Flying with a laptop

Ramrod · 28-03-2009, 09:33

Hi, silly question time

Whats the best way to fly with a laptop? Is it safer to pack it well and put it in a suitcase and brave the tender mercies of the baggage handlers?
Or is it better to have it in the hand luggage and carry it on yourself?
What about the xray machine at customs? Shouldn't affect the HDD, should it?
Answers on a postcard

DocDutch · 28-03-2009, 09:35

carry it as handluggage. and with Xray just say you got a lappy in your bag they normally dont put it through afaik

gazzae · 28-03-2009, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocDutch

carry it as handluggage. and with Xray just say you got a lappy in your bag they normally dont put it through afaik

They always put laptops through these days, infact they make you take it out of the bag and put it through seperately.

I fly a fair bit with work and never had a issue with putting the laptop through the xray machine

Ramrod · 28-03-2009, 10:17

Righty-ho guys. Cheers

The usual carry on electronics bag (phones, cameras, DS lites etc....) is about to get even heavier

DaiNasty · 28-03-2009, 11:00

NEVER in hold baggage !!!

You should see what they do with that stuff at some airports.

punky · 28-03-2009, 12:32

Just to echo everyone else.

1. Always in your hand luggage.

2. You will have to take it out of the bag and scan it separately

3. The x-ray won't affect the hard drives or anything

4. Flying is such a pain in the arse these days.

Raistlin · 28-03-2009, 13:19

You might want to leave the laptop in 'Hibernation' mode if you can as well. There's a chance that they may ask you to switch it on at the airport to prove that it is a laptop, if it's in Hibernation mode it will take less time to switch on - from there you can just shut it down normally before you take it on board

jrhnewark · 28-03-2009, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob M

You might want to leave the laptop in 'Hibernation' mode if you can as well. There's a chance that they may ask you to switch it on at the airport to prove that it is a laptop, if it's in Hibernation mode it will take less time to switch on - from there you can just shut it down normally before you take it on board

Where have you experienced that?

Yeah, I'm pretty fed-up of them asking me to take *everything* out of my laptop back when going through security, only for them not to even have a proper look at it. It's just a pain in the arse.

Raistlin · 28-03-2009, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

Where have you experienced that?

I haven't but know people that have. It's simpler and quicker to switch a laptop back on from Hibernation (generally speaking of course) and therefore could save time.

I tend not to fly with my laptop if I can help it.

jrhnewark · 28-03-2009, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob M

I haven't but know people that have. It's simpler and quicker to switch a laptop back on from Hibernation (generally speaking of course) and therefore could save time.

I tend not to fly with my laptop if I can help it.

Ahh, I see. Yes, mine's always in standby anyway.

It's probably not a bad idea not flying with a laptop - although very easy when you've got a netbook. I was almost very badly stung in Spain - spent £100 on roaming on my iPhone and then realised my iTunes on the laptop had swallowed 25MB... fortunately, I've only been billed £8.50 for it!

Definitely a case of traveller beware if you're travelling abroad - roaming charges really are a form of theft.

Raistlin · 28-03-2009, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

Ahh, I see. Yes, mine's always in standby anyway.

It's probably not a bad idea not flying with a laptop - although very easy when you've got a netbook. I was almost very badly stung in Spain - spent £100 on roaming on my iPhone and then realised my iTunes on the laptop had swallowed 25MB... fortunately, I've only been billed £8.50 for it!

Definitely a case of traveller beware if you're travelling abroad - roaming charges really are a form of theft.

Sounds like a lucy (and cheap) escape there.

Know what you mean though, the temptation to travel with alaptop increases as the size of the laptop decreases

Hom3r · 28-03-2009, 15:13

The biggest pain is you go through the detector having removed all metal possible including your belt, and the bloody thing beeps.

The pratt wants you to hold your arms out but if you do you trouser will and do fall down, and you are left feeling like an idoit.

jrhnewark · 28-03-2009, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob M

Sounds like a lucy (and cheap) escape there.

Know what you mean though, the temptation to travel with alaptop increases as the size of the laptop decreases

Yeah, I rang Vodafone (who kept me on hold for five mins at god knows how much - they really know how to squeeze it out of you, don't they?!) who told me £5 a MB! I guess it must be capped if you're using mobile broadband.

I don't think I could go away without my laptop, even if I do have my iPhone. The temptation to get a bit of free WiFi is just too high, and you never know when you might need it! And unlike my missus, I have got hand luggage full of books and make-up..

punky · 28-03-2009, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhnewark

Where have you experienced that?

Yeah, I'm pretty fed-up of them asking me to take *everything* out of my laptop back when going through security, only for them not to even have a proper look at it. It's just a pain in the arse.

I have known it happen a couple of times in the US. Its not a matter of course, its only when customs are searching you (usually randomly) and after they have reason to suspect you're up to some kind of skullduggery. I've been done a couple of times at customs and they never checked it.

AndyCambs · 28-03-2009, 16:02

Not many airports now require you to switch on electronic items - some however do require you to take the laptop out from the case when it goes through the x-ray.

Depending on the airline, you may be entitled to one carry on luggage plus a laptop case (most scheduled airlines e.g. British Airways have relaxed the restriction on one piece of hand luggage). If hand luggage is weighed, then I tend to stuff the cable and power unit in my pocket to save weight.
I have a laptop rucksack which I carry mine in - means you can use it at the airport. UK airports have wifi zones but they're chargeable. Overseas airports (US and Canada I know of) tend to have free wifi which whiles away the time waiting for the plane to board - plus you can check your flight is is actually on time!
Never put the laptop or anything of value in your checked baggage