This Is Why You Should Never Put Your Phone in the TSA Bin

While going through airport security can be stressful enough, with long lines building up and passengers silently hoping their carry-items don’t get flagged, perhaps the last thing they’re thinking about is theft. However, in those few moments when valuables like phones, cameras, or wallets are separated from their owners, there’s a possibility they can disappear. Thankfully, travel advisors shared with Travel + Leisure just what precautionary measures they take to prevent items from going missing—even during the scramble of putting shoes back on and reassembling belongings. 

How Phones and Cameras Go Missing at the Checkpoint

Travel advisor Veronika Romane learned this the hard way during a trip to Indonesia last year. “I had my camera stolen while going through security,” she told T+L. “It was a painful loss, mainly because of the memories captured on it.” When she brought it up to the security officers, they told her there was no video coverage of that area.

Alyssa Nelson, travel expert and blogger, had an even more unsettling experience at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) in 2010. After clearing security, she realized her phone was missing. When she returned to the checkpoint, an agent told her that no phones had been left behind.

“Peeking over the agent’s shoulder, I spotted it in a bin tucked to the side and demanded it back,” she said. Smartphones weren’t yet widespread at the time, she mentioned, and since her phone was a higher-end model, it may have been a target.

It’s also important to keep in mind that it’s not always the thief at fault for a missing item, but the chaos of travel itself. 

Eileen Cotter Wright, travel writer and founder of PureWander.com, once left her phone in a security bin while rushing to catch a connecting flight.

“The gate was about to close, so I sprinted to catch the flight, completely forgetting my phone,” she said. “Then, right as we started to take off, it hit me what I’d done.”

She tried messaging the airport from her laptop, but couldn’t get a response. When she eventually followed up, the airport said they never recovered it. “I’ve always wondered what happened to it,” she said. Thankfully, she had device protection and was able to get a replacement, but it could have been an expensive lesson.

What Frequent Flyers Do Differently Now

Although travelers often place their phones directly into an open bin, all three travel experts recommend that travelers tuck loose valuables like phones and wallets into a zippered pocket of a bag or coat before reaching the belt, rather than tossing them into a bin where they’re easier to grab or forget.

A Transportation Security Administration representative reminded travelers, in a statement to T+L, to stay compliant with screening procedures, and small electronics, such as cell phones, are allowed to remain in your carry-on bag during screening. For extra peace of mind, though, those traveling with the United States with TSA PreCheck, get the advantage of keeping all electronics in their carry-on, eliminating the need to have their phone loose in a bin. 

For items that do need to go in the bins, Romane has a specific loading strategy. She places the least valuable items, like jackets and scarves, in the first bin. In the second bin is her carry-on, and she saves the last bin for electronics and valuables. “Doing this ensures that there’s as little time as possible for my most valuable things to stay unattended,” she said.

If your bag is flagged for additional screening, Wright recommends requesting that your other belongings be gathered so they can be with you at the inspection area. That way, smaller items won’t sit unattended while your attention is elsewhere.

Additionally, Nelson suggests adding a visual cue like a colorful keychain to your bag as a reminder to check for your valuables after screening, a habit she says becomes second nature.

“I keep an eye on my luggage and every bin I’ve occupied,” Romane said. Nelson takes the same approach and won’t leave the area until she’s confirmed everything of value is in her possession.

If something does go missing, report it to airport staff immediately. If something has gone missing at TSA, you can file a claim online at the TSA’s website. Technology can help too. Wright recommends having Find My iPhone ready on an Apple Watch, tablet, or laptop so you can immediately ping a lost Apple device. Third-party apps like Life360 work the same way. For wallets, she suggests AirTag wallet card inserts to improve your chances of recovery.