Flying out of Los Angeles International Airport is about to feel a little different. The Transportation Security Administration is installing advanced 3D scanners as part of a $781.2 million nationwide upgrade. The new machines promise sharper images, fewer manual bag checks, and shorter security lines for busy travelers.
They also bring a few new rules that passengers should understand before arriving at the airport. Here is what to expect at LAX in the coming months.
A closer look inside bags
The biggest change comes from computed tomography, or CT, scanners, now arriving steadily at Los Angeles International Airport security checkpoints. Unlike older X-ray machines that produce flat, two-dimensional images, these advanced scanners create highly detailed 3D views of every carry-on bag. Officers can rotate each image and inspect items from multiple angles without ever needing to open most bags by hand, according to the Transportation Security Administration.
That extra clarity also significantly reduces the need for manual searches in many common situations found at crowded checkpoints. Travelers may notice that the entire screening process feels smoother because officers can review bag contents more efficiently than before this technology existed. The upgrade gives officers a fuller picture of every single bag without slowing down the line for everyone waiting behind you.
Say goodbye to unpacking
At checkpoints with new CT scanners, many travelers may be allowed to leave laptops and TSA-compliant liquids in their bags. That means fewer plastic bins to manage and far less rushing around while other people wait behind you at a crowded, busy checkpoint. Packing stays simple, and the whole security process feels noticeably less chaotic and stressful than it used to…