Other helpful hints

Pack neatly.

Some of us are neat freaks and some aren’t. My experience is that most of us aren’t. However, the x-ray operator can analyze well-organized bags, particularly those filled with electronics, more quickly. Imagine looking at the x-ray image of a bag with mouse cords, fobs, thumb drives, power cords, assorted chargers, LAN cables, dongles, an extra disk drive or two, batteries, badges, iPods and cell phones all in a big jumble. It takes extra time for the x-ray operator to sort it all out and make sure everything is copacetic (OK). A few minutes spent getting your cords and gadgets organized can save you and your fellow passengers a few minutes when your bag passes through the x-ray.

Wait until your stuff goes into the x-ray enclosure before proceeding.

It might seem like we are being picky (or lazy) by asking passengers to make sure that their belongings are moving into the x-ray enclosure before proceeding. Actually, this is in your best interest since the TSA and airport bear no responsibility for personal items that you leave unattended. If you leave your stuff before it enters the x-ray enclosure, you could be going one direction through the body scanner or metal detector and your personal items could be going the other direction with someone headed for the airport exit.

It might seem like there are plenty of TSA folks around to keep an eye on things but remember, the TSO at the metal detector cannot leave that position. So if someone grabs your laptop before it goes into the x-ray and takes off, you are out of luck. And if there happens to be a TSO helping to put things on the x-ray belt, he/she could be called away at any moment for a bag check, which leaves no one to watch items that haven’t entered the x-ray enclosure.

Don't fill the gray trays too full.

Most carryon bags should be placed directly on the belt to the x-ray machine. Small purses, the contents of your pockets, your clear, quart-sized plastic bag with liquids, gels and aerosols less than 3.4 ounces, boarding passes, watches, jewelery, belts, coats, sweaters, hats, sweatshirts, scarves, etc should be placed in one of the gray bins. Other than large electronic items, which should be placed in a gray bin with nothing above or below the item, you can pile everything else in one or more of the bins. Just be careful not to pile things too high or put unsecured items (like boarding passes) on top where they can get knocked over inside the x-ray machine or by the heavy leaded curtains at the entrance and exit of the enclosure. The trays are free and you are welcome to use more than one.

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Disclaimer: This material was written by a private citizen hoping to be helpful, not as a representative of the federal government, the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority or of the Transportation Security Administration. Any opinions expressed as well as any inaccuracies are solely the author’s.