TSA Changes Might Impact Your Carry-On When Flying

When it comes to traveling, there are lots of things you need to prepare for.

You need your perfect packing list, your tickets booked, and your cameras all charged up! Before your vacation actually begins, though, you need to catch a flight and say hi to the TSA. Now, a new TSA change has arrived that might impact which carry-on you can bring when flying.

New Transportation Security Administration scanners could impact which carry-ons you can bring when going through security. Across the country, TSA is installing new computed tomography (CT) checkpoint X-ray machines. According to TSA, these new machines are going to enhance the screening capabilities of carry-on items brought by travelers. These CT machines use technology similar to CT tech that’s used in the medical field.

Current scanners use 2-D images, but the new CT technology creates a 3-D image that can be viewed and rotated 360 degrees. This creates a clear image of the things inside the bag that the system can automatically scan to detect explosives and other items more easily than the current scanners. This new image allows TSA officers to get a better view of the bag’s contents, which will ideally reduce the number of bags that will need to be pulled and manually inspected.

The CT scanners will also let passengers using these machines leave their laptops and other electronic devices in their carry-on bags. Passengers also using the CT units don’t need to remove their travel-size 3-1-1 liquids. The new scanners will require that all carry-on items will need to be in a bin and cannot be placed directly on the belt. This will ideally save time and effort for passengers as well as TSA agents.

The biggest problem with these scanners? The CT scanners have a smaller entry tunnel. This means not all larger carry-on bags will fit inside the scanners, so TSA recommends that larger carry-on items be checked. A spokesperson for TSA shared that the new design is necessary to fit the advanced technology inside. They also said, “TSA officers are available to assist travelers with larger items or special needs to help ensure a smooth screening process.” They didn’t specify what that assistance would look like, and they didn’t clarify if they will send passengers back to their airline check-in to check the bags. According to WDHN, there are nearly 300 airports that already have the CT technology.

In a statement to Nexstar, the spokesperson also confirmed that undeveloped film from a camera can be ruined if sent through the new scanner. The statement said, “The advanced imaging technology can expose film to higher levels of X-rays, which may result in fogging or ruining the film. TSA recommends that travelers carrying undeveloped film or film cameras request a hand inspection at the checkpoint instead of sending them through the scanner.” This isn’t a new recommendation, as the last scanners could also impact film, but the updated warning is worth noting.

TSA is planning to gradually replace the current scanners over the next few years, as funding allows. Be sure to keep following AllEars for more travel news, updates, and more.

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