It’s the holiday season, which means packed airports, peak travel, and countless people flying out to new destinations or heading home. But amid all the rush, there’s one crucial thing travellers often overlook: protecting their electronics during airport security checks. As tech veteran Rajiv Makhni highlighted in a recent reel, your gadgets are at real risk, even from the very security staff you’re required to trust.
With the ongoing Indigo Airlines crisis causing added chaos at airports, this reminder becomes even more urgent.
Why do thefts happen at the airport?
Incidents of theft at security checkpoints do happen. Travellers have reported losing laptops, money, and even jewellery. In a recent incident, a woman travelling from Bengaluru to Gwalior lost her wristwatch at the Kempegowda International Airport. This happened during the security check, while she put her wristwatch on a tray, according to a report by TOI. It was later discovered that another passenger had picked up the watch and put it in her bag.
The problem lies in the process: passengers must place all their belongings in trays to go through the X-ray scanner. Most people keep smaller electronics like phones and earbuds in a separate tray. In that quick moment when you walk through the metal detector and your belongings move forward unattended, it becomes incredibly easy for someone to discreetly flick an item, especially in crowded, chaotic situations.
And if the worst happens? You can file a complaint, but that usually means lengthy procedures, reviewing CCTV footage, and potentially missing your flight. Not exactly the help you need in the moment.
So what’s the safer way to travel?
Keep your smaller electronics and personal items in your bag, such as phones, wallets, passports, earbuds, and chargers. These do not need to be placed openly in a tray. Only larger devices, such as laptops, must be kept out separately as per security rules. This reduces visibility and makes it much harder for anyone to steal from you.
Here’s a quick checklist to keep in mind before placing items on the tray:
- Keep your phone, earbuds, wallet, and passport in a zipped compartment.
- Remove only large electronics like a laptop or tablet.
- Double-check your tray before walking away.
- Wait until all your items enter the scanner before stepping forward.
This small precaution becomes even more critical during international travel, where the stakes are higher and the procedures more rigid.
Travel smart, stay alert, and don’t let a holiday trip turn into a nightmare.
