough to operates these devices but for some reason have difficulty with "listening" and "following" the instructions.
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Steve Mencik (AUGUST 18, 2008)
The article notes, "Carrying cases, however, must meet certain criteria. They must have a designated laptop section which lacks metal snaps, zippers or buckles. The laptop section also cannot have extra pockets inside or outside of it. The only item that can be packed in the carrying case is the laptop itself."
Of course only certain cases qualify, meaning travelers will need to spend money to buy new cases. Also, how many people carry only their laptop in the case, without any accessories like a mouse, network cables, paperwork, some CDs, etc.?
This will likely cause the lines to move slower, as people with the new cases will not remove the laptops, and screener's won't know whether they have the right kind of case or not. Thus adding more confusion to the process.
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