Can I keep my phone in my pocket at the airport?

Although you're allowed to wear jeans through airport security, please ensure that you remove everything in your pockets such as coins, mobile phone or keys. Empty your pockets and place your belongings onto the tray so the items can be scanned.



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Carry-on Baggage Screening Here's what to expect when taking your carry-on bag through security screening next time you fly. You will be asked to remove personal electronic devices larger than a cell phone from your carry-on bag and place them into a bin with nothing placed on or under them for X-ray screening.

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TSA screening and your electronic devices
Typically, whenever you head through TSA security you will place your phone in your carry-on/personal item or in one of the small bowls given to you at the x-ray conveyor belt.

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REGULAR LINE and TSA Pre?®: Once you're ready for you and your stuff to go through X-ray, everything needs to come out of the pockets of what you're wearing. Coins, keys, your phone, your wallet, even pieces of paper. Everything. Your pockets need to be empty.

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The TSA largely looks for physical evidence that a passenger could be a threat, so they'll generally have no reason to search through the data on your phone. After all, they're the Transportation Security Agency, not a detective agency. Even if they did have reason to want to access your phone, they'd need a warrant.

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TSA screens approximately 4.9 million carry-on bags for explosives and other dangerous items daily. Here's what to expect when taking your carry-on bag through security screening next time you fly.

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“Cellular telephones installed in or carried aboard airplanes, balloons or any other type of aircraft must not be operated while such aircraft are airborne (not touching the ground). When any aircraft leaves the ground, all cellular telephones on board that aircraft must be turned off.”

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As a guide, anything larger than A5 size or an iPad mini needs to be placed in a tray with nothing covering it up. If you can spray, spread or pour something at room temperature, it counts as a liquid in aviation security terms. This includes aerosols such as asthma inhalers and foodstuffs, like butter or jam.

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In Standard Screening Lane
  • Remove the 3-1-1 liquids bag and place it in the bin.
  • Ensure pockets are empty (keys, tissues, currency, wallets, cell phones, etc.) and remove bulky jewelry (valuable items can be placed in carry-on).
  • Remove your shoes and place them directly on the X-ray belt.


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DO wear slip on shoes! Listen, unless you have TSA PreCheck®…you will have to remove your shoes. So save yourself the hassle of unbuckling, unzipping or untying and bring them slip-ons!

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) require that all cell phones be put on airplane mode or have their cellular connections disabled while a flight is in progress.

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The answer is No! You don't have to remove the chargers if they're in your carry-on or luggage. You can keep the chargers in your carry-on as well as hand luggage.

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Foods you can't pack in your carry-on
Think: creamy cheeses, liquid chocolate, liquid coffee, creamy dips and spreads, gravy, honey, hummus, ice cream, jam, jelly, juice, syrup, peanut butter, salad dressing, sauce, salsa, soda, soup and yogurt.

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One of the most common reasons you will get a pat down is if you refuse to go through the walk-through metal detector or the full body scanner. For some people going through a metal detector is not an option, while others just may prefer to not go through these.

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Depending on the requirements of airport authorities, you will need to present a mobile boarding pass, a paper boarding pass printed out by you or a paper boarding pass picked up from the check-in desk.

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The TSA's liquid limit for carry-ons—known as the 3-1-1 rule—allows travelers to pack liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes under 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) in their carry-on bags. Passengers are allowed up to one quart-sized bag per person, or roughly nine 3.4-ounce containers in a single quart-sized bag.

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Do you have to remove jewelry through airport security? Most fine jewelry and small pieces will go through airport security without a problem. Anything that's bulky or made of metal can trigger a wand-down, though, so make sure to remove those pieces and place them in your carry-on before going through security.

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Body scanners are looking for items that could be potential threats; they're not looking at your physical body. The TSOs see “a generic human form—or avatar—to ensure passenger privacy while maintaining security effectiveness,” Langston says. This looks kind of like a gingerbread man or paper doll.

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The technology checks the swab for trace amounts of explosives, which may indicate they've been in contact with, or were carrying, a restricted substance or item. While it's generally luggage that is subject to swabbing, travelers clothes and hands may also be swabbed.

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If you're otherwise looking to skip the TSA line, you may consider enrolling in either TSA PreCheck or Clear. Although these services aren't free, there are credit cards that offer statement credits to offset the charges you'll incur.

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Do pilots know if your phone isn't on airplane mode? Well, sort of. “The flight attendants or the pilots are not going to get an indicator that says 13A has their cell phone on,” Laurie says. “But if there's enough people that they still have it on, and they're encountering that interference, then, yes.”

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