| Most people find that getting through the | | | | goal in mind. That goal was to speed up the process |
| checkpoints at airport terminals can be a royal pain. | | | | of getting passengers through the security |
| However, if they are carrying a computer, that pain | | | | checkpoint while maintaining the highest level of |
| is at least doubled. You are required to take the | | | | security for passengers, crew and aircraft. |
| computer out of its case and place it in a special bin. | | | | Carrying a checkpoint friendly laptop bag on your |
| This can cause a "log jam" at the checkpoint as the | | | | next airline flight will make it easier for you to get |
| line builds up. | | | | through the security gate. A smoother transition |
| As passengers became more and more frustrated | | | | from the checkpoint to the gate will reduce you level |
| with the long lines at security checkpoints, the | | | | of anxiety about getting to your gate on time. Fellow |
| Transportation Security Administration (TSA) took | | | | passengers who follow will also be grateful that you |
| action to relieve the problem. In March 2008, it | | | | did not have to remover your laptop for screening. |
| announced a new plan that would let passengers | | | | Computer bag manufacturers offer a variety of |
| move through security checkpoints without having to | | | | checkpoint friendly laptop cases. One of the most |
| take their computers out of their cases. At the same | | | | popular designs is the clam shell model. You can unzip |
| time, it requested computer bag manufacturers to | | | | the two compartments of this model. One hold the |
| design "checkpoint friendly" laptop computer cases. | | | | computer and the other holds all the computer |
| The TSA sent each manufacturer a list of guidelines | | | | accessories. This allows your computer to be |
| that they must follow if their bags were to be | | | | screened without emptying the bag. |
| certified. The first requirement was that the | | | | One fact that most people seldom think about is that |
| computer compartment must be independent, that is, | | | | 4,902 laptops are lost at the security gates of U.S. |
| it could not be inside another larger compartment. | | | | airports each week. However, that number has been |
| This compartment could not contain anything besides | | | | going down since the introduction of checkpoint |
| the computer and it could not use metal zippers or | | | | friendly laptop cases. Use of one of these specially |
| other metal material. When the bag was opened on | | | | designed bags will not only speed up the process of |
| the x-ray belt, the computer must be clearly visible | | | | getting through security, it will also reduce the |
| to the TSA screener. Only bags that meet these | | | | chances that you will walk away from the checkpoint |
| guidelines will be cleared for use at U.S. airports. | | | | without your laptop. |
| When the TSA issued these guidelines, it had one | | | | |