Flying with laptop question

[AquamarineSteph]

I haven't flown with my laptop in ages, preferring instead to carry my tablet that doesn't have to be removed from a bag.

So that I have a chance of actually doing the right thing and not holding up people behind me, I have a two part question.

I don't have some fancy bag for my laptop. It's a small one in a sleeve. I know that if I go through regular TSA security lines, I have to pull it OUT of the sleeve, right? Does the laptop then need to go into a separate bin?

And on the wild chance that I score TSA Pre-Check for my flight, I remember seeing something about being able to keep your laptop in its bag. Does that mean the computer can remain in the backpack I'm carrying? Or does it mean pull the laptop STILL IN ITS SLEEVE comes out of the backpack and still put it in a bin?

Thank you in advance!!

 

[Starwind]

I usually do not put my laptop in its own grey bin, though sometimes the security officer will ask you to. Most important is that nothing is under or over it (which is why it has to come out of the sleeve unless it is a "TSA checkpoint friendly" sleeve.

Laptops do NOT need to be removed from your carryon bag (e.g. backpack) for TSA PreCheck: https://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck

SW

 

[AquamarineSteph]

See? I knew there were TSA approved computer bags, but I had no clue there was a sleeve version. Too late for this trip, but good to know for the future, thanks!

 

[WDWNY]

Make sure to actually take it out of your bag. Last time I forgot and they pulled my bag to the side and I had to wait 10 minutes for someone to even go inspect the bag.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Here's hoping I do! I try to be so good when I'm going through security and have everything out that's supposed to be out. One time a screener yelled at me b/c I had a bag of change (dimes, quarters, nickels) in my purse, and I didn't know that needed to come out of my purse. -shrugs- But I like to go as prepared as possible. Thanks!!!

 

[sscott87]

A sleeve won't (typically) be a problem. I haven't flown in a year or so, but I've always made a habit of simply removing from the sleeve, sleeve in bottom of the bin, laptop placed on top of it along with CD drive and card reader that I have velcro'd to the top of the laptop. Never an issue going through security multiple times over the years (though again, haven't flown since early last year so maybe things have changed further?). Main thing is to be sensible and not have it covered or have excessive/unnecessary things in a bin with it.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Makes sense. Thanks!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

One time a screener yelled at me b/c I had a bag of change (dimes, quarters, nickels) in my purse, and I didn't know that needed to come out of my purse.

They didn't. That screener was just being rude.

They like to make things up.

There was a brand new sign at Seatac the last time I went through there. It said that shoes should NOT go in the bins. This is seriously a brand new sign; I read everything and have NEVER seen this before. And the bins have often even had shoe-shaped dashed lines in them.

So I sweetly said something like "wow, that's new" to a nice-seeming TSA guy. And he said that it had always been so and had always been there. And I sweetly said "aw, no, it hasn't, I was just here last month and I fly often and it's never been there", and he again said it had, but that I win a gold star because I'm literally the FIRST person who has ever noticed that sign.

And I refrained from saying "yep, because it's BRAND NEW" because I'm not a total idiot LOL.


First time someone's shoelaces get caught in the mechanisms they'll switch it back, and then they'll say they NEVER had that sign up.


Ah, it's just awesome.


Anyway, it's not a rule to put CASH out in your bin. And that's what rolled coins are...cash. Which is a really silly thing for them to want out in the open.


At MCO I had one screener who was yelling a bit long Lewis Black-style "comedy" routine about how we are in the real world and we cannot send our bags through on the belt until we were ready to go through the scanner and on and on and on. And so people were waiting until the scanner was free before sending things through, and another screener was yelling at people to hurry up. I sent my things through as I was ready, and because I can't lift my arm up correctly I had to let them know that, and the elderly TSA "gentleman" told me it would be a wait and when I said I know he then spoke softly, without raising his voice at all, asking for a "female assist". NO ONE could have heard him but me. And then he stopped making eye contact with me, as I waited for over 5 minutes, for the female officer who was never going to show up because she didn't know she was needed. All the while the comedy guy was screaming about not leaving your bags, while my bags were sitting on the other side, all alone, in view of anyone. I finally got his attention and he THEN called out loudly, and the female came over immediately. I was very stressed because my bags had been alone that whole time (DH and DS had Pre so they couldn't retrieve them for me, and that was the very last time I went through with bags when they have Pre!).

Anyway, some TSA people like to make rules up and some like to yell and sometimes it's the very same person doing both at the same time.

I like tilting my head and smiling and saying "huh, that's a new one" while totally complying with whatever they've made up that hour.

 

[jsilvers]

Laptops do NOT need to be removed from your carryon bag (e.g. backpack) for TSA PreCheck: https://www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck

Except when they do (as was the case yesterday at DCA).

PreCheck doesn't actually guarantee anything, so you need to listen to the instructions given at the checkpoint when you're actually there.

 

[maxiesmom]

The shoe thing makes me crazy, as it changes from airport to airport and seemingly from day to day. Put them in the bin, nope, were gonna take them back out and give you the eye for putting them in the bin. Now I try to watch and see what the agents at that time want before dealing with my shoes.

 

[FigmentSpark]

On a side note, I'm putting my coat or purse or phone or lunch in a bin that used to hold someone's shoes. Someone who might have stepped in places I don't want my things to contact.