LAX is getting a $781M security upgrade – here’s how it will impact travelers

Navigating the security line at Los Angeles International Airport is notoriously unpleasant, but a massive federal tech upgrade will quietly upgrade the drudgery for millions of passengers.

TSA is rolling out a sweeping, $781.2 million fleet of advanced 3D computed tomography scanners across major transit hubs, including LAX, that promise to speed up check points while giving agents a more detailed look inside travelers’ carry-on bags.

For passengers flying with carry-on bags through LAX, that means less unpacking, fewer bag searches, and shorter waits as a result.

The new scanners, which create detailed 3D images of carry-on luggage that can be rotated and examined from every angle, make it so travelers do not have to take out electronics and liquids and put them in separate bins when going through security, according to reports.

That means there will be increasingly less scrambling to unpack and repack at the conveyor belt, keeping the line moving smoothly.

While leaving your electronics in your bag saves serious time, the upgrade comes with a brutal catch that could cost you a trip back to the ticket counter.

The entry tunnels on these state-of-the-art 3D scanners are slightly smaller and more restrictive than the older, flat-image X-ray machines.

For years, flyers have pushed the limits of the standard domestic carry-on size limits. But now, the scanner will be the ultimate judge.

If you’re over-packed bag cannot physically squeeze through the opening, you might have to go back and check your luggage.

For analog enthusiasts, be warned though that the radiation from the new scanners can instantly ruin unprocessed film, meaning photographers must now request manual checks for film rolls.

Ultimately, the new CT scanners are a major upgrade, and translate to fewer bags being pulled aside for inspection.

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