malgudi

From sfgate

WineCountryUA

There have been a number of recent reports on the TSA asking for books to be removed from carry-ons during the screening process.

villox

Yes, from carry-ons, but this was United thinking they couldn't be CHECKED. To my knowledge the only things that aren't allowed to be checked but that are allowed in carry-ons are batteries (of course, plenty of stuff is allowed in checked but not to be carried aboard).

rufflesinc

Removed to be screened, but not banned

laxmillenial

I actually have set off the luggage alarm at LAX Pre-Check two times during this 'testing period for this policy' carrying a book about 500 pages thick. Not joking.

I grumble, walk up to the agent, and ask what set it off and usually mumble that I pack my suitcase weekly and know exactly what's in it down to the number of socks, cables, etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm fine if they flag it because they're training someone new and I always arrive early to the airport, but they targeted my textbook.

Took it out. Leafed through it. Sent it back in the scanner. Took a look at the cover. Saw that it said the word "hacker" and started playing 20 questions with me. "What do you do? Why do you have this? Do you hack? What do you hack?"

Asked if they were asking out of curiosity or out of their job capacity? Once, the screener was just curious and I answered all her questions without getting the slightest of upset. I know some people are just curious.

The second time, the screener tried to pull authority over me. He realized that was a mistake.

In the end, I have learned to never travel with books again. Just not worth it.

Kacee

And not from checked bags. That's what makes this such a total screw up. UA was telling people that their comic books had to go in their carry-ons. Which is exactly what TSA does not want.

UA's ability to stay in the headlines with customer service blunders is simply amazing.

sbm12

There have been a number of recent events - mostly Super Bowl and Final 4 - where passengers were specifically asked to not put the game programs (i.e. books) in their checked bags as they will require a secondary screening of the luggage via the automated systems used. It is not prohibited but strongly recommended so as to not have a mass of bags hit secondary and end up not on the scheduled flight because the TSA cannot clear it in time.

I would not be surprised to learn that some of the comic books have similar paper/hologram content as the event programs that trigger the issue.

docbert

No, this IS what TSA want - or at least, what they prefer.

If the books are in checked luggage and they trigger an alarm then TSA has to unpack the bag to check the books which is far more effort than if the same happens for carry-on.

Where UA went wrong here was taking a recommendation/preference from TSA and turning it into an apparent requirement.

rufflesinc

Is just ONE program going to set it off, because I can't imagine that many people having more than one program in their bag. And if just one or two, that would also apply to people carrying any book in their bags.

comic books I can see since there's so many of them, but just ONE game program.

WineCountryUA

Many folks get extra Super Bowl /Final 4 souvenir programs -- very common.

sbm12

Potentially yes.

Not necessarily

One program made with heavy duty, high gloss paper and often with holograms inside. It is enough to trigger the systems. And it is much faster and easier to clear the exception upstairs than in the checked baggage system.

Bohemian1

From the NYT reportage of this UAL miscommunication:
It's pretty sad when even the TSA is cooler than you are.

Ber2dca

TSA probably said something like "it'd be a mess for us if everyone of those nerds had a bunch of books in their checked bag and we have to do manual screening for all of em. Would be good if the airlines could help us out with that". And UA went the extra mile..not for the customer but for their security 'partner'.