Vacation, all I ever wanted. While crooning these catchy lyrics, the Go-Go’s probably didn’t consider the tedious process that occurs before a holiday begins, including taking off your shoes to stand on a filthy floor, waiting in a stagnant line, and unpacking your already-packed belongings and placing them on a conveyor belt. And it turns out, this familiar airport scene is only going to get more demanding.
On July 26, the TSA announced that it will now require passengers to place all electronics larger than a cell phone into separate bins for X-ray security screening. Yes, that means iPads, tablets, e-readers, and as you already well know, laptops, too. It’s worth noting that the new rule does not affect what items travelers can bring through the checkpoint (food, books, and 3-1-1 liquid-compliant bags are still a go).
“It is critical for TSA to constantly enhance and adjust security screening procedures to stay ahead of evolving threats and keep passengers safe. By separating personal electronic items such as laptops, tablets, e-readers and handheld game consoles for screening, TSA offers can more closely focus on resolving alarms and stopping terror attacks,” said TSA Acting Administrator Huban A. Gowadia in a statement.
The new policy, which was put to the test in 10 airports earlier this year, will now apply to passengers traveling to, from, and within the U.S. in the weeks and months ahead. Your only escape: TSA PreCheck. Those enrolled in the program will not be impacted by these stricter policies. For everyone else, even longer lines await.
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