How to add a pocket to luggage large enough for a lap top

We travel a lot... okay too much...but because of that, we have to have luggage fit for airport security--condensed, a spot for everything, and easy to get things out for display at the drop of a hat.

Many times my husband has to take his lap top with him so he can work or at least keep up with work. We have three and only three travel bags that work well for everything we need regardless of the destination. We like three because it's easier to find one spot in the overhead storage in place of two, and when we get stuck having to fly on Spirit (don't like them at all!), we only have to pay for one carry-on. The other two can be considered personal items.

Only problem was, the lap top was not easy to pull out when going through security.

Here is our solution...

 This bag was our son's soccer bag from high school. However, we like it because there are plenty of pockets on the outside for particular items we want to find easily and not get crushed. We also like that it qualifies as a "personal item" but we can add a lot of extra stuff when needed. Lastly, we like that there is no one in the whole world that would choose this particular bag for traveling so it is easy to spot among other traveler's bags..

 Like I said, it is ideal for us except for the fact that the lap top would have to be stored on the bottom and had to practically be emptied in order to expose the lap top. So, I bought some bright orange canvas (color selected by grandchild). and cut it to be a little taller than the lap top and the same length as the bag.

I sewed in pockets on the inside for the rechargeable cords etc. I sewed the zipper on first, unzipped it all the way and then sewed the other three sizes. It really wasn't too tedious and it works great.

Well that is after replacing the main zipper on top. One time when flying United they made me stuff my airplane pillow into the bag or else pay for another checked bag--ridiculous. So sad for me, it split the zipper open. It has never been the same since so I sewed another zipper on top of the existing one. It's hard to explain but the zipper I bought looked nice on the outside. So since I'm lazy as often as possible, I left the old one in place. They actually both work right now--the new one much better than the old.

Of course, one never knows what airport security will do next, but at least for now, we are ready for them.