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U.S. Air Travelers May Not Have to Remove iPads From Bags for Security Screening

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Apr 12, 2001
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In a bit of good news for iPad-toting air travelers in the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) yesterday clarified that travelers should not normally have to remove their iPads from carry-on baggage or cases when passing through security screening checkpoints at airports.

Addressing the topic of netbooks, e-readers, and tablets such as the iPad, "Blogger Bob" notes the following:
Electronic items smaller than the standard sized laptop should not need to be removed from your bag or their cases. It's that simple.
Click to expand...
As is always the case, TSA personnel can request that any items be removed from bags or cases if they are unable to obtain a clear x-ray picture or have other reason to conduct a secondary screening, but in general users can keep their iPads in their carry-ons.

TSA policies require notebook computers and other similarly-sized electronics to be removed from cases and bags and be passed through x-ray machines on their own in order to allow screeners a clear view of the devices.

Article Link: U.S. Air Travelers May Not Have to Remove iPads From Bags for Security Screening
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2010/04/07/u-s-air-travelers-may-not-have-to-remove-ipads-from-bags-for-security-screening/
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What bomb could fit in there? Firecracker?
 
So what does an X-ray of an iPad show? How does that "all battery" look?

Like the excuse though. "Honey, I really need an iPad to get thru airport security faster..."
 
I just flew through Chicago (Midway) to LaGuardia in NY yesterday, no issues with it in my bag. :)
 
TSA Confusion again...

I can tell you this absolutely was NOT the case when I went through San Diego's airport just this past Friday. I left my Kindle DX in my carry-on, but removed my MBP and was royally chewed out by the X-Ray screener for not following instructions to remove "anything electronic" from my bag.

No doubt the view at the top is different from what goes on in the field. Lots of people to train, changing rules, etc.
 
More nonsense with airport security....

It just continues to show what a joke that security is.

This rule will change as soon as we have a problem with the iPad, be it an overheating battery or some bad persons actions involving one.

yawn
 
The iPad looks like it should x-ray about like an iPod or something, so no surprise. Regular computers are bigger and more internally complex, so they have to not have anything on top of them so that any irregularities will show up better on the x-ray.
 
JeffTL said:
The iPad looks like it should x-ray about like an iPod or something, so no surprise. Regular computers are bigger and more internally complex, so they have to not have anything on top of them so that any irregularities will show up better on the x-ray.
Click to expand...

What ever happened to the "security friendly" laptop bags and briefcases? I remember when I first heard the announcement, I was very excited. My Zero Haliburton laptop case seemed to fit the requirements, and in Chicago they let it through the x-ray without comment.

In LA, however, alarms went off and they nearly knocked me to the ground, screaming at me. They demanded to know why I hadn't taken my laptop out and I informed them of the new rules, to which they replied "...but your case is metal!"

I actually was able to see my laptop on the screen - it looked right through the aluminum case and I could identify parts like the hard drive and memory.
 
It has a foot print of a similar width and length to netbooks and other smaller laptops used for traveling, I expect you will fair about as well as you would with any device like that, which means overall you will need to take it out most of the time.
 
That makes me nervous. I'd rather have them search every inch of me. If someone replaced the innards of an ipad with C4 or something like that they could really do some damage. I'd prefer that they not make exceptions like this - I'd rather be mildly inconvenienced.
 
This gives me an idea! (If I was an al Qaeda operative or part of some other group of people who would preform what others may call a "terrorist act")

I give the TSA 2 months before they reverse their decision.
 
I get subjected to different rules at every airport, and at the same airport on different occasions. So I'll stick to my system: everything electronic or metal out in plain view, shoes off, and boarding pass in hand. Just another sheep being herded through the security line. But unlike a sheep I keep a close eye on my Apple gadgets so they don't walk off with a wolf.
 
Doctor Q said:
I get subjected to different rules at every airport, and at the same airport on different occasions. So I'll stick to my system: everything electronic or metal out in plain view, shoes off, and boarding pass in hand. Just another sheep being herded through the security line. But unlike a sheep I keep a close eye on my Apple gadgets so they don't walk off with a wolf.
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The problem is, I've been snapped at more than once for having my boarding pass in hand and "we don't need to see that". TSA is a joke, just there to make the sheep feel safe and the agents feel important.
 
False security...

Only three things make me feel safe...

1) The cockpit door being bolted shut and reinforced

2) The willingness of passengers to beat the crap out of anyone mildly suspicious during a flight now (I feel bad for folks off their meds)

3) Bag matching -- no bag flies unless the person who checked it in is actually on-board the aircraft.

The rest of the TSA who-ha is fairly worthless in a risk vs. benefits world.
 
Kar98 said:
Or a netbook.
Click to expand...

Yes, if a netbook can offer the multitouch ease-of-use and battery life of an iPad. However, I was led to believe netbooks must be removed for screening just like any other laptop.
 
AlphaBob said:
I can tell you this absolutely was NOT the case when I went through San Diego's airport just this past Friday. I left my Kindle DX in my carry-on, but removed my MBP and was royally chewed out by the X-Ray screener for not following instructions to remove "anything electronic" from my bag.

No doubt the view at the top is different from what goes on in the field. Lots of people to train, changing rules, etc.
Click to expand...

same thing happened to me when i went through Newark a few months ago.
I had a laptop, small external hard drive, external dvd burner and iPod in my carry-on and was forced to go to the back of the security line when I failed to remove the hard drive from the bag, causing me to miss my flight. These security regulations are a joke, it all depends on how grumpy the security people are on the day.
 
I've had hardly any issues with any electronics through security. Granted I don't have an iPad, but my Kindle hasn't had an issues. I guess I'm just lucky?
 
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