Fill the Bins: New Rules for Flying With Gadgets

Airport screeners will scrutinize notebooks, cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players, and anything else electronic.

Anne B. McDonald, PCWorld.com

Here's a federally mandated but inconvenient way to measure how tech-savvy a traveler you are: Count the number of bins you'll need to get every single gadget through security.

After September 11, 2001, airport security started ordering travelers to place their laptops in plastic bins for a ride through x-ray screening. Now, by an advisory issued this week by the Department of Homeland Security, all electronic gear must be displayed for inspection at airport security checkpoints.

Business travelers who depend on instant mobile access through a variety of devices could fill a lot of bins.

Checking the Guts

"I'm a two-binner myself," says Chris Rhatigan, a regional spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, which handles airport screening. But it may take even more bins to accommodate the traveler carrying a notebook computer, cell phone, personal digital assistant, digital camera, pager, music player, and portable DVD player--plus a coat, notebook case, and shoes.

The Department of Homeland Security's advisory states that "recent reporting indicates Al-Qaeda may attempt to modify common electronic items carried by air travelers, such as cameras, for use as weapons in order to circumvent improved security screening." The warning went to security managers, screeners, and law enforcement officials.

Now, the TSA is taking a closer look at camera flash attachments, cell phones, multiband radios, and dual speaker radios, in particular. However, all electronic gear is being scrutinized. Electronic equipment is ideal for concealing improvised explosive devices that can fool airport security procedures, the advisory explains.

TSA spokesperson Rhatigan says that all tech gadgets must be laid flat in checkpoint security bins, so screeners running the x-ray machines can get a good view. In other words, you can't pile your PDA, cell phone, and BlackBerry on top of your notebook.

"Please try to help us out by having all these items out of their carry cases or your pockets as you get to the front of the line," she says. For more suggestions, her agency updates its travel tips page regularly. Policies have become more consistent, as well as stricter, in the past two years.

Backups Advised

The TSA has trained federal screeners on how to handle your equipment, but more gear being juggled in snaking security lines means more opportunities for banged-up, dropped, or misplaced electronic gadgets. And it might not be the airport screener who drops your device, but you--as you struggle to organize your gear.

"I always sync before I take off on a flight, and I suggest all travelers do the same," Rhatigan says. Mobile travelers would do well to follow standard practices for avoiding problems on the road.

And of course, the usual basic backup strategies before you leave for the airport still apply.

Senior Editor Michael S. Lasky, PC World's resident expert on electronic gadgets, also suggests labeling each item with a contact phone number to have a chance of retrieving it if you get separated.

"Try a formal labeling system from a company such as Dymo," Lasky says. "Order address labels like those used on snail mail envelopes--I recommend the foil over the paper versions." In a pinch, he suggests using masking tape for quick labeling. And don't forget to also label each of your important cords and rechargers.

Road Warriors Beware

Since the advisory was issued only this week, organizations representing business travelers are not sure how the increased security procedures will affect road warriors.

The Business Travel Coalition doesn't expect a dramatic impact on business travelers, says Kevin P. Mitchell, who chairs the 2-million-member organization.

But he calls the increased security "one more nail in the coffin, one more reason for travelers to find other substitutes for air travel like video conferencing and Webcasts."

The president of the Air Travelers Association, David S. Stempler, says it is lucky the advisory came out in late summer.

"August isn't a big time for business travel," Stempler says. "There are more leisure travelers at this time of the year. Even those going on vacation, though, still have film and digital cameras, camcorders, and CD players."

But, he adds, "this is definitely going to be more inconvenient for business travelers. Before, you could stick everything in your carry-on bag. Now you're going to have to stand there and pull it all out and separate it."

Since checked luggage may no longer be locked, travelers have little alternative to carrying on all their digital gadgets.

"You aren't going to want to put valuable electronic items there due to pilferage concerns," Stempler says, "even if you were willing to risk them being thrown around by baggage handlers."

His advice? "Get to the airport even earlier and be prepared."