TSA on new laptop screening procedures

The TSA has announced the new laptop screening procedures which will allow the following laptop bags through without removal of the laptop as we've had to do for some time:





However, backpacks and trifold packs will still require that you REMOVE the laptop so it can be properly x-rayed for irregularities by TSA screeners.

Laptop Bag Security May Improve

The TSA has issued guidelines to laptop carrying cases that may allow travelers to place the laptop bag directly through X ray machines without having to remove the computer inside, helping tech travelers avoid an inconvenience that used to be greater before everyboy learned the routine.

USA Today Reports:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-05-21-laptops_N.htm

New Laptop battery rules for flights - do not put them in checked luggage!

Yes, it's true - there are even more new complicated rules from the TSA. It's not even clear this relates to any terror issues but they are restricting lithium batteries in carry on luggage:

New Laptop Battery Rules from TSA

If you'll be travelling by air in 2008 be sure to review the new rules for carrying batteries on airplanes. The new battery rules are here at TSA's websiteOn new rule is that you are NOT allowed to pack lithium batteries in your *checked* luggage, though you *are* allowed to have them in carry on baggage in clear plastic bags.It's also a good idea to review the 3-1-1 rule here at TSA:3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin.

Customs Forms

Here's a great article by Travel and Leisure Magazine about the customs form changes that may impact international travelers.

Lucille Cirillo, CBP regarding the new customs agency and post 9/11 concerns:

"customs concerns shifted from restricting the illegal flow of goods to safeguarding our national borders against terrorist threats."

The U.S. flat duty rate, applied to the first $1,000 of imported goods beyond the standard exemption, is now only 3%. So ... if you were used to higher import duties on some items check to see if you now can import them at the lower rates.

Transportation Security Administration TSA

The TSA here in the USA has a very big job. They are charged with protecting the millions of travelers who travel daily in, out, and around the country.

All travelers should spend at least a few minutes getting familiar with security basics here at the TSA "for travelers" web page here. Most important is managing your liquids, toothpaste and other gels using the 3-1-1 rule.

Overall the TSA website suffers from the typical bureaucratic challenges of telling people much more than they need or want to know about the organization while leaving key details about travel too thinly discussed. TSA is a place where it would be very advantageous to have a blog team with access to up to the minute information about delays, lines, airport and airline security information and then post up to the minute on their blog to help travelers with access get around.

An example of "travel inefficiencies" that create lose-lose situations came up Thursday on our trip home from PHL Philadelphia. We wanted to visit the shopping/dining section of PHL because we had several hours to kill, but because of the odd setup at PHL this would have required us to either stand in a HUGE line for D concourse and then find a way to C concourse vs walking in to E (with no line!) which was where we needed to be to leave. I'm sure if I knew the place inside out I could have used the bus system more effectively, but given that PHL so heavily promotes the shopping and dining area you'd think they'd arrange things such that you could easily hang out there without worrying about missing a flight. The discrepancy in line length was odd as well and I've seen this very often. TSA seems to use humans where machines would be better and perhaps vica versa. As Thomas Edison pointed out -- there is a better way - find it (please...!).

Airport Security - cost effective?

A new "invisible fencing" system will help protect JFK and other New York Airports from Terror Attacks. USA Today has a report on Airport Security.

Here's the Transportation Security Administration website which today is featuring more about the JFK Terror plot.

My view on the subject is different from most in that I'd argue we spend far too much on expensive measures trying to counter terrorism while failing to utilize many basic, cheaper approaches. Whenever the Government spends huge sums - in the case of TSA it will be *hundreds of billions* of dollars in the coming years, you must rationally look at alternatives to that spending to see what you could accomplish elsewhere. As with expensive military programs security is often a bad investment because even if it counters problems it does not add to existing infrastructure or enhance lives directly. Rather this money *protects* lives and infrastructure. Protection is important, but should be balanced against alternatives that would add to the life, liberty, and health equation. How many *extra* lives do you save with an extra $100,000,000,000 for TSA? The answer is unclear due to the potentially catastrophic nature of terror attacks, but it seems to me that we'll break the bank with current approaches, so we should be finding ways to leverage cheap, automated surveillance, people databases, and other cost effective methods rather than hiring huge numbers of TSA screeners.

Air Travel - prohibited items. Brass knuckles to checked baggage please...

When you pack for your next airplane trip it's a good idea to quickly scan the TSA list of prohibited items. As a general rule you'll want to pack things in your checked luggage rather than your carry-on because the rules are less restrictive.

I was very surprised how many things are allowed in checked baggage. Billy Clubs, Brass Knuckles, and Nanchukas are all OK !? Generally you'll want to keep any flammable items at home.

Security Tips from TSA

Buried in the bloated TSA Website is this key rule for carry-ons at Airports.
Note that the rules for liquids follow, but even simpler is this:

Carry-on ONLY tiny liquid bottles in a SINGLE, clear, quart zip top bag.


This is the TSA's instruction set for liquids on planes:

3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3 ounce bottle or less; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.

Consolidate bottles into one bag and X-ray separately to speed screening.

Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.

3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.

Declare larger liquids. Prescription medications, baby formula and milk (when traveling with an infant or toddler) are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.