Laptops and other large electronic devices

Laptops and other large electronic devices.

The reason that people are asked to remove laptop computers (and other large electronic items) from their bags is that we need to get a clear picture on the x-ray. Laptops should be placed in a bin with nothing above or below them. If you have more than one laptop, they can share a bin as long as they don't overlap one another.

You would be surprised at how many people go to the trouble of taking their laptop out of the bag and then pile stuff under or on top of (or both) the laptop in the gray bin. So instead of a clear picture of the computer, and just the computer, we see the computer with other things superimposed on it. That causes a bag check. A TSO has to take the bin, tell whomever it belongs to that it needs to be rerun, put the laptop by itself, and put the items back on the beginning of the x-ray belt.

Laptops can remain in their protective sleeves or "TSA approved" laptop cases as long as there are no wires, chargers, thumb drives, extra disk drives, etc. on top of or below the machine.

iPads and e-readers (like Nooks and Kindles) do not need to be removed from carryon bags, however, x-ray operators occasionally will call a bag check to remove these items if a bag is cluttered with many electronic items.

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Disclaimer: This material was written by a private citizen hoping to be helpful, not as a representative of the federal government, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority or of the Transportation Security Administration. Any opinions expressed as well as any inaccuracies are solely the author’s.