U.S. Airports Tighten Baggage Inspections, Mandating Separate Inspections for ``Electronic Devices Larger Than Mobile Phones''

On July 26th (local time), the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it will strengthen inspections of electronic devices during security inspections at airports in the United States. Passengers undergoing general screening will be required to inspect electronic devices larger than mobile phones separately from hand luggage.

New security standards put all kinds of electronic devices larger than cell phones under the same scrutiny as laptops. They must be removed from their baggage, placed on a tray, and passed through the X-ray machine with nothing on top or bottom of the electronic equipment. "Any kind of electronic device larger than a mobile phone," so not only tablets and e-readers, which were previously allowed in hand luggage, but also cameras and handheld game consoles.

Passengers forgot to remove their electronic devices from their baggage, and for a while the baggage inspection was delayed after the X-ray inspection. It is possible that this will increase the time it takes to pass security inspections, but if the new standards are widely disseminated, the time required for baggage inspections will be shortened with clearer X-ray images than before, leading to enhanced security. and

The new screenings are at Boise Airport (BOI), Colorado Springs Airport (COS), Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Logan International Airport (BOS), Los Angeles International Airport ( LAX), Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB), Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (LBB), McCarran International Airport (LAS), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) for several months. Expand to all airports in the US within the next few days.

Passengers who use the priority screening "TSA Pre" who received the pre-screening check can continue to go through the security inspection with their laptops and electronic devices in their baggage as before.