October 8, 2024, 5:54 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Neatly sorted instead of frantically thrown in: Photos of draped security tubs are increasingly being found on Tiktok and the like – a large airport operator takes a more critical view.
The security check is the bottleneck at the airport, through which all passengers have to pass on their way to the plane. Quickly through, quickly onwards is the motto. But not for everyone, apparently: some take the time to drape hand luggage stylishly in the security tray. Then they take a photo of it and post it, reports the specialist portal “aerotelegraph.com”. The social media trend also has a name: “Airport Tray Aesthetic”.
The photos online show draped accessories, headphones, cameras and other accessories that have to be placed separately in the tray because they must not be on the body on the way through the control. The shots are reminiscent of still lifes. And they can cause a standstill, because if you want to stand out on Tiktok or Instagram with a security check ensemble, taking photos may disrupt operations at the checkpoint.
Security instead of “fancy stuff”
Nobody needs that kind of thing in this process, says a spokesperson for Fraport, the operator of Germany’s largest airport in Frankfurt am Main. It is about passenger safety and not about “a fancy thing”. Especially as the tubs are part of a circulation system and should be returned quickly so that subsequent passengers can use them again. Anyone standing around for a long time after the check and taking photos of the filled tub would probably be approached by security staff.
However, this was apparently not yet necessary. Frankfurt Airport has not yet noticed any of the supposed hype. “We are completely unaware of this so far,” says the spokesperson.
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These things belong in the security tray
The practical question remains: what belongs in the tub? Jackets, bags and trolleys, of course. Depending on the system, larger electronic items such as laptops and tablets should be placed separately. As well as liquids, for which the following applies: the individual containers must not hold more than 100 milliliters, and they must all be stowed in a resealable, transparent bag with a maximum capacity of one liter.
When CT scanners are used, liquids and electrical devices can even remain in the backpack or trolley. The Fraport spokesperson points this out. According to him, 42 of these devices are in use in Frankfurt – at the busiest checkpoints. This means that travelers can manage with fewer tubs, and waiting times have been reduced.
Incidentally, the following always applies: trouser pockets must be empty. However, belts may remain on, according to the Federal Police.
Back to the supposed “Airport Tray Aesthetic” trend. Some people don’t even need an airport for their still lifes, writes “aerotelegraph.com”. Instead, they create the pictures at home thanks to Photoshop and a purchased plastic tray – “including a self-made boarding pass”. This is probably the best solution, as no one is held up at the airport.
With material from dpa