TSA clears Apple's 11-inch MacBook Air to stay in carry-on at airports
Owners of Apple's new 11-inch MacBook Air will not have to remove the thin-and-light notebook from their bag at security checkpoints in U.S. airports, the Transportation Security Administration has announced.
TSA spokesperson Nicholas Kimball told CNN that the new 11-inch MacBook Air is small enough that it doesn't need to be removed from a bag when going through an X-ray machine at airport security. Larger devices, including the MacBook Pro, must be removed from a bag when being scanned so that TSA officials can get a closer look at the internal components.
"If someone has a lot of stuff in their bag, it's sometimes difficult to get a clear view of it," Kimball reportedly said. "It might need some additional screening."
TSA has not yet made a decision on the larger, 13-inch MacBook Air, which means travelers will likely have to take the notebook out of their bag for the time being. But the larger MacBook Air could be exempt in the future, because it also lacks an optical disc drive, as well as a traditional hard drive.
Apple's new 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch MacBook Airs were unveiled earlier this month, and the larger model weighs just 2.9 pounds. Both devices rely on flash memory for storage, making the hardware smaller and faster than a traditional laptop.
Earlier this year, when the iPad launched, TSA announced that fliers could leave their iPad in a carry-on bag when going through security. The minimal amount of components inside the iPad makes it easier for security officials to analyze in an X-ray machine.
Officials can, however, ask a traveler to remove their iPad, MacBook Air or any other electronic device if they cannot get a clear image of it in an X-ray scanner.
TSA spokesperson Nicholas Kimball told CNN that the new 11-inch MacBook Air is small enough that it doesn't need to be removed from a bag when going through an X-ray machine at airport security. Larger devices, including the MacBook Pro, must be removed from a bag when being scanned so that TSA officials can get a closer look at the internal components.
"If someone has a lot of stuff in their bag, it's sometimes difficult to get a clear view of it," Kimball reportedly said. "It might need some additional screening."
TSA has not yet made a decision on the larger, 13-inch MacBook Air, which means travelers will likely have to take the notebook out of their bag for the time being. But the larger MacBook Air could be exempt in the future, because it also lacks an optical disc drive, as well as a traditional hard drive.
Apple's new 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch MacBook Airs were unveiled earlier this month, and the larger model weighs just 2.9 pounds. Both devices rely on flash memory for storage, making the hardware smaller and faster than a traditional laptop.
Earlier this year, when the iPad launched, TSA announced that fliers could leave their iPad in a carry-on bag when going through security. The minimal amount of components inside the iPad makes it easier for security officials to analyze in an X-ray machine.
Officials can, however, ask a traveler to remove their iPad, MacBook Air or any other electronic device if they cannot get a clear image of it in an X-ray scanner.
Comments
The problem now being that the TSA seems to entrust their policies to a random collection of jacked up lunatics who never got the memo. I can guarantee that trying to argue that the TSA has issued guidelines that contradict what they are ordering you to do will result in a cavity search.
I agree. In half the airports I've been at, I've been asked to take out the iPad (with the subsequent dressing-down "gee, can't your hea/read/follow instructions.... blah blah...."). This, despite the fact that the TSA has said the iPad can stay in the carry-on as well.
Now, I just pre-emptively take it out so as to avoid the likelihood of getting hassled.
This may be a deterministic fact!!!!
I go through security checkpoint 3-4 times a month, and it is always painful to have to take out the laptop out of the bag.
I wonder why other PC mfr's did not come up with such advantages......
Interesting state of affairs, in that most sensible observers agree the whole thing is little more than Kabuki theater that does almost nothing to insure safety.
But, you know, THEY HATE OUR FREEDOM.
These TSA announcements appear to be completely worthless because they never follow them up with directives to the people in the field.
To most, a thing with a screen is a computer. The differences are not as obvious to the non-geek world as it is to us.
The fault lies in the kabuki show that is airport security, a performance designed to make everyone think security is being attended to, while actually only addressing last year's threats, doing nothing in reality.
The problem now being that the TSA seems to entrust their policies to a random collection of jacked up lunatics who never got the memo. I can guarantee that trying to argue that the TSA has issued guidelines that contradict what they are ordering you to do will result in a cavity search.
MacBook Shmacbook! I get stopped and jerked around because my name!!! Let alone a computer! MIne is apparently the same as someone on the no fly list. Since 2003 I get stopped, delayed and hassled. I have filled in the TSA forms to no avail. I cannot check on line like normal folk and always have too allow lots of extra time when I check in at the airport. I was told they have no idea the age, ethnicity or even sex of the person with my same name so they stop everyone with the same name.
p.s. I have a very ordinary anglo saxon name with a hint of Irish.
Yep. They've given the TSA so much authority (TERROR! TERROR!) that most people know they could end up in some windowless cubicle undergoing enhanced interrogation if they look at anyone funny.
Interesting state of affairs, in that most sensible observers agree the whole thing is little more than Kabuki theater that does almost nothing to insure safety.
But, you know, THEY HATE OUR FREEDOM.
Yes, I love how easily we give up our freedoms and dignity, to "preserve our way of life".
Because we all know that terrorist technology only allows them to integrate a bomb with the 13-inch MBA.
The problem now being that the TSA seems to entrust their policies to a random collection of jacked up lunatics who never got the memo. I can guarantee that trying to argue that the TSA has issued guidelines that contradict what they are ordering you to do will result in a cavity search.
This is a big selling point - and probably the tipping point for me to go ahead and get one. At least in the early stages of this policy change, it's going to be a whole lot easier to just take it out of the bag rather than trying to get an idiot to understand that it doesn't have to be taken out of the bag.
Not that I don't feel the pain of frequent fliers, but do you really expect TSA folks to be able to keep up on the various laptop permutations that you and I take for granted?
To most, a thing with a screen is a computer. The differences are not as obvious to the non-geek world as it is to us.
The fault lies in the kabuki show that is airport security, a performance designed to make everyone think security is being attended to, while actually only addressing last year's threats, doing nothing in reality.
I expect their spokesperson to only make public statements if they are actual policies they intend to follow...
The problem now being that the TSA seems to entrust their policies to a random collection of jacked up lunatics who never got the memo. I can guarantee that trying to argue that the TSA has issued guidelines that contradict what they are ordering you to do will result in a cavity search.
BINGO!!
I've been told that I have to take my iPad out of my backpack at Newark, and they don't care what the rules are.
Yes, I love how easily we give up our freedoms and dignity, to "preserve our way of life".
So very, very true.
The problem now being that the TSA seems to entrust their policies to a random collection of jacked up lunatics who never got the memo. I can guarantee that trying to argue that the TSA has issued guidelines that contradict what they are ordering you to do will result in a cavity search.
Of course, arguing with a TSA agent is about as foolish as arguing with a police officer. You are never, NEVER, going to be able to educate them that they are not current on their guidelines. They have no reason to trust you, that you know what you are talking about and not just making shit up. If they just took your word on it, then anyone could make up any guideline. "Oh, there is a new guideline that says you can take bombs on planes? My manager must have forgotten to pass that one on to me. Ok, if you say so. Go ahead, sir."
If you are concerned about it, print a copy of the guideline. Let them do their search (they shouldn't trust any print out you have either. Easily forged). After you are given permission to continue on your way, give them a copy. Agruing with them BEFORE you are cleared is, like you say, going to get you a cavity search.
... Agruing with them BEFORE you are cleared is, like you say, going to get you a cavity search.
As others have pointed out, when we reached that point, the terrorists had already won.