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UPDATE: Airport Security & Electronics

by Mary Jo Manzanares on August 5th, 2007

I previously wrote about changes to airport security procedures, requiring the removal of all electronics.

The TSA now has its new security policy posted on its website, with the changes that went into effect on August 4th, 2007.

Here are the highlights:

Common Lighters:  The lighter ban has been lifted, except for torch (butane) lighters.  You can bring one on, and it is not considered liquid, even though it has liquid in it.  (Previously the U.S. was the only country to ban personal lighters.)

Breast milk:  Breast milk, in quantities exceeding 3 ounces, may now be brought onboard, whether or not you are flying with a child.  You are required to declare it at the security check point, giving in the same status as liquid medications.

Electronics:  It’s going to take some time to get this one sorted out, I fear.  The interviews that I saw prior to the posting of the written policy made it clear that many airport officials felt that ALL electronics were going to need to be screened separately, and specifically referenced those smaller items.  Yet, a common sense reading of the policy makes it seem as if smaller items (video games, iPods, etc.) could remain packed. 

Here’s what the policy says:

Effective August 4, 2007, full-size video game consoles (for example Playstation, X-box, or Nintendo) and DVD players must be removed from their carrying cases and submitted separately for x-ray screening. Laptop computers and video cameras that use cassettes have long been subject to this policy.

Small electronic items, such as cell phones, MP3 players, iPods and portable video game systems do not have to be removed from their carrying cases.

I talked with several people who were flying on the date this policy was implemented (including some crew members) and it was handled differently depending on the airport.

This should come as no surprise!

It may just take some time for word to get out to employees at all airports around the country, or, it may be a matter of interpreting the language of the policy. 

I don’t see too many full-sized video game consoles brought onboard, but I see a lot of laptops and other electronics.  The policy divides the equipment into what needs to be removed form its carrying cases and what does not.  In my opinion, this is where the confusion may come in.  In some parts of the policy the term carry on luggage is used, in other places, carrying cases is used.  It will remain to be seen whether the TSA considers those one and the same.  A very good argument can be made that if they were the same, they’d be called the same, and since different terms are used, they are different.

Until everything shakes down, travelers are well advised to be prepared for a variety of interpretations and implementations. 

NOTE:  I’m traveling in the next few days and will report in on how I see things being handled.  If you are traveling as well, please take a few minutes and let our readers know about your experiences.

Photo credit:  flickr

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POSTED IN: Air Travel, Travel Tips