The chaos of airport security checkpoints, where passengers rush to remove liquids, electronics, and other items for screening, can create opportunities for theft. American travel blogger Tiffany advises travelers to avoid placing their phones directly into the plastic security bins. Instead, she recommends placing them in a zipped bag inside a carry-on.

Tiffany recounts her own experience of placing her phone directly in a bin and being warned by an airport employee that it was the quickest way to have it stolen.

Passengers place personal belongings in bins for airport security screening. Photo: BBC

Passengers place personal belongings in bins for airport security screening. Photo: BBC

Phones are common targets for theft because they are placed in plain sight on the bins. "While the line might be backed up, all it takes is one wrong person standing there to grab it, and you won't even know it's gone," she explains.

Some have questioned Tiffany's advice, pointing out that many airports require passengers to remove all electronics from their bags. However, others note that this is not a universal practice and passengers should only remove electronics when asked. "If no one tells you to, keep your phone in your bag and zip it up. The only thing I've ever been asked to remove is my laptop," one commenter said.

Thousands of items are lost at airports annually. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in US airports alone, between 90,000 and 100,000 items are left behind at security checkpoints every month.

Tiffany explains why you shouldn't leave your phone directly on the tray. Video: Tiktok/ travel.by.the.books

On a related security note, travel experts in the UK have advised passengers traveling through Gatwick Airport this summer to avoid carrying apples. Many have been surprised by security personnel asking, "Do you have any apples in your bag?"

Since March, Gatwick's security area has been equipped with advanced 3D CT scanners, allowing passengers to leave liquids under 100ml and electronics in their bags. This technology is expected to reduce wait times and alleviate congestion that has persisted since 2006.

However, just a few months into operation, the scanners have been flagging harmless items like apples, suspecting them to be explosive devices. This has led to manual checks for many passengers. One passenger reported having his Granny Smith apple (a green apple from Australia) removed from his bag on 26/7 by security personnel, who briefly explained, "The scanner doesn't like apples."

Besides fruit, other items, such as thick notebooks, can also trigger the scanners. Gatwick Airport representatives have declined to comment on the issue.

Anh Minh (DM)