Recent fliers with DVD players . . .

[wrighter]

Has anyone had to take out their DVD players for security lately?

We travel often and have never had to take out our DVD players. But this weekend when we went through security in Seattle they took them out. When I inquired as to why, they replied that it was "something new within the last three weeks." Well, we flew INTO Seattle just two weeks prior and nobody made us take our players out then!

Just curious if anyone else has been told anything even remotely similar. I had just finally gotten security down to a science and will be bummed if we now have to take the DVD players out, too!

 

[dburg30]

Has anyone had to take out their DVD players for security lately?

We travel often and have never had to take out our DVD players. But this weekend when we went through security in Seattle they took them out. When I inquired as to why, they replied that it was "something new within the last three weeks." Well, we flew INTO Seattle just two weeks prior and nobody made us take our players out then!

Just curious if anyone else has been told anything even remotely similar. I had just finally gotten security down to a science and will be bummed if we now have to take the DVD players out, too!

Heck I thought that pretty much any electronics device they made you turn it on or somehow show that it was working as it should.

 

[Kies99]

I flew early May and didn't have to take it out. Haven't flown since so can't say. However, what's really funny is that I remember prior to 9/11, many times I had to take out various electronics and turn them on to show they worked. Since 9/11 I haven't had to do that once. Just take my laptop out and put it through separately.

 

[dburg30]

I flew early May and didn't have to take it out. Haven't flown since so can't say. However, what's really funny is that I remember prior to 9/11, many times I had to take out various electronics and turn them on to show they worked. Since 9/11 I haven't had to do that once. Just take my laptop out and put it through separately.

LOL that is strange. So since we're on this. The laptop you take out and put it on top of the case and send it thru? Do you want to that if on / on standby to be able to quickly show it works? Or have it off and just turn the power on? How about cameras / camcorders etc? Just throw them in the bucket and send them thru? Do they need to be open (cases) or??

 

[maureenmac]

Yes, it is something new. A few weeks ago Jet Blue had the info on their website. You now need to put all electronic devices in the bin the same as a laptop.

 

[Kies99]

LOL that is strange. So since we're on this. The laptop you take out and put it on top of the case and send it thru? Do you want to that if on / on standby to be able to quickly show it works? Or have it off and just turn the power on? How about cameras / camcorders etc? Just throw them in the bucket and send them thru? Do they need to be open (cases) or??

I didn't have to turn the laptop on. I just had to put it in one of the bins and send it through. Don't ask me why, I can't fathom most of what the TSA and FAA come up with.

 

[DebbieB]

LOL that is strange. So since we're on this. The laptop you take out and put it on top of the case and send it thru? Do you want to that if on / on standby to be able to quickly show it works? Or have it off and just turn the power on? How about cameras / camcorders etc? Just throw them in the bucket and send them thru? Do they need to be open (cases) or??

The laptop should be in the bin by itself, not with the case.

I travel almost weekly for work and have not had to turn it on in a long time. It used to be it would get occasionally pulled for an explosive swabbing but i haven't had that happen in a long time either.

Just be careful not to accidentally go through with a bottle of water in your bag, that's when they will make you go through the works.

 

[tjmw2727]

This is a new policy starting the first week of August. Although it applies to "full size DVD players and video games" I imagine based on my experience with the TSA some may inspect all DVD players.

Here is a link to the recent update :
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/sop/index.shtm

TJ

 

[Jestocost]

There is a new policy that technically applies to full-size DVD players, like the one connected to your TV at home, and other electronics like that. However, some airports and/or individual TSA screeners have either misinterpreted the policy or have decided to enforce it more broadly with regard to other electronics, such as portable DVD players. We flew out of Tampa on the day after the policy went into effect and they were requiring that "any electronic device larger than a cell phone" be take out of your bags for screening. It may be something that gets relaxed back to the original policy as clarifications are issued and training occurs, but maybe not.

The reality is that any TSA screener can ask you take anything out of your bags for extra screening at any time without any real reason, or simply decide to subject you to additional screening overall. As a result, if they want you to take your portable DVD player out (or your hair dryer, crayon set, whatever), you pretty much have to go along with it unless you really want to slow down your progress through security.