WARNING!: new TSA policy on handcarried "large electronics"

[serfty]

Saw that below on FT, it may be of interest to those intending to travel to "TSA land".

WARNING! confirmed: new TSA policy on handcarried "large electronics" Aug 4
I received a notice from Joe Brancatelli, and it is posted on SEA website, that without any announcement TSA have changed their policy on handcarried "large electronics."

The temporary notice has been verified, albeit not by TSA in D.C. as they are closed. The Air Transport Association has alerted its members. "Effective at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, August 4, the TSA will require travelers to remove the following items from their carry-on bags and submit them for separate screening: video games, video cameras, DVD players and CD players. They will now be treated like laptop computers. You'll have to remove them from your carry-on and run them separately through the X-ray machines," says Brancatelli.

See Sea-Tac Airport: Sea-Tac Airport to see what SEA says - and think how you can avoid hassles this weekend, by not carrying "large electronics" in your carry-on, being prepared and being aware many summer travelers will probably cause queue backups with this sudden new rule.

 

[sparoy]

I had a hand carried CPAP machine during my recent trip to USA. In all airports except LAX, TSA always hand checked my CPAP machine after the X ray machine. They wiped the CPAP with special clothes to check for explosives

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Saw that below on FT, it may be of interest to those intending to travel to "TSA land".

I just flew back from Atlanta and I can confirm this is the case. The TSA staff were verbally instructing people to remove "all laptops, dvd playes" and place them in a separate container. I don't what the cutoff is - clearly my Treo was OK - PSPs and the like may not be.

mt

 

[simongr]

Wahat a monumentally stupid time o implement such a change. Unless there is a specific warning that a bomb will now be hidden in a video camera... Summer holidays implement a process a to scan cameras - sheesh...

 

[mainly tailfirst]

Wahat a monumentally stupid time o implement such a change. Unless there is a specific warning that a bomb will now be hidden in a video camera... Summer holidays implement a process a to scan cameras - sheesh...

<cynic>
It's all part of constantly reminding the occupants of the LOTFAP they are *always* under threat. While we were waiting to be screened (at the LONGEST security queue* I have ever been in), the speakers were reminding everyone that the TSA-DHS had assessed the current threat as 'Orange'. Thinks me**: "IT'S ALWAYS BLOODY ORANGE YOU FOOLS! I don't need to be told every 5 minutes."
</cynic>

It's one of those things I'd chuckled about whenver I visited the States, now that I live here, it really is starting to annoy me.

*ATL is actually a pretty well run airport. Given the huge number of people through there each day, the line for Monday morning is to be expected. It took all of 50mins to get through, but was constantly moving and you had staff periodically directing traffic to the right queues. LAX could learn a few things.

** One would never actually *say* anything though. TSA and humor were separated at birth. Some well delivered sarcasm - with the right accent - does slip by them though.

mt

 

[serfty]

I suppose it's time to bookmark the TSA Average Wait Times Web Site

 

[mainly tailfirst]

I suppose it's time to bookmark the TSA Average Wait Times Web Site

Nice one. Interesting to see that have 'historical data' going back only a month, so I don't feel too guilty about not knowing of this site. Still, forewarned is forearmed - for next time.

mt

 

[stryker]

I actually like the TSA at T7 in LAX. They are a fairly affable bunch (though they may not know it). Unlike SFO...

As far as I am concerned, the TSA is generally quite professional and makes the contractors Australia employs look like what they are, incompetent cowboys.