If you’ve flown anywhere in the recent past, you likely have a decent handle on standard security checkpoint procedures. Shoes come off, and go into a bin. Pockets emptied, and into a bin. Laptops into a bin. And carry-on items on the conveyor belt. (I’ve always placed my pocket contents and shoes in one bin, or if I’m feeling really ambitious I just put my wallet and phone into my carry-on before it goes through for a speedier experience.)
Now, though, the TSA is expanding its screening procedures, and will require devices larger than a cell phone to each be screened in their own separate bin, rather than remaining inside carry-on bags. The Verge has some details:
The TSA has been piloting (no pun intended) the new screening policies at 10 airports, and is now ready to expand them to all US airports in the weeks and months ahead. In standard screening lanes, TSA agents will be stationed in front of X-ray machines to verbally assist passengers with the new screening procedures.
So what sort of electronics is the TSA singling out with this new policy? According to acting administrator Huban Gowadia, the following electronics will now need to ride down the conveyor belt solo: laptops, tablets, e-readers and handheld game consoles. Noticeably absent from the list? Those idiosyncratic gadgets that seem to fall somewhere between phone and tablet that we annoyingly call phablets.
