[iPad] Unopened new Ipad through airport security?

speekez · Dec 14, 2012, 02:39 PM

Hi all

Ok....

I have a yet-to-be ipad 4 still plastic wrapped in the box that I am taking with me on holiday. If I take this through airport security, do you suspect they'll make me remove the clear plastic and open box the unit, or most likely they will just let it go through seeing it is gift season?

Thoughts?

Panch0 · Dec 14, 2012, 02:47 PM

I would think they let it go through. They don't even make you take an iPad out of your luggage for inspection the way they do a laptop. I don't see why the cardboard packaging would be any harder to scan through than a briefcase / computer bag...

maflynn · Dec 14, 2012, 02:49 PM

I think the odds are pretty good that they'll want to see the iPad and thus have you open the box.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panch0

I would think they let it go through. They don't even make you take an iPad out of your luggage for inspection the way they do a laptop. I don't see why the cardboard packaging would be any harder to scan through than a briefcase / computer bag...

I think the difference there is that the iPad is not in the box.

I've been in the airport a number of times and I've always needed to pull out my iPad, MBP and cameras for the TSA, so I see no difference in doing that for an iPad in a box

SomeDudeAsking · Dec 14, 2012, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speekez

Hi all

Ok....

I have a yet-to-be ipad 4 still plastic wrapped in the box that I am taking with me on holiday. If I take this through airport security, do you suspect they'll make me remove the clear plastic and open box the unit, or most likely they will just let it go through seeing it is gift season?

Thoughts?

Always have your iPad in sight of you when near someone from the TSA because alot of them will steal it. No joking.

Nothlit · Dec 14, 2012, 04:10 PM

I don't think you can be certain one way or the other. Since TSA does not typically require iPads to be removed from bags for screening, chances are that you could probably just leave it in the box inside your suitcase and it will pass right through without a word. On the x-ray screen, they probably can't even tell whether the box is shrinkwrapped or not. But in any case, you should be prepared to open the box if asked.

speekez · Dec 14, 2012, 04:21 PM

Thanks for the input. I think I'll remove the shrinkwrap at home before we go to the airport tonight, seeing as how I'll be doing that anyway in a few days. I'd rather remove it at home rather than trying to it during the bustle of security. I'm traveling for the first time with our 6 month old, too, so I'll have enough to worry about

Per the link Nothlit posted, I'll leave the ipad in the box in my bag, and remove it if asked.

And good point bout watching for theft. Got a 5d mark III in the bag, too. My eyes will be on that bag. Maybe even our baby, too. haha

speekez · Dec 20, 2012, 10:03 PM

In case anyone is interested... I never removed the iPad box from my back pack, so I imagine I could have kept the shrink wrap on the box should I wanted to.

outie2k · Dec 20, 2012, 10:26 PM

They will not make you unwrap them. I brought 2 sealed iPads overseas before and had no issue. The did make us take them out of the backpack and rescan because they were stacked in the bag and they couldn't scan them.

ZZ Bottom · Dec 22, 2012, 12:54 AM

They should not need to remove it unless the X-ray operator calls for a baggage inspection, and that person explicitly asks to have it opened. To avoid this from occurring, try not to place any other electronic or highly dense (lumps of clay) items above or below it. They are expected to call for baggage inspection when they cannot decipher the contents as something not potentially dangerous. I assure you that they have seen many iPads in bags with the charger on top, so there really isn't anything too confusing about a boxed ipad. Again it's more about the surrounding clutter that may cause doubt.

mcdj · Dec 22, 2012, 01:35 AM

All you experts are talking out of your... There is no "they will" or "they won't". There is only "they might" or they might not". It depends on who is manning the line, what airport, etc. It's purely luck of the draw.

I have yet to be asked to take my iPad out of the case or even out of the bag I carried it in. Heck I've flown on a flight with a pocket knife I forgot to leave at home.

dinggus · Dec 22, 2012, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maflynn

I think the odds are pretty good that they'll want to see the iPad and thus have you open the box.

----------

I think the difference there is that the iPad is not in the box.

I've been in the airport a number of times and I've always needed to pull out my iPad, MBP and cameras for the TSA, so I see no difference in doing that for an iPad in a box

The MBA doesn't even need to be pulled out of your bag due to how thin it is, I see no difference with an iPad. I never pull mine out.

OP, just call the airport you're going through.

1rottenapple · Dec 22, 2012, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinggus

The MBA doesn't even need to be pulled out of your bag due to how thin it is, I see no difference with an iPad. I never pull mine out.

OP, just call the airport you're going through.

It depends who is working the line. I got to take out my 11in MBA. Not gonna argue since I like having my freedom. Plus I'm brown skin

snberk103 · Dec 22, 2012, 11:59 AM

The OP has had their question resolved by the TSA themselves... However, for anyone in the future who is reading this thread, just keep in mind that policies can change - overnight. That different airports will have different procedures. That for any reason at all you may be asked to show your device to a screener. Or not.

Dec 14, 2012, 02:39 PM	#1
speekez macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003	Unopened new Ipad through airport security? Hi all Ok.... I have a yet-to-be ipad 4 still plastic wrapped in the box that I am taking with me on holiday. If I take this through airport security, do you suspect they'll make me remove the clear plastic and open box the unit, or most likely they will just let it go through seeing it is gift season? Thoughts?
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 01:35 AM	#10
mcdj macrumors 603 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC	All you experts are talking out of your... There is no "they will" or "they won't". There is only "they might" or they might not". It depends on who is manning the line, what airport, etc. It's purely luck of the draw. I have yet to be asked to take my iPad out of the case or even out of the bag I carried it in. Heck I've flown on a flight with a pocket knife I forgot to leave at home. __________________ Posts with a 2 word subject line are rarely worth the click. ISOauto
	1

Dec 22, 2012, 11:59 AM	#13
snberk103 macrumors 601 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: An Island in the Salish Sea	The OP has had their question resolved by the TSA themselves... However, for anyone in the future who is reading this thread, just keep in mind that policies can change - overnight. That different airports will have different procedures. That for any reason at all you may be asked to show your device to a screener. Or not. __________________ My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - Jack Layton
	0

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Dec 14, 2012, 02:47 PM	#2
Panch0 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Virginia, USA	I would think they let it go through. They don't even make you take an iPad out of your luggage for inspection the way they do a laptop. I don't see why the cardboard packaging would be any harder to scan through than a briefcase / computer bag...
	0

Dec 14, 2012, 04:10 PM	#5
Nothlit macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2009	I don't think you can be certain one way or the other. Since TSA does not typically require iPads to be removed from bags for screening, chances are that you could probably just leave it in the box inside your suitcase and it will pass right through without a word. On the x-ray screen, they probably can't even tell whether the box is shrinkwrapped or not. But in any case, you should be prepared to open the box if asked.
	0

Dec 14, 2012, 04:21 PM	#6
speekez Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003	Thanks for the input. I think I'll remove the shrinkwrap at home before we go to the airport tonight, seeing as how I'll be doing that anyway in a few days. I'd rather remove it at home rather than trying to it during the bustle of security. I'm traveling for the first time with our 6 month old, too, so I'll have enough to worry about Per the link Nothlit posted, I'll leave the ipad in the box in my bag, and remove it if asked. And good point bout watching for theft. Got a 5d mark III in the bag, too. My eyes will be on that bag. Maybe even our baby, too. haha
	3

Dec 20, 2012, 10:03 PM	#7
speekez Thread Starter macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2003	In case anyone is interested... I never removed the iPad box from my back pack, so I imagine I could have kept the shrink wrap on the box should I wanted to.
	0

Dec 20, 2012, 10:26 PM	#8
outie2k macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2010	They will not make you unwrap them. I brought 2 sealed iPads overseas before and had no issue. The did make us take them out of the backpack and rescan because they were stacked in the bag and they couldn't scan them.
	0

Dec 22, 2012, 12:54 AM	#9
ZZ Bottom macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2010	They should not need to remove it unless the X-ray operator calls for a baggage inspection, and that person explicitly asks to have it opened. To avoid this from occurring, try not to place any other electronic or highly dense (lumps of clay) items above or below it. They are expected to call for baggage inspection when they cannot decipher the contents as something not potentially dangerous. I assure you that they have seen many iPads in bags with the charger on top, so there really isn't anything too confusing about a boxed ipad. Again it's more about the surrounding clutter that may cause doubt.
	0