Red eyes
from rising for early flights, heavy luggage digging into sore backs
-- no one enjoys a long TSA line. Most of us worry about whether the
scissors or shampoo bottle belongs in checked luggage or carry-on,
but we don't always think to check if the bag itself is
"TSA-friendly."
We should, and here's why.
1. Save
Time
Americans
spend about 37 billion hours each year waiting in line, according to
the New
York Times, and we feel every minute of it: last year a man in a
post-office line actually stabbed
another customer he thought had cut in front of him. While hopefully
none of your fellow travelers will knife you for taking ten minutes
to fumble with your laptop, TSA lines drag on enough already. Sticky
zippers, wrapped packages, and oversized carry-on too big for the
x-ray machine just exacerbate the problem. For laptops, the
TSA says bringing the computer by itself in a butterfly-style,
trifold, or sleeve-style laptop bag allows the x-ray machine to show
exactly what's inside--and the TSA officer never needs to open the
case.
2. Save
Money--Prevent Damaged/Stolen Goods
TSA
employees are concerned about public safety, not about those fragile
eye-glasses or that pesky luggage lock--and they have a horrible
record of reimbursement for damaged goods. In
2009, the TSA reimbursed passengers just 21 cents for each $100
claimed. Don't overstuff bags or cramp them with weirdly-shaped
items, and don't bring bags with sticky or hard-to-open zippers--the
harder it is to get in, the more likely a frustrated TSA agent might
break something by accident. Bag sensitive film separately, and avoid
wrapping that gift or souvenir: the TSA officer may have to
unwrap it, and chances are he doesn't care as much about giving Aunt
Sally a beautiful package as you do.
Organized
bags also help avert theft. According to a TSA
agent who stole more than $800,000 of carry-on goods, most common
theft occurs while passengers leave their bags to go through metal
detectors. With jumbled, disorganized packing, passengers don't
notice anything's missing until too late: follow TSA
guidelines to pack easy-to-check, organized bags so that you know
exactly what you're carrying--or missing--at all times.
3. Avert
Danger Like a Hero
Airport
screeners already suffer the highest injury rate of all non-military
federal employees, according to an AP
Press report in 2004--and there's no point in making their job
harder still. TSA-friendly bags and packing materials prevent
injuries incurred during opening, searching, or carrying baggage. The
TSA
requests that travelers sheath or securely wrap all sharp objects
in checked baggage to prevent injury to inspections officers, and
TSA-friendly locks save screeners from having to slice through
steel--which can easily result in slippage and painful cuts. Both
SafeSkies and TravelSentry produce locks which open with universal
TSA-certified
keys; prices usually clock in between $11 and $15.
Becoming
TSA-friendly takes a bit of foresight--Alienware,
Briggs & Riley, and others do manufacture high-quality
TSA-friendly laptop-cases and backpacks, but these can range upwards
of $80. If you are a thrifty traveler, you may want to consider
simply carrying two bags, one with organized, easy-to-open
compartments and another just containing a laptop. For checked bags,
select suitcases with multiple, easily-organized compartments and
TSA-friendly locks that work with the universal transit services key.
Remember, solid materials means less chance something will get stuck
in the x-ray machine or rip all over the floor: double-check zippers
and tender seams before departing.
Enjoy your
flight!
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