Apple iPad through security....

[dudspizza]

So, is an Apple iPad treated like a laptop or a big iPod? Laptops have to be taken out of the carry on while iPods do not. I suppose an iPad would be similar to a kindle, but I am not sure what people have to do with those....

So, iPad left in carry on or in a separate bin though security?

Duds

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Don't own an iPad, but because of its size, I'd pull it out of your bag/case.

 

[Super 27]

Has to come out and go in its own bin. I don't know what the actual written rule is, but in practice at nearly every checkpoint I go through they have expanded the laptop rule to include Kindles, iPads, tablets, and any "large electronics".

 

[Tara]

It does NOT have to come out - I have been instructed several times to leave it in when I voluntarily took it out. I've specifically inquired about it before taking it out lately and had it confirmed again and again in multiple airports that it does not have to be removed. Of course, TSA can be inconsistent at times, so be prepared to remove it, but I wouldn't expect to at this point. My recent experience includes BWI, EWR, MSY, BHM, ATL, MCO and ALB. I just flew today, as a matter of fact, and in BHM TSA was instructing someone in front of me that she didn't have to remove her iPad.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have been told my Kindle does not have to come out, but then when it doesn't they "inspect" my bag... So now it comes out... which would seem to indicate the IPAD needs to be out too unless you want to play "TSA roulette" I just go for quickest!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I have taken a lot of flights with my iPad and have never had to take it out, nor has it been subjected to extra screening (Midway, Baltimore, Tampa, Orlando, Nassau, Palm Beach, O'Hare)

 

[Tara]

I have been told my Kindle does not have to come out, but then when it doesn't they "inspect" my bag... So now it comes out... which would seem to indicate the IPAD needs to be out too unless you want to play "TSA roulette" I just go for quickest!

I've yet to have my bag inspected because my iPad was in it. Oh, and I forgot to add PHL to my list above.

 

[lauracitawita]

I was instructed to take my iPad out of my carry on.

 

[sshaw10060]

I fly with my iPad and kindle and laptop every week. The only thing that needs to come out is the laptop.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I don't know what the actual written rule is, but in practice at nearly every checkpoint I go through they have expanded the laptop rule to include Kindles, iPads, tablets, and any "large electronics".

I have flown with my Kindle probably 15 times and not once have I had to take it out for inspection.

http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/04/traveling-with-e-readers-netbooks-and.html

 

[gillep]

We have not had to take our ipad out at either DCA or MCO and our bags were not subject to additional searches. At DCA they made a very clear announcement that only actual laptops needed to taken out and put in a bin.

 

[Pakey]

I have flown through about 2 dozen airports this year, both domestic and international, and have never had to remove my ereader, only my laptop.

 

[Brian Noble]

Lost*in*cyberspace's link above is the "official" word---it does not have to come out. However, if the TSA agent screening your bags things it is obstructing the view of something else (or sees anything else bothersome to them), it may be searched more thoroughly. I generally leave mine in the bag, and only rarely have it checked further.

 

[Super 27]

Of course, TSA can be inconsistent at times, so be prepared to remove it

You hit the nail on the head there. Most of the time I'm going through security at either ORD (Terminal 1) or EWR (Terminal C), and they are 180-degrees opposite. ORD actually scolded me last week for taking my Macbook out of my bag - they said "we don't do that any more". Of course, I know that's not actually what the rule is, but whatevs, I'm not one to argue. Newark generally wants EVERYTHING out. Needless to say the laptop always comes out, but there I've been asked to pull both the iPad and the Kindle out there on numerous occasions.

I generally find smaller/less crowded airports to be even more picky, because they have more time and less to do. Those are the places where they will actually make you put the laptop in its own bin separate from everything else (at EWR and ORD I pile it in with my shoes, jacket, etc and have NEVER been scolded for doing so).

Always good to see how consistently they apply their own policies...

 

[dis_guy]

I have been told my Kindle does not have to come out, but then when it doesn't they "inspect" my bag... So now it comes out... which would seem to indicate the IPAD needs to be out too unless you want to play "TSA roulette" I just go for quickest!

I agree with the other posters that my Kindle and iPad stayed in my bag with no problems on my most recent flights last week.

On the TSA website they suggest packing neatly with a layer of electronics, a layer of clothing, a layer of electronics, etc. I do this and have never been asked to take anything out except for random inspections.

 

[pilotwife_02]

You aren'ts supposed to HAVE to take it out, but because you just never know I do. DH on the other hand says he doesn't take his out and has never been asked to (probably because he's going through security in uniform).

 

[tkldisney]

I take mine out of my purse/backpack and put both in same bin. Have never had any issues.

 

[chamonix]

Officially: Ipad can stay in.

Anecdotally: I've kept mine in on 10+ flights with no problem.

Problem? Last time (at a tiny airport flying on a little cessna with only 6-ish passengers going through security checkpoint) the TSA leaned over and said, "that's an Ipad, right? You should take it out next time, they're kinda hard to see." Previously (last spring) at the same checkpoint TSA smiled at me and said, "wow, you have an iPad!" The first time i went through with one inside my bag right after they came up for sale.

Tomorrow morning I'm going through the same airport and plan to leave it IN. The TSA can follow their own rules or they can choose to hold up the line and ask me to take it out. I really don't care either way. I'll do what their rules specify. If the agent doesn't.....not my problem at all.

Really, the worse that can happen is they ask you to take it out. Not a big deal. Leave it in unless they ask, which they most likely will not.