GoKawiil
Tech News
The TSA can ask passengers, particularly those arriving from international flights, to turn on their phones and other electronics at security checkpoints to prove the devices actually function. The policy dates back to 2014 and applies to laptops, tablets and phones that already must be placed in separate bins for X-ray screening. Devices that fail to power on can trigger additional screening.
A series of bomb threats has targeted European television broadcasters, with messages warning that 'the clock is ticking,' prompting evacuations and disruptions. These threats follow a separate wave of bomb threats made against passenger flights in preceding days.
A travel tip piece recommends against placing phones directly into TSA security bins, citing concerns that the bins are rarely cleaned despite heavy daily use by travelers. Instead, it suggests tucking phones into carry-on bags or jacket pockets placed in bins, and applying the same approach to wallets and keys, followed by hand sanitizing after security.
The Transportation Security Administration has launched a program allowing certain people without boarding passes to clear security checkpoints so they can accompany or meet passengers at the departure gate. This practice was common before the September 11, 2001 attacks but was eliminated afterward as airport security tightened nationwide. The new initiative marks a limited return of that pre-9/11 gate access for specific individuals.