How are your laptops weathering checked luggage?
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mediumone
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Hoag
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Based on many of the above posts, it would appear to me that in many locations, airport security is interpreting TSA's direction that electronics bigger than a cell phone must be checked as that they must be scrutinized, not as in they must be placed in checked luggage. Or, am I reading them wrong?
Sometimes it really is nice to be able to fly from Toronto non-stop to the destination and to not deal with TSA at all.
Sometimes it really is nice to be able to fly from Toronto non-stop to the destination and to not deal with TSA at all.
sharky60
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yes, I do, but I didn't always, it's no big deal to take it out and put it in a bin. I've done it many, many times.
My regulator seems to set off more security people than anything. I went through Miami, before 911 mind you, EVERY security stop, they pulled out my rig, and looked it over like a bunch of monkeys trying to figure out what the monolith was in 2001 Space Odyssey. For some reason, we had to go through 2 "check points" to get to one gate on one of our flights and both times they pulled it out and looked at it like they had never seen a regulator before ... how many regs do you thing go through Miami international every day?! Hundreds. ... oh! and the security agent looks at my watch, "that's a nice watch!" ... oh crap! I'm being shook down by airport security!! :-O
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nodakdive
Contributor
Likely that this is somewhat of an exaggeration, but I nearly shut the Mpls airport down with my reg. I went through the baggage screening, had to stand with my arms up in the body scan egg, twice, because I forgot the airplane headphones in a breast pocket. Fine. I grab my bags and start walking to the gate and noticed some commotion at the scanner I had been through. Two agents with feverish looks on their faces were agitated. They got a third agent, a supervisor I think, and then all three were acting like the place was on the verge of collapse. On a hunch, I walked back to them and said, "Are you looking for this?". One said yes, then they all looked at it like they'd never seen such a thing. I explained what it was, they thanked me, and I went on my way. Someone must have questioned the scan long after it had gone through.
Yes, you are reading them wrong.
There is no ban. There was a brief ban from certain mid-east airports; it is no longer in effect.
Yes, you probably need to pull out your laptop from your carry-on. Even with PRE.
Big deal.
Everybody needs to take a deep breath and find something else to fret about.
muzikbiz22
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Was in Cozumel 2 weeks ago. Laptop in backpack, carry, both ways from LAX. No issues.
Rred
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Kixy, Hoag-
The rules have been changing back and forth because on the one hand, the TSA wants everything screened. On the other hand, as the airlines have pointed out, if a laptop is going to self-combust, they would rather that happened in the cabin, where there's a better chance of finding it right away and putting it out. So...the rules are likely to keep changing. If they ever really study the issue, they will require kevlar or aramid fire-retardant sleeves for all the electronics, like the R/C hobbyists already use to contain fires.
Treat your laptop like a big GLASS sheet. That means you can't send it in the hold, because TSA agents can and will unwrap it, and be sloppy about repacking it. There are also some 500 TSA baggage inspectors fired in a typical year for theft and pilferage.
So a hardshell padded fitted case (like a Pelican) becomes mandatory if you must pack it up. Otherwise? I keep mine in a padded laptop case, with extra padding (bubblewrap or foam) sheets as room allows. And the case doesn't go out of my hands except for the conveyor belt and the TSA agent. Treat it like glass, and it will survive. Anything less, anything less at all, and it will be damaged.
Funny how they no longer make you power it up, to prove it really works.
And you'll still need to check the rules before your flight, as they keep changing.
The rules have been changing back and forth because on the one hand, the TSA wants everything screened. On the other hand, as the airlines have pointed out, if a laptop is going to self-combust, they would rather that happened in the cabin, where there's a better chance of finding it right away and putting it out. So...the rules are likely to keep changing. If they ever really study the issue, they will require kevlar or aramid fire-retardant sleeves for all the electronics, like the R/C hobbyists already use to contain fires.
Treat your laptop like a big GLASS sheet. That means you can't send it in the hold, because TSA agents can and will unwrap it, and be sloppy about repacking it. There are also some 500 TSA baggage inspectors fired in a typical year for theft and pilferage.
So a hardshell padded fitted case (like a Pelican) becomes mandatory if you must pack it up. Otherwise? I keep mine in a padded laptop case, with extra padding (bubblewrap or foam) sheets as room allows. And the case doesn't go out of my hands except for the conveyor belt and the TSA agent. Treat it like glass, and it will survive. Anything less, anything less at all, and it will be damaged.
Funny how they no longer make you power it up, to prove it really works.
And you'll still need to check the rules before your flight, as they keep changing.
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