I first sampled a TSA-approved, Checkpoint Friendly laptop bag last year, and now I’ll likely never go back to traveling with “standard” laptop bags. These specially designed laptop bags allow you to send your carry-on along the conveyor belt at an airport security-checkpoint without taking your laptop out of your bag. This is a huge boon to any travelers (like me) who can’t stand putting laptops in those plastic grey bins for X-ray and trusting the universe that they’ll land in one piece on the other side.
I’ve carried a checkpoint-friendly shoulder bag for a while, but now I’m a fan of Aerovation’s Trolley Bag with retractable pull handle, wheels and the best part — a removable laptop compartment. It’s roomy, convenient and super handy for airport security checks.
The padded laptop compartment (16.5 by 12.6 by 2 inches) is secured by a top zipper and Velcro strips to the main bag, but folds open to lie flat to go through the X-ray machine. At the end of the X-ray, snap up your bag by the handle, and the laptop part will re-attach to the bag. Easy.
Compare this to my husband’s recent experience with his regular laptop bag: He sent through his shoulder bag, but left his laptop behind in the grey bin. For a few fretful moments we couldn’t find his laptop and wondered if someone else had picked it up. We realized his error, found the laptop, sent it through and we were on our way. Still, it’s unnerving not to know where your precious hard drive is!
Other highlights of the bag: since the laptop section can zip off with its own handle, you can use it solely as a sleeve for your computer once you’re at your destination. I used it to carry my computer to the library on my current vacation, and it also had plenty of room for folders and the electrical plug. (You can only do this when you’re not passing the bag through the X-ray, otherwise additional “stuff” will block viewing of your computer.)
The main part of the bag includes a slim section for folders, paperwork and pens, while another zippered area is huge. I think one could easily pack a night’s worth of clothes and toiletries inside. In fact, it’s helpful to pack the main section quite full, as it’s important to counterbalance the laptop side with weight. Otherwise, I found that when the handle is extracted, the bag tends to tip over from the weight of the laptop.
The only other problem I had with the bag was the zipper that attaches the laptop section to the main bag. It got stuck and the teeth didn’t line up properly. My husband had to use pliers to get it to work again. I’ll be more careful when zipping and unzipping the bag next time.
Purchase the Checkpoint Friendly Trolley Bag from the Aerovation website for $199.95.
