Query: Laptops and Security

Self

[DefCon]

Don't know how long it has been since you have flown,
but locking your checked bags is verboten in many airports.
They like to be able pilfer through them looking for goodies.
You know, so they can check out your underware and stuff...

[DefCon]

"...and ask someone to join you and remove 25% of your garments..."
- - -
Have you used that as a pick up line at the bar?

[Kirkwood]

Ha! Special is right! Just try that.
I have special credentials I have to show when passing through security. Consequently I and everyone coming in line after me gets looked over extremely well. If you think security is being especially tight at times, chances are that the TSA people think they are being inspected. I'm not involved in TSA inspections at all, but I suppose they think I'm there to check out security, when I'm just traveling like everyone else.

[Johnny_Cipher]

Ten four on the extra batteries. My spiffy, state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery in my notebook only lasts for about 3/4 of a DVD movie. I never seem to catch flights that have the cool power port built into the seat either.

[Kirkwood]

Actually you are allowed to lock checked bags as of about November, but they have to be the special TSA approved locks for which they have a master key.

I never bother locking checked baggage except when going overseas for more than a week and then I put nothing of value in the luggage except clothes. I still use the locks for when I reach the destination and for my carry-ons.

[Salvation]

**I wonder how many women with underwire bras get stopped?**

Happened to me only once. Never again will I wear that bra!

[jbstrick]

"Travelers should be aware of the three classes of laptop"...

Funny and very true. The I use both a Dell and a PoweBook G4. The fscking Dell is always giving me problems.

[DefCon]

Got into Atlanta once after a flight from the west coast
and claimed my bags off the carousel.
They were all secured very nicely with heavy duty tie-wraps.
Got to the edge of being angry with the first airport employee
that met my gaze and asked how the hell was I supposed to be able
to get in my bag, since I couldn't have a knife.
He acted like this had never come up before and had to rummage around
behind the counter to find a pair of scissors to cut them off.

[Pure Country]

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

I have a problem wearing wind-up watches. They have always gone bonkers on me--Was told that was because of magnetism. My grandfather was a well-witcher, so I figured it was in the family.

[Kirkwood]

You only get wanded if you set off the detector or if you are acting like a smartass in the opinion of the TSA agent. Otherwise there is no reason to send time wanding you if the primary detector didn't go off.

While I now seldom get wanded, I have gotten my gear swabbed from time to time. Most recently in the jetway just as I was boarding a flight to the US from Italy. Guess I either fit a profile that day or they were doing a spot check.

[Kirkwood]

Uh - those things come off very easily without the need for a knife or scissors.

I think I now understand why you get wanded every time you go through security.

[DefCon]

Tie wraps come off easily ???
Are you the incredible hulk in real life?

[DefCon]

"...You only get wanded if you set off the detector or if you are acting like a smartass in the opinion of the TSA agent..."
- - -
Oh, you are just SO wrong on this.
I set off the detector and get wanded nearly every time I fly.
And that goes back to even BEFORE 9/11.
The conversation goes something like this...
belt buckle?
no sir it is in my carry on
steel toed shoes?
no sir
keys, coins?
no sir
ok you can go

[GummyIII]

Don't know how long it has been since you have flown, but locking your checked bags is verboten in many airports

Very recently! I know they say they have the right to saw off locks, etc. etc....but they have never done so nor asked me to unlock anything. And these are major airports.

[TxBec]

I haven't flown since 9/11, but even before that, I have only set off the metal detectors one time (I have a pin in each foot.)

When the alarm went off, I told them about the pins and that they could wand my feet to see... They said "Oh, ok" and sent me on my way without wanding. I had flown several other times and the alarm never did go off. Go figure.

[I_dmc]

In addition to other good suggestions, don't carry it in a laptop case. There are some available that look like briefcases or backpacks. Laptops are extremely popular targets for theft, especially if you have one of those nice laptop bags with your company's logo on it.

[I_dmc]

LOL. I don't fly that often, but I always throw everything metal into my carry-on bag. Sure would be an incentive to boost air travel, too, I would think.

[WaterDragon]

I was recently told at the airport that I should take my puter out of the laptop bag, lay it on the bag before sending it through, that that would make unnecessary further wanding of it. The inspector said they are very leery of zipped up laptop bags.