Traveling domestically by plane in the near future? Well, get ready to possibly spend a whole lot more time in the X-ray line because the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is going to be introducing new U.S. airport screening procedures for carry-on bags on domestic flights in order to better focus on possible threats to passenger safety.
As per the TSA’s website, “As new procedures are phased in, TSA officers will begin to ask travelers to remove electronics larger than a cell phone from their carry-on bags and place them in a bin with nothing on top or below, similar to how laptops have been screened for years. This simple step helps TSA officers obtain a clearer X-ray image.” This expansion, which would happen in the standard lanes of X-ray lines, would include tablets, noise cancelling headphones, cameras, handheld game consoles, e-readers and any other electronic devices larger than a cell phone that you have in your carry on luggage. Apparently there will be TSA officers stations in front of checkpoint X-ray machines to guide passengers through the screening process, but we all know how efficient and helpful that usually is (/sarcasm).
There’s no announced date of when these new screening procedures will begin to go into effect, however they are already in place at the following 10 U.S. airports with plans to expand to all airports during the weeks and months ahead:
- Boise Airport (BOI)
- Colorado Springs Airport (COS)
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
- Logan International Airport (BOS)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
- Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
- McCarran International Airport (LAS)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
IMPORTANT: This new procedure does NOT apply to passengers who are enrolled in TSA Pre✓® who are using TSA Pre✓® lanes (Travelers enrolled in TSA Pre✓® also don’t have to remove their shoes, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, electronics, light outerwear, or belts. The program allows TSA to focus resources on passengers who may pose a high risk to security while providing expedited screening to those travelers who have been identified as low-risk, trusted travelers). So if you were on the fence about getting TSA Pre✓®, maybe this will be your boot in the behind to finally apply, like Joe suggested months ago.
The TSA’s full press release can be read by clicking here.
(Hat tip to The Points Guys by way of One Mile At A Time)
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