For many travelers, the security checkpoint is the most stressful part of flying, especially when the rules seem to change from one airport to the next. A travel agent and TikTok creator named Tiffany, who posts under Travel.by.the.Books, says one small habit can save you from a headache before your trip even begins. Her advice is simple, but it is easy to overlook when you are rushing, juggling bags, and trying to keep up with the line. The key is treating your phone like the high value item it is, even for the few minutes it takes to get through screening.
Tiffany says there is one move she refuses to make at the checkpoint. “What I absolutely never do at airport security is put my phone directly into the plastic bin,” she said. “I always put it in a closed pocket of my bag.” She explained that it is not about being paranoid, it is about avoiding an easy opportunity for someone else.
Her warning comes from a moment that stuck with her. “I did it once, and a security officer looked at me and asked, ‘Don’t you like your phone?’” she recalled. She said she stared at him, confused, and then he spelled out the problem. “He told me that it’s the easiest way for someone to steal it,” she added.
The logic is pretty straightforward when you picture how chaotic those conveyor belts can get. People often send bins forward and then get delayed while removing shoes, taking out laptops, or waiting for a bag check. In that tiny gap, a phone left in plain sight can be grabbed quickly, especially in a crowded lane where everyone is focused on their own stuff. Tiffany says security staff told her phones left in bins are among the most common targets.
@travel.by.the.books Something I NEVER do when traveling. Travel tips on Tuesday SAFETY TIP!!! 📱🎒✔️ #traveltips #travelsafety #tsa #traveltipsandtricks #solotravel #familytravel #traveltiptuesday #travelbythebooks #creatorsearchinsights ♬ original sound – Travel.by.the.Books
The comments on her video showed a lot of people had never considered that risk. One viewer wrote, “I would include your passport in this. Or your wallet. So many people just toss personal items directly into the bin or on top of their bag.” That reaction highlights the bigger point, because the phone is not the only thing that can disappear when it is sitting out in the open. Passports, wallets, and even small jewelry can be just as vulnerable if they are loose and visible.
Another commenter shared an experience that was less about theft and more about what can happen when your phone is handled during screening. “I left my phone in the bin once and when I got it back after screening, it was already calling emergency services,” they wrote. “I thought, what did you press? Since then I always put it away.” Even if nobody steals anything, it is still a reminder that bins get bumped, stacked, and pushed along by strangers all day.
Not everyone has the same airport routine, and Tiffany acknowledges that screening requirements can vary. Some airports ask travelers to remove only larger electronics, while others want more devices out for inspection. One commenter said, “I always did that. My bag has a hidden pocket for my phone. At my airport they ask that only larger electronics come out (laptops, tablets).” The difference in rules is exactly why a consistent personal system can help you stay calm.
The core takeaway is not complicated, but it is worth practicing before you even reach the checkpoint. Put your phone in a zippered compartment, preferably one that is not easy for someone else to access while you are distracted. If you are traveling with a jacket that has an inside pocket that zips, that can work too, as long as you do not take the jacket off and toss it into a bin. The goal is to keep your essentials secured and out of sight until you are on the other side and can reorganize without pressure.
It also helps to mentally group your most important items and keep them in one place. Think phone, passport, wallet, and boarding pass, and treat them like a single set that never gets separated. If you need to remove your bag for screening, make sure the pocket holding those items is closed before you place the bag on the belt. A quick touch check of zippers and pockets can save you from panic later.
Airport security screening exists to prevent dangerous items from getting onto planes, and most checkpoints use X ray machines and metal detectors or body scanners to do it. Plastic bins are used so coats, shoes, and bags can move through the system in an organized way and be checked consistently. Because thousands of items pass through these bins every day, they are not a controlled personal space, and they can shift quickly from one person to the next in a busy lane. That is why travel safety guides often emphasize keeping valuables secured, staying alert during transitions, and only reorganizing once you have cleared the checkpoint.
Have you changed how you handle your phone and valuables at airport security, and what tips would you add for staying organized and theft proof during screening, share your thoughts in the comments.
