Security friendly laptop case
One of the things that agitates me when traveling through an airport is the process of removing my laptop from its case and placing it in a plastic bin. It just adds a bit more annoyance to the whole process of the checkpoint procedure. Belkin has introduced its version of a TSA-friendly laptop bag that may help the checkpoint process to be a little less frustrating.
Belkin promises that the Flythru Laptop Case will make your security checkpoint time more streamlined. From the product description:
Things are getting easier at the airport-with Belkin’s FlyThru, you no longer need to take your laptop out of the bag in the security line. This revolutionary new bag isolates your laptop on one side, and the clear window makes it easy for TSA agents to identify it. Just unzip the bag and lay it flat. Keep your other personal belongings away from the laptop and you should get the all clear.
It fits laptops with screens up to 15.4 inches and has a minimal amount of metal, which makes it that much more security friendly. Now you can concentrate on removing your shoes rather than dealing with removing your laptop from its bag.
Posted by Matt on Nov 11, 2008 |
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15 comments posted
Posted by Dumitru - 11/11/2008
My cute little macbook pro screams for a new bag, the one I bought isn’t that great, time to upgrade
Posted by ldh - 11/11/2008
I’m not convinced this will work…try telling the 20 something TSA people, “no, really, I don’t need to take this all the way out of the case.” I think we’re probably better off leaving our belt in our carry on until after security, wearing slip off shoes, and taking the laptop all the way out.
Posted by timgray - 11/11/2008
If you want to be fully searched travel with a Panasonic Toughbook.
Every single time they act like I’m carrying a small nuclear bomb. they freak out about the key lock on it and the antenna.
Honestly most of TSA is all show, they should know what a professional laptop looks like.
Posted by Fit Bottomed Girls - 11/11/2008
What a great idea! I generally don’t even try to travel with my laptop because it’s such a hassle.
Posted by Greg - 11/11/2008
I have read about the change in regulation. I am interested to know how it works in real life.
Even so, I will stick with my trusty backpack on business travel.
Posted by LC - 11/11/2008
timgray, I think taking out your laptop and unlocking it to show TSA officers is a small price to pay for a secure flight. I’m sure they don’t freak out, they are just doing what they are trained to do. Give them a break.
I think making TSA friendly things is a good step, but if a terrorist figures out a way to hide something in there, we’ll have to be willing to let them search that as well. Much better than burning up in a plane crash.
Posted by Jay Reeder - 11/11/2008
Don’t pay good money to buy products that cater to the “security theater.”
Taking laptops out of bags has nothing to do with security, and everything to do with “making the people think we’re doing something.”
If you travel through continental Europe, you won’t be asked to take your laptop out of your bag, nor will you be expected to take off your shoes. And I daresay they’ve been dealing with a terrorist threat longer than we have.
Posted by JMO - 11/11/2008
If I traveled with my laptop more often I’d probably pick up a Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer:
http://www.tombihn.com/page/001/PROD/TBP/TB1701
Considerably more expensive — but I’m already a fan of their stuff, and it’s made here in Seattle.
Posted by T. Rodriguez - 11/11/2008
Here! Here! on the Tom Bihn bags. I can not tell you how great they are in quality and versatility. The Checkpoint Flyer has been getting great reviews and im considering getting one since I travel quite a bit.
Posted by Bex! - 11/11/2008
Tom Bihn makes some great products. The qulity is excellent. (I regularly carry of their cafe bags as a pruse, stuffed with things quite often. The only failing in th 6+ years I’ve had it is that the tag with the awesome French Easter egg was in a high traffic area and wore off. Luckily they were awesome and mailed me a fresh tag, which I plan to sew into the pocket, which doens’t get the traffic of the main bag.)
Posted by Kris - 11/11/2008
I have to third the Tom Bihn suggestion. I’m a big fan of all of their bags, and the Cafe bag I got from them 5 years ago still looks almost new despite daily use.
Posted by Klara - 11/12/2008
Well, Im from Europe and I can assure you that you need to take out the laptop. Not only taking it out but Opening it and sometimes starting it up!
I dont like that they open it by pushing the screen on only one side! I always ask to do it myself but I wonder what they are expecting to find..
Note that Europe consist of about 50 countries and only 27 of them are in the EU so the rules may vary…
With this in mind I really wonder how well this bag would actually work? Only in the US?
Posted by My Name In Arabic - 11/12/2008
I never had to pull my laptop from its bag ever. I heard though that laptops can be controlled in American airports. Not fun.
Posted by Scott Stowell - 11/12/2008
I love the idea of these bags, but based on my experience they would never work. Every time I fly, I am told to remove my PowerBook from its bag and put the laptop by itself in a separate plastic tub for its journey through the machine.
I used to try placing my PowerBook on its case or sleeve to avoid scratching, but the TSA people don’t even allow any other objects to sit next to the laptop in its tub, much less allow the laptop to remain in some sort of bag.
Posted by Neil McIntyre - 11/15/2008
Nice idea but it will not work, especially in the US. And is it really that difficult to pull the laptop out of the bag? That’s like the easiest part of going through security – taking shoes off (if they’re lace-ups), taking the belt off (then re-looping it after), and emptying pockets are much bigger hassles!
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