It’s the busiest time of the year at area airports — with more people, more luggage and more lines.

That means travelers need a whole lot of patience.

But a new addition at LaGuardia Airport can have you breathing a little easier. It’s called the 'In-line Baggage Screening System.'

“Your bag goes on a journey before you even board the plane,” said TSA Spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. “100% of the baggage is screened, whether it is carry on or checked.”

What You Need To Know

  • LaGuardia Airport now has one of the most technologically advanced baggage screening systems in the word

  • The 'In-line Baggage Screening System' includes 3.2 miles of conveyor belts that can handle 3,200 checked bags an hour

  • Each bag is scanned through a 3-D computed tomography unit. TSA agents are on the lookout for suspicious items that pose a safety threat to the aircraft

  • LaGuardia has a unique inspection area for bags that trigger an alarm. Mobile Inspection Tables deliver the bags directly to TSA agents who then do a search by hand. The agents never have to lift a bag

NY1 got an exclusive look at the new baggage system that was installed as part of Terminal B’s recent multi-billion dollar renovation.

While you're waiting on the plan, it’s working behind the scenes to get your checked bag to the correct destination while also making sure nothing hazardous is inside.

“What we’re looking for are explosive devices. We wanna make sure that there’s not gonna be a catastrophic incident on an aircraft. That is our number one concern. We wanna make sure passengers get to their destination safely and get home safely,” Farbstein said.

The new system helps make for a process that’s quick and efficient. It includes 3.2 miles of conveyor belts that can handle more than 3,200 bags an hour.

Each one moves through an x-ray scanner that alerts agents to anything suspicious.

Common triggers include large electronic devices, bottles of liquids including alcohol, powders, e-cigarettes and lithium batteries.

When something triggers an alarm, the bag gets rerouted. Mobile Inspection Tables deliver the bag directly to a TSA agent who then searches it by hand without ever having to lift it — the machines do it for them.

In this case, a laptop computer prompted extra screening.

“Well, because larger electronics are always considered tampered with. There’s particular components within the laptop that actually the system will pick up and flag automatically,” a TSA agent said.

After a thorough search, the bag was cleared.

“We’re not forgetting to also place a notice of inspection inside of the bag so that once the bag is returned to the traveling passenger, they will know that their bag was inspected,” the TSA agent added.

All the while, cameras roll on the entire process — to keep the passenger’s luggage secure while getting passengers to their destination safely.

A high-tech solution to make the busiest travel season of the year a little more bearable.