Travel Blog

Category: Travel troubles

Posted by Susan R. Pollack (The Detroit News) on Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 2:45 PM

Hard to believe but study says passengers lose loads of laptops at airports

Have you heard the staggering statistic that travelers lose 12,000 laptops at American airports every week?

No way, I thought, when I read it.

But I became a believer on a recent flight to Georgia. As I raced to my gate in a distant corner of Detroit Metro after pulling myself back together at the security checkpoint --- you know the drill: re-tying shoes, re-donning jacket, collecting coins and plastic makeup bag, checking for boarding pass, etc., --- I heard an announcement on the loudspeaker that a passenger had left a laptop at security.

Sure enough, a man with an anguished look rushed past me on his way back to claim it at the faraway TSA checkpoint. His face was beet red and he looked like he was about to have a heart attack. It's the same panicked feeling I get when I misplace a notebook brimming with notes -- but a computer?

Since our plane was late to board, I did see that he made it back to the gate in time -- clutching his computer --- and, fortunately, didn't miss the flight. But he probably lost a few years of his life from the stress.

According to the Ponemon Institute's lost laptop study, about 40 percent of lost computers get left in airport security checkpoints. And, hard to believe, only 33 percent of travelers reclaim them.

I surely can relate to passengers' reported reasons for the expensive blunder, and I bet you can, too: Feeling rushed, bringing a glut of carry-on items and worrying over flight delays. The whole security checkpoint experience is fraught with anxiety these days, no matter how well you think you're prepared.

The study recommends labeling your equipment -- how easy would that be? -- and allowing for more time in the terminal (I know, I know, just leave home earlier!). It also suggests protecting your most sensitive information before sliding your belongings onto the conveyor belt.

Have you ever lost a laptop at the airport or know anyone who has? Send me a note at srpollack@detnews.com.