New security procedures.
 

The news here reports that TSA has some new requirements. One involves our shoes. The other involves battery powered equipment. I haven't heard what they do with shoes, but with any of our devices that runs on batteries, we will have to turn the device on to prove that the battery is a battery.

We're getting ready for an early Thursday flight, and we're both surprised by how many things we have with batteries, and wondering how we will be able to make our proofs. Some items we will move to checked bags, but it appears that we will be in for a very slow screening.

Has anyone been through this yet. How do they do it and how much extra time will we be in for? Any hope they haven't started yet?

Don't know about you, but when I return from a trip most of my batteries are dead

The news, which may or may not be accurate, reports that if your device doesn't turn on, it will be confiscated. I don't see much value in a phone with a dead battery, nor a flashlight.

Why do you have so many things with batteries? In any event, it's electronics screeners care about now, not nose hair trimmers. Phone, tablet, laptop, that sort of thing. Put them somewhere handy, and don't power them all the way down until you get through screening, so all you have to do is wake them up.

Treatment of shoes has varied across airports in the last year or two IME, but I haven't heard of anything new there.

The new treatment of electronics started last week. I wouldn't worry too much about it, it is what it is and you'll get through it as we all must. No one here can tell you exactly what will be done and how long it will take.

We just flew back from Chicago. My wife had to take her shoes off (flip-flops) and I got a clearance (hi-tops). Lucky for us. We were never asked to start our laptop and or Kindle Fire. Again lucky for us.
We did have to take them out and place it in the bin, but nothing after that. Lucky us again, I guess.... :-)

IMHO, the new regulation just gives TSA an opportunity to screen anybody or anything when they so choose, but it's not automatic.

AAFF, the new procedures apply to flights into the US from various international points, not from Chicago.

Yes, AA had no problems because he stayed inside the US. If the OP is in the same position, great. People entering the US are subject to the "new" screening procedures.

Heathrow and Manchester are two of the airports were this will be in full gear according to the BBC.

Where-darn autocorrect!

I am not sure what the security folks are trying to accomplish, beyond collecting a lot of very expensive smartphones and iPads. Whether this new policy came about because of "intelligence" intercepts or the authorities are just trying to shake things up again, any actual bomb-carrier would simply set off the explosion at the inspection site, which, in any case, would be packed with people. A lot of good that would do. About the same number of people would die, but an airline would save a plane and a lot of insurance money.

Everyone's a security expert.

<i>Everyone's a security expert.</i>

People who use the system are generally better at spotting the problems than the people who think up the system.

The obvious one with these new rules is that powering up electronics does not prove it does not contain a bomb, nor does something that doesn't power up prove it is a bomb.

This doesn't sound like anything terribly new - years ago when TSA first started it was common to be asked to turn on electronic devices.

It seems like every time travelers get efficient at getting through the Security Screening Process the TSA (or other similar agency) comes up with another way to slow down the lines.

So now, everyone will have to remember not to power down their electronics until after they clear Security. That way you can easily and quickly awaken them.

dotheboyshall is right -powering up electronics does not prove it does not contain a bomb, nor does something that doesn't power up prove it is a bomb. This new procedure doesn't accomplish anything but more delays.

<People who use the system are generally better at spotting the problems than the people who think up the system.>
This is both arrogant beyond belief and nonsensical. You are not in the least bit qualified to spot a terrorist, or even a mischief maker. What you are good at is standing in a line and kvetching about inefficiencies and inconveniences.

The TSA does not care about inconveniencing you, or at least not much, and that is as it should be.

No one is confiscating electronics. If anything, you'd be denied boarding if your electronics didn't work. But they can't take your stuff. That's misinformation and not worth repeating again here.