CES to search bags, ban luggage this year

SAN FRANCISCO – This year, attendees at the  Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas — the world's largest trade show — will have their bags searched upon entering.

Prior to this year, attendees’ bags had not been  searched as they entered the 2.4-million-square-foot show floor except in 2002, right after the Sept. 11 attacks, said Jeff Joseph, senior vice president for communications.

They also were free to bring in as much as they could carry.

This year “due to recent global tragedies," new security procedures have been implemented, the Consumer Technology Association announced Dec. 17.

There have been no specific threats against the show but "we want to ensure that we provide as safe an environment as possible given recent global events," Joseph said.

The Consumer Technology Association began running an ad for protective service agents on Craigslist last week.

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Attendees will be allowed to bring only two bags, each smaller than 12” by 17” by 6”, about the size of a somewhat large FedEx box. Exhibitors and media may receive specific exemptions.

"By abiding by our bag specifications, our attendees can help us move people through checkpoints at a brisk pace," Joseph said.

Reminder emails about the new policy have been sent to attendees. More than 150,000 people are expected to come to CES this year during its January 6-9 run.

To keep entrance lines as fast-moving as possible, the show is offering tips.

To aid in the searches, attendees could consider using “clear bags (mesh, plastic, vinyl, etc.) to expedite this process.”

Given the popularity of backpacks among techies, CES also points out that “bags and backpacks with many pockets are not helpful. Pockets slow search times.”

Also new this year, attendees won’t be allowed to bring suitcases or rolling bags of any size into the official CES exhibit and conference areas. That includes carry-ons, laptop and computer bags and rolling luggage carts.

That could result in more traffic and a major crunch at hotels on the show’s last day. Many attendees check out of their hotels and bring their luggage to the show, then leave from there to the airport.

This year, they’ll need to check their baggage with the hotel and return to pick it up before they go to the airport.