Airport security hurt your notebook - Should I take it?

[powerbook911]

I know my Powerbook G4 maybe in ancient in terms of technology, but it's still gorgeous, and I've taken great care of it.

I'm a bit nervous about taking it on an upcoming vacation. I know security makes you place your notebook in a plastic bin to scan it. I'm scared of the bottom getting a scratch or something.

I figure with my iPhone I wouldn't *have* to take my notebook, but it would be nice to have it obviously.

What should I do? How likely would it be to get a scratch at security?

Thanks for your suggestions and experiences.

[kymac]

set it in gently? it just goes a couple feet on the belt, you wont have a problem. my mom is a flight attendant and she takes her ibook through all the time. she sets it in, and she takes it out, the tsa's never have contact with it.

[DMC-12]

What should I do? How likely would it be to get a scratch at security?

I recently flew overseas with my laptop, and I was a little worried about the security's gentleness, too. I'd say there is only a very, very small risk of your PowerBook getting scratched at security. As long as you keep it in a separate container, the only way they would even touch it is if it for some reason had to go back through the scanner. I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy the vacation.

[thejadedmonkey]

Last time I flew, they asked me to open it up and turn it on, so show that it was a real laptop, but no one besides myself ever touched it.

[timnosenzo]

I've brought my MacBook last few times I've flown with no problems--no one touches it except for me.

[Wolfpup]

Can you leave it in a case, or like a plastic bag or something so it doesn't even have to touch their yucky, slimy, weird conveyor thing? And apparently it doesn't fry hard drives...

[iBookG4user]

Can you leave it in a case, or like a plastic bag or something so it doesn't even have to touch their yucky, slimy, weird conveyor thing? And apparently it doesn't fry hard drives...

They make you take the laptop and put it in a bin without anything else in it.

[telecomm]

It's really no more of a risk than handing it to one of your friends to hold for a few minutes... though even that might be stressful for some. ;)

[Wolfpup]

They make you take the laptop and put it in a bin without anything else in it.

You can't even stick it in a clear bag? Or a grocery bag or something?

It's really no more of a risk than handing it to one of your friends to hold for a few minutes... though even that might be stressful for some. ;)

Would be for me! Though I have OCD with symptoms that affect that sort of thing :D Get your slimy hands off my $2000 computer bub!

[dcv]

Heathrow airport let me keep the MBP inside its sleeve but all other airports I've travelled through recently ask that you remove the slip cover and place the laptop into a tray thing. It won't get scratched by a plastic bin! Just try to put it in yourself if you can; the stupid bitch at Gatwick airport was really rough with my stuff :rolleyes: :mad:

[MacPossum]

Detroit Metro made me take it out and they whipped t down with a little cotton sab an the tested the swap in some machine.. I was cringing the whole time!

[DerekS]

They give you plastic tubs and actually ask that you put the lappy in by itself.

It will be fine and won't scratch in the tub. It is very likely it will be touched by no one but yourself.

[Wolfpup]

Detroit Metro made me take it out and they whipped t down with a little cotton sab an the tested the swap in some machine.. I was cringing the whole time!

What the hell? Seriously, what do they think they're accomplishing? Next they're going to be licking it.

[skybolt]

Every time we have traveled (to San Francisco, New Orleans, Hartford and Nashville) I have just taken the MB out of its sleeve, put the sleeve in the tub and the MB on top of the sleeve. No problems at all.

[DataThief]

What the hell? Seriously, what do they think they're accomplishing? Next they're going to be licking it.

What they are doing is testing for chemical residue, and matching the sample to various chemicals that might go boom.

Pain in the azz for me as I like to shoot (quite alot) and usually have residue on my hands which can get transfered to my gear, I try not to do any shooting a few days before flying, or I get the stand over there sir while we take apart everything you own.

[Wolfpup]

Wouldn't someone actually trying to do something just clean the thing off and let it sit for a few days then?

[munckee]

:rolleyes: Seriously? Isn't this bordering on over-paranoia? Getting scratched from setting it in the bin and letting it ride 6 feet?

Maybe try setting the sleeve in the bottom of the bin and the computer on top of it. Can't see anyone having a fit over that, but you never know.

[Wolfpup]

:rolleyes: Seriously? Isn't this bordering on over-paranoia? Getting scratched from setting it in the bin and letting it ride 6 feet?

Maybe try setting the sleeve in the bottom of the bin and the computer on top of it. Can't see anyone having a fit over that, but you never know.

What if the sleeve is made from MAGIC TEH TERRORIZT RAY BLOCKING MATERIAL!!!

[chaoticbear]

Have you ever set your computer down on a table? That's what this is like. You put it in a bin. Set it down gently. Pick it up at the end of the line.

(I'm all for taking care of your posessions, but I'd be OK with putting a BABY in a plastic bin and letting it move a few feet. Hell, I'd do it myself, as long as the bin was big enough for me to fit in.)

[deadpixels]

your baby will be just fine, have anyone notice that the bins are too small to fit the powerbooks??

[ccc123]

:rolleyes: Seriously? Isn't this bordering on over-paranoia? Getting scratched from setting it in the bin and letting it ride 6 feet?

Maybe try setting the sleeve in the bottom of the bin and the computer on top of it. Can't see anyone having a fit over that, but you never know.

I would worry more about what happens AFTER security. You have to stow away your laptop for taxing, takeoff and landings. Nothing like having some schmuck try to fit a oversized suitcase on top of your laptop bag in the over head bins OR worse if there is no room in the overhead bin, you have to put it under the seat. Never fails that I get the 6’ 11” guy with the big legs putting his dirty shoes on my bag. :eek:
If I know I will be working in flight, I take my laptop out of my bag and put it in the magazine holder in the seatback in front of me. But, if you are worried about a plastic bin scratching your baby…..


What they are doing is testing for chemical residue, and matching the sample to various chemicals that might go boom.

Pain in the azz for me as I like to shoot (quite alot) and usually have residue on my hands which can get transfered to my gear, I try not to do any shooting a few days before flying, or I get the stand over there sir while we take apart everything you own.


Yes, I have travelled with a cardiologist for a meeting. He was detained and missed his flight because the day before he was helping one of his patients with a nitro-glycerine ointment and the doc transferred some residue onto the laptop. Luckily, I was in a different security line and didn’t have to answer the awkward question from the security folks “Sir, are you travelling with this gentleman?” :o

[Wolfpup]

I would worry more about what happens AFTER security. You have to stow away your laptop for taxing, takeoff and landings. Nothing like having some schmuck try to fit a oversized suitcase on top of your laptop bag in the over head bins OR worse if there is no room in the overhead bin, you have to put it under the seat. Never fails that I get the 6’ 11” guy with the big legs putting his dirty shoes on my bag. :eek:
If I know I will be working in flight, I take my laptop out of my bag and put it in the magazine holder in the seatback in front of me. But, if you are worried about a plastic bin scratching your baby…..

Can you at least just HOLD THE BAG it's in?!? Geez, this is all totally nuts.

[thesdx]

If you put it on the fold-out tray, you could buy a no-slip pad to rest it on.

[jackiecanev2]

If it really bothers you that much, try sliding it through in a sleeve if you have one. Neoprene type is ideal. If they ask you to remove it from the sleeve, do so, and place the sleeve in the bottom of the bin and rest the macbook on top of it. Then it only comes in contact with the cushy sleeve of your choice, and not the grimy potentially bottom-scratching plastic bin.

Though, in all seriousness, I don't think putting it in a plastic tub and sliding it 4 feet down a motorized conveyor belt at .0015 mph will really do a whole lot of harm.

[ccc123]

Can you at least just HOLD THE BAG it's in?!? Geez, this is all totally nuts.

I have gotten away with holding the laptop while taxing and takeoff. But, that depends on the cabin crew as I have also been asked to put it away until in flight. Interesting thing is that you can read a big hardcover book while taxing/taking off/landing, and no one will say anything…but most insist that you “secure” your laptop. My business laptop is a Dell latitude 410 and I have seen books that are bigger and/or weigh more than it.

[iNeko]

I've just come back from two weeks in America (going from the UK) nobody touched my Macbook Pro save from me, I too was worried about taking it (it being metal and unable to be scanned for example) - I came across no problems at all with it, although I did however get one MASSIVE shock from it when I was on my return flight which stung for an hour or so after...

[OutThere]

Flying domestically in the US nobody has every even touched my laptop. Flying internationally out of France a man gently picked it up with soft white gloves, wiped a little (dry) cotton pad over part of it then gently set it on a padded surface while a machine made sure that there were no traces of explosive chemicals on the pad. No worries, as far as I'm concerned.

[powerbook911]

Thanks for all the advice. You guys have made me feel a bit better.

I might try to put it on a sleeve in the tray, or not, if I feel uncomfortable doing that.

Now I'm more worried about it in the overhead bins. ha-ha.

[G. I.]

Looks like some people should visit a psychiatrist before travel.

[Wolfpup]

Looks like some people should visit a psychiatrist before travel.

What a fantastic post! :rolleyes:

[joepunk]

They make you take the laptop and put it in a bin without anything else in it. Didn't happen at the Seattle airport but I did have to do that in Orlando.

Every time we have traveled (to San Francisco, New Orleans, Hartford and Nashville) I have just taken the MB out of its sleeve, put the sleeve in the tub and the MB on top of the sleeve. No problems at all. Did that at the Seattle Airport and had no problems. But, at the Orlando airport the meany security lady (probably having a bad day) took my PB and sleeve out of the bin and plopped the PB back in the bin. All with a grumpy face at that. I was not happy. She could've have been nicer and said something.

:rolleyes: Seriously? Isn't this bordering on over-paranoia? Getting scratched from setting it in the bin and letting it ride 6 feet?

Maybe try setting the sleeve in the bottom of the bin and the computer on top of it. Can't see anyone having a fit over that, but you never know. watchout for the grumpy security agent, they will have a fit. And yea, don't get worked up over a little scratch that may or may not happen. Those plastic bins don't scratch at all.

[powerbook911]

Looks like some people should visit a psychiatrist before travel.

Remind me not to buy your scratched up computer. :) Just kidding.

I just want to keep my things looking nice.

[Kilamite]

I have gotten away with holding the laptop while taxing and takeoff. But, that depends on the cabin crew as I have also been asked to put it away until in flight. Interesting thing is that you can read a big hardcover book while taxing/taking off/landing, and no one will say anything…but most insist that you “secure” your laptop. My business laptop is a Dell latitude 410 and I have seen books that are bigger and/or weigh more than it.

Without trying to sound like a prick - that is dangerous and inconsiderate. If the plane had to abort takeoff for whatever reason, or hit some bad turbulence right after liftoff (which happens a LOT at Edinburgh Airport since there is 2 bridges that are at right angles to the runway, so on a windy day you can get serious drafts and gusts blowing across the runway), your laptop could fly up in the air and seriously hurt someone.

All it takes is the plane to quickly lose 5-10 feet in height (happens often when experiencing extreme turbulence) and your laptop is away.

I'm sure I'd cry my eyes out as I saw my MBP fly off the desk and come back down and shatter into pieces :p

[robPOD]

I know my Powerbook G4 maybe in ancient in terms of technology, but it's still gorgeous, and I've taken great care of it.

I'm a bit nervous about taking it on an upcoming vacation. I know security makes you place your notebook in a plastic bin to scan it. I'm scared of the bottom getting a scratch or something.

I figure with my iPhone I wouldn't *have* to take my notebook, but it would be nice to have it obviously.

What should I do? How likely would it be to get a scratch at security?

Thanks for your suggestions and experiences.

One Word: WOW

[rdowns]

To the OP, try this (http://www.greyhound.com/home.asp?crcat=payperclick&crsource=google_ads&crkw=greyhound_bus). And please don't be in line on front of me at the airport on Sunday. :p

[clicq]

In contrast to what other people have been saying, when I took my nearly new Macbook through security, it got scratched up by the bin. The problem? Well, people put their shoes in the bins, so there's a bit of dirt/sand on the bottom, and while going through the machine, the bin gets jostled a bit... so you have a shiny Macbook sliding along a dirty surface = scratches!

But since it doesn't seem to have happened to anybody else, maybe I was just unlucky (or the person with the bin before me had really dirty shoes?) :(

[dontwalkhand]

Airport security is the least of your problems when it comes to laptops, I would be more afraid of laptop theft from the conveyer!

[iToaster]

To the OP, try this (http://www.greyhound.com/home.asp?crcat=payperclick&crsource=google_ads&crkw=greyhound_bus). And please don't be in line on front of me at the airport on Sunday. :p

Is that for bus tickets? Last time I checked busses didn't travel at 600 Mph. Anyway, all I had to do the last time I was in the airport was put my MBP in the tray and let it roll on through (does aluminum block x-rays?), besides, a little scratch or twenty won't kill you. My bag's got enough junk in it to pad the MBP enough under the seat, so I'm fine there. The worst thing to happen was my dad and I were going through the airport security when they detected trace amounts of fertilizer on his backpack (he does a little gardening, and fertilizer is some sort of explosive nitrogen-and-whatsawhocares), that was fun...