An Apple iPad Bonus: No Airport Security Hassle
You should be able to keep your iPad, Amazon Kindle, Neo, Barnes & Noble Nook, Sony Reader, or other smaller electronic device packed while going through security lines, according to a blog poston the TSA's Web site.
"Electronic items smaller than the standard sized laptop should not need to be removed from your bag or their cases. It's that simple," wrote "Blogger Bob" of TSA's blog team.
According to the post, only devices the size of a standard laptop or larger are subject to extra screening. Other devices that qualify to be taken out are Playstation, Xbox or Nintendo gaming consoles, full-size DVD players and video cameras that use video cassettes.
"It's important to remember, however, that our officers are trained to look for anomalies to help keep air travel safe, and if something needs a closer look, it will receive secondary screening," wrote the TSA blogger. "The key to avoiding bag searches is keeping the clutter down. The less clutter you have in your bag, the less likely it will be searched."
Laptops can also stay in your bag if you havea "checkpoint friendly" laptop bag, according to the TSA.
Netbooks also can stay in your bag, according to a response to a question following the blog post.
Thus far, it appears the TSA still hasn't ironed out all the kinks at the local airport screener level, however, as several people posted comments that they've had to take their e-readers out of a bag.
"The TSA officers always make me take my Kindle out of my bag. It's a Kindle DX, which is larger than a standard Kindle but quite a bit smaller than a laptop. I now just take it out to avoid the 'what is that thing, a hard drive?' type questions," wrote a reader named Marie.
A reader named Jon wrote that he was asked to take his Kindle out of his bag, even after the screener recognized it as a screener. "I hope this gets standardized across airports," wrote Jon.
Blogger Bob responded that the TSA is "also refreshing the workforce on this. If you run into any problems, please let us know."