That's the question laptop-carrying fliers now face, since the Transportation Security Administration began allowing checkpoint-friendly computer bags as of August 16. These new bags are designed to let travelers pass through airport security checkpoints without having to remove their laptops.

During a mid-August trip from San Francisco to Boston, I had the opportunity to road-test what was reportedly the first commercially available checkpoint-friendly laptop bag. The bag that I tried, from a small company called Aerovation, lists for $130 (a leather version is $280).

I'm happy to report that Aerovation's bag helped me sail through airport security checkpoints in San Francisco and Boston without incident. If I'd used a traditional laptop bag, I would have had to remove my Apple MacBook Air, grab a plastic bucket, place the laptop in the bucket, retrieve the computer after it had been screened, and slip it back into my bag. Instead, I simply laid both compartments of the butterfly-style Aerovation bag flat on the X-ray conveyor belt, as illustrated in Aerovation's video. Then I picked up the bag after it had been X-rayed and went on my way.

One Bag, Two Compartments

The Aerovation bag consists of two separate compartments conjoined via straps and hooks. One compartment is for miscellaneous items such as pens, file folders, and accessories. It has multiple interior pockets as well as one large exterior pocket for newspapers, magazines, plane tickets and such. Most people will probably find this general-purpose compartment's capacity adequate, though I would have appreciated more space.

The second, fully detachable compartment is designed for laptops with screen sizes up to 15.4 inches. It has no pockets or nooks of any kind, so as to offer TSA screeners an unobstructed view of the laptop. This zippered, padded compartment features an interior Velcro strap to secure your computer. The strap didn't snugly fit my Air (which has a 13.3-inch screen), however. So I placed the computer in Aerovation's $25 checkpoint-friendly laptop sleeve and inserted that into the bag's laptop compartment, for extra protection.

Pros and Cons

The Aerovation bag probably saved me 1 or 2 minutes during my outbound and return trip security screenings. That's not a huge time savings, but every little bit helps. And the easier pass through security was both noticeable and appreciated.