I Asked a Friendly TSA Agent to Share the One Security Mistake Everyone Makes

There are so many germ-ridden areas to be wary of while traveling. While airplane bathrooms and escalator handrails may give you the ick, there’s one area you may have never considered: the trays at airport security. According to Michael Delgado, a formerTransportation Security Officer (TSO), they’re one of the worst offenders. “The security bins are disgusting,” he says. 

While the bins are cleaned periodically, what passengers put in them can cause even the cleanest bins to become dirty in a matter of seconds. “I’ve seen people place containers of food in them, dirty shoes with rainwater on them, spilled soda, baby food — you name it, I’ve seen it,” Delgado adds.

Admittedly, when I’m trying to hurry through security, pulling out my laptop and fretting over whether I’ve packed something wrong in my carry-on, the cleanliness of the bins isn’t usually top of mind. However, after speaking with Delgado, I immediately made one personal change: I’m no longer putting my cell phone in the bin. I typically hold my device while waiting in line, so it seems natural to just toss it in the container alongside my toiletry bag and other belongings. But here’s why Delgado says I (and you!) should stop ASAP.

I touch my phone often and hold it up to my face to talk, so I don’t want to transfer unknown germs to my face or hands. The simple solution? To tuck it into my purse, backpack, or carry-on suitcase during security, which is what Delgado consistently informed passengers to do when he worked as a TSO. “Cell phones are one of the approved electronics that can remain in your bag during screening,” he says. 

However, beyond germiness, there is another major reason to keep your phone inside another bag: it’s easily stolen. Anyone else at airport security could easily pilfer something as small as a smartphone, especially if you’re held up at the full-body scanner as your luggage passes through. Although smartphones have security measures like finding features and passcodes, it’s an expensive hassle to replace a stolen phone, especially as you embark on a trip. 

Someone could also accidentally take your device, realizing too late to get it back to you. “Numerous times, I’ve seen other passengers mistakenly grab bins they think are theirs and inadvertently take someone else’s phone,” Delgado says. Another unfortunate way to lose your phone is if you simply forget to pick it up or if the bin tips over and it falls through the conveyor-belt cracks.

According to Delgado, “If it’s in your pockets, it goes into your bag” for safekeeping. He recommends zipping your device into an inner pouch of a backpack or purse to ensure it doesn’t slip out of your bag. Not only will you avoid pesky germs, but you’ll be able to keep easy tabs on your smartphone, no matter how quickly you go through the security line.

If your bag doesn’t have a pocket handy to slip your phone into or you’re in need of a new carry-on, the BAGSMART Softside Expandable Travel Suitcase is a great — and at $77, refreshingly affordable — option, which Apartment Therapy’s senior shopping editor, Britt Franklin, tried and loved. “Before you even open the main compartment of the carry-on, you’ll see that it has plenty of pockets on the outside,” she writes in her review. “The front panel alone has two large pockets, and there’s a smaller, arched right-side pocket that’s perfect for storing a water bottle or umbrella.” Or, of course, your phone.