Some thoughts on the new TSA laptop bag guidelines

As you may have heard, the Transportation Security Administration (aka the TSA - the folks responsible for security screening at airports) put out a request to a number of laptop bag designers to design a "checkpoint friendly" laptop bag in a effort to reduce screening time as well as to reduce passenger anxiety of sending "naked laptops" down the belt.

A number of companies responded and have developed prototypes.  Mobile Edge has created Checkpoint Friendly backpack, messenger and briefcase style bags. Skooba has a briefcase style bag. And Tom Bihn has a checkpoint friendly briefcase in the works as well as a backpack and a messenger design (no pics yet, but I've seen the briefcase - it's cool).

Recently, the TSA released some additional bag design guidelines to further help designers as well as passengers in packing these bags.  From a design point-of-view, I find this diagram really interesting:

If you haven't spent a lot of time thinking about bag design - this picture is a good place to start.  Even when you're trying to choose a bag just for day to day commuting, start by thinking about the basic style of the bags and what needs you have for your bag.

The TSA info also included some guidelines for passengers:

If you intend to use a checkpoint friendly laptop bag once they are on the market, make sure to check that:

• Your laptop bag has a designated laptop-only section that can lay flat on the X-ray belt
• There are no metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on-top of the laptop-only section
• There are no pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section
• There is nothing in the laptop compartment other than the laptop
• You have completely unfolded your bag so that there is nothing above or below the laptop-only section, allowing the bag to lay flat on the X-ray belt

Remember, a well designed checkpoint friendly bag must be packed appropriately if you intend to leave your laptop in your bag for screening.

These are important to understand.  I was speaking with a writer for Aviation Week today - she and I agreed that there will have to be an increased level of responsibility taken by the passenger to ensure their bags are packed smartly.  No more willy-nilly throwing everything into your bag and hoping for the best.

What I'm really waiting to see though, is once the basic form of the bag is in use, how long will it take for these designers to make stylish versions of them?  I want my funchico checkpoint friendly bag!!