TSA Friendly School Backpack?
Jun 29, 2019 | 1:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 574
TSA Friendly School Backpack?
So I just bought a school backpack online. It is labelled as "TSA friendly." What does that mean? It's not made out of hemp?
Doesn't contain any nitrates? Doesn't have any zippers that don't unzip? Doesn't have any secret compartments?
Doesn't contain any nitrates? Doesn't have any zippers that don't unzip? Doesn't have any secret compartments?
Jun 29, 2019 | 1:56 pm
#2
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,750
"TSA friendly" backpacks are designed to produce clear and unobstructed images of laptop computers when undergoing X-ray screening. Using one, you don't have to remove your laptop from the backpack when going through a TSA security checkpoint.
Last edited by TWA884; Jun 29, 2019 at 3:07 pm Reason: Syntax
Jun 29, 2019 | 2:04 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 574
"Using one, you don't have to remove your laptop from the backpack when going through a TSA security checkpoint."
Interesting, I don't believe I have ever heard TSA say "Everyone take out your computers, except if your backpack is TSA friendly."
Interesting, I don't believe I have ever heard TSA say "Everyone take out your computers, except if your backpack is TSA friendly."
Jun 29, 2019 | 2:55 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: United Airlines 1 MM, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,777
Agreed. I think that would be considered a cognitive burden, from a TSA perspective.
Jun 29, 2019 | 8:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: SW Michigan, ex SF Bay Area
Posts: 999
I havent heard them say that, but on more than one occasion when they have said laptops must come out and I instead unzip my backpack so that the laptop compartment folds out, they say something like oh, you have one of those. I didnt think such backpacks were that rare anymore.
Jun 29, 2019 | 9:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,430
I havent heard them say that, but on more than one occasion when they have said laptops must come out and I instead unzip my backpack so that the laptop compartment folds out, they say something like oh, you have one of those. I didnt think such backpacks were that rare anymore.
Does the bag need to go into a bin, or can it be placed directly on the belt?
* Obscure Dilbert reference
Jun 29, 2019 | 10:47 pm
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,077
Either bin, or directly on the belt. But the TSA will sometimes still insist they come out. Just not often.
I haven’t heard them say that, but on more than one occasion when they have said “laptops must come out” and I instead unzip my backpack so that the laptop compartment folds out, they say something like “oh, you have one of those.” I didn’t think such backpacks were that rare anymore.
Yes, it’s rare that the TSA pushes back when using such a pull-out/flip-out; but the same backpacks used in the same way at say LHR is a recipe for a higher chance of being sent to the “punish ‘em” slow line for manual searches. Not always, but sometimes.
I haven’t heard them say that, but on more than one occasion when they have said “laptops must come out” and I instead unzip my backpack so that the laptop compartment folds out, they say something like “oh, you have one of those.” I didn’t think such backpacks were that rare anymore.
Jun 30, 2019 | 9:12 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Greensboro
Programs: TSA
Posts: 2,496
We see these fairly consistently, and our workforce is well versed enough to recognize them. These bags are great for students, business travelers and just about anyone else that is going to fly. It makes the process a bit simpler, in that you just unzip the compartment and lay it flat, then go on about your business.
**Caveat - these are designed to be used with the computer only in the computer compartment, if you put a ton of papers, or the mouse, or the tablet, or just about any other item in that compartment, the TSOs are going to call it for a bag check.