Airport Security-Friendly Laptop Bags

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has changed its policies (as of August 16) to allow for certain types of laptop bags to go through the security scanner with the laptop inside. No need to take out the laptop – a process that takes time and risks the laptop being accidentally dropped or stolen.

There are several new laptop bags that meet the TSA criteria of:

• Designated laptop-only section
• Laptop section completely unfolds to lay flat on x-ray belt
• No metal snaps, zippers or buckles around the laptop section
• No pockets around the laptop section
• Nothing packed in the laptop-only section other than the laptop

Computerworld has put together a good list of the laptop bags available already to meet these new specs. The laptop bags fall into 3 types:

1. Butterfly-style to open flat: one side the laptop, the other side storage
2. Double- or triple-compartment bags that unfold (like a garment bag)
3. Notebook sleeves (many existing on the market)

The bags that have been manufactured fall into many categories – from standard shoulder bags to wheeled bags to folded-backpacks. There’s probably one to fit your preference.

Having one of these bags will not guarantee that you won’t have to remove your laptop – if the security scan doesn’t give a clear enough picture of your laptop, you will have to take it out.