Query: Laptops and Security

Self

[technomage]

Question for you well traveled Freepers. When traveling (flying) with a laptop, will sending it through the x-ray machine at the airport damage it in any way?

[technomage]

As you can see, I am coming out of the woods and flying again! But, it is necessary. Any suggestions and opinions on taking a laptop with you would be appreciated.

[hole_n_one]

No problem.......as long as you're not logged in.

[DainBramage]

I hope the feds don't burn down your home page.

[I got the rope]

I've been doing it for 4 years now...no problems.

[bcoffey]

Never had a single problem in several years... be prepared to take it out of the case... and watch out if they want to wand you in one area while your laptop is in another area!

[DefCon]

Carry it on. Do not put it in checked luggage.
"Mark" it somehow so it is easily distinguishable from others.
Keep your eyes on it at all times.
Security screening devices, xray, or otherwise, will not hurt it.

[Be Free]

I have had the same Dell C400 laptop for 2+ years. Since then I've logged some 150 flights on business throughout the US and Europe, including UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Czech Republic. Have had absolutely no issues with having it scanned. Prior to 9/11 and the introduction of the TSA to the security process, there were reports of theft teams working to separate people from their valuable possessions while going through security. I still keep a very watchful eye on my things, even though I'm fairly sure the TSA presence, including full-time video recording, would be enough to scare them off.

[Kirkwood]

If you haven't flown for a while, be aware that now TSA check most laptops twice. Once in the regular x-ray where you have to send it on a separate tray and then they check it again on another system. If you have extra packed laptop batteries, they scan those twice as well. You don't have to turn it on though, but I haven't flown since level orange was reached.

[hole_n_one]

as long as you're not logged in.

In...On....whatever.

[Kirkwood]

Especially keep your eyes on it in the European airports, especially Paris and London. Those places are just a den of thieves and will steal anything of value. I'll be traveling to Europe next weekend and dreading taking my laptop.

[Kirkwood]

If you take off every bit of metal, especially shoes and belt, you won't get wanded (unless you have metal screws, plates, etc in you). It is worth the inconvenience of stripping... it takes a lot longer to get frisked.

[bcoffey]

If you take off every bit of metal...

Yep, the "strip" is well worth it.

But this reminds me of an experience my Mother had at National (Reagan) airport in the 70s. She went through the metal detector - buzzed it - and got wanded. The young girl with the wand found some metal on her thigh and couldn't understand what it could be. My mom lifted her skirt slightly and showed her, but the poor girl still couldn't understand.

It turns out she had never seen a garter belt before! LOL

[Norman Conquest]

I manage loaner laptops for my company, so I get this a lot. My opinion is that the actual imaging rays pose no problem, but I'm convinced the belt motor magnets fried a hard drive on me one time. I've found that if I ask politely, they'll hand inspect it without running it through the scanner. Whatever you do, don't get drawn into a debate over whether the machine is safe, just indicate your preference for hand inspection. Unfortunately, this guarantees you're singled out for the full-frisk treatment.

They may ask you to fire it up if their suspicions are aroused, so make sure your battery is charged or your transformer is at hand.

Personally, I've gone back to putting it in my checked baggage, nestled inside several sweaters.

[Kirkwood]

That's funny! Good story!
I wonder how many women with underwire bras get stopped?

[DefCon]

"...If you take off every bit of metal, especially shoes and belt, you won't get wanded ..."
- - -
Liar, Liar, pants on fire.
I get wanded every single time with not a scrap of metal on me anywhere.

[DefCon]

"...Personally, I've gone back to putting it in my checked baggage, nestled inside several sweaters...."
- - -
I hope you know what the airlines are going to tell you,
if you ever report it missing from your checked baggage.
I already got the education on their 'limits of liability'.

[e_engineer]

I get wanded every single time with not a scrap of metal on me anywhere

Ahhh. Your name must be similar to one that is on "THE LIST".

If you write a stern letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding to be taken off their list, you will get special treatment next time you fly.

[SubMareener]

Some people are just naturally magnetic. We had a professor at college who could not use a compass. They always pointed at him.

[FreedomCalls]

Don't make fun, this is a hugh question and he is vey series.

[fourhorsemen]

Nope, but make sure you clearly tape your business card to it. Lots of laptops look the same, and believe it or not, with all the confusion you just might forget yours. Ask the TSA folks, it happens all the time.

I travel frequently and have my name, address, phone # and e-mail taped to the outside of my cell phone & laptop.