TSA: would an ipad mini in a keyboard folio have to be taken out at security?

[disney world dreamer]

or can it stay in my carry on?

i know small electronics like your phone or ipod don't have to come out and i know larger ones like laptops do but what about an ipad mini in a folio that has a keyboard attached?

 

[smitch425]

We've never taken our iPads out of our personal bags. We fly with 3 iPads and a couple of handheld video game consoles. All left in the bag.

 

[CPT Tripss]

You can never be certain. All depends on the mood of the checkpoint that day.

 

[Amanda999]

Neither Boston's Logan airport nor MCO (Orlando) require full size iPads to be taken out. At least as of mid-February 2015. And, MCO didn't even want you to take your quart size ziploc of fluids out - they kept telling us to leave them in the carry ons. Although the rules do seem to change every trip I go on! HTH.

 

[jsilvers]

"Unless you receive specific instructions, small electronics, such as smartphones, tablets and certain other mobile/portable electronic devices, can stay in your carry-on bag."​

--http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/how-get-through-line-faster

 

[Starwind]

I have found variance in what to do from airport to airport and trip to trip at the same airport. Also, there are differences between US airports and international airports. e.g. not everywhere makes you take your shoes off.

So, I read any signage that is up (some of which is very helpful, some not so much), and then if in any doubt (which I usually am, since I have medical liquids that are > the 3-1-1 rule), I ASK a screening employee. There are usually two or three good places to ask - at the entrance to the screening area when they look at your boarding pass to let you in; at the point where they tell you which screening line to join, and again at the screening line itself. This has served me well, and has saved both time and aggravation.

-SW

 

[DVC-Don]

The only airport I had to take my iPad out was Dublin, Ireland, and they were pretty adamant about it.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can never be certain. All depends on the mood of the checkpoint that day.

Agreed.

And, MCO didn't even want you to take your quart size ziploc of fluids out - they kept telling us to leave them in the carry ons.

I've been merged from the normal line into the Pre line at MCO; sounds like you were, too.

"Unless you receive specific instructions, small electronics, such as smartphones, tablets and certain other mobile/portable electronic devices, can stay in your carry-on bag."​

--http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/how-get-through-line-faster

However, those specific instructions can be pretty darned rude, so if I had a situation like that, honestly, I'd just take it out anyway. Not make a deal out of it, but just have it with the 311 bags and pull it out right then.

 

[dis_guy]

I agree with the previous posters, you just never know. I usually just tell them I have an iPad and cell phone in my bag and check if it's ok to leave them in. I've never had to take them out. One time at MCO I forgot my 15 inch laptop in my bag and was half way to my gate when I stopped and realized I hadn't taken it out for security. Nobody had said a thing.

 

[Brian Noble]

The vast majority of the time, iPads stay in bags for US airports. Every once in a while the TSA agent will ask you to remove it, so keep it stowed but accessible. I don't think the keyboard makes a difference, but you can always ask.

It's much more likely that you have to take it out for flights that originate in other countries. Heck, I had to take it out just to transit in Narita on the way to Singapore.