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Well I went through it last wensday and all I had to do was take the laptop in its sleeve out of my bag and send it through the machine.
 
Well I went through it last wensday and all I had to do was take the laptop in its sleeve out of my bag and send it through the machine.
See, that wasn't so difficult.
To answer your question about turning it on, I've only read about one incident where someone was forced to turn on their MBA. It was right after the MBA came out. This particular businessman had purchased the model with the SSD. Because of the nature of SSD, it made for a very suspicious looking notebook.
You only have to worry about turning your notebook on if the innards are going to be so dramatically different from a typical notebook.
 
Over my past 100 or so trips through security at dozens of airports, here's what to know:

1) The new rules allow you to keep the laptop in a sleeve, if the sleeve is form fitting (like the neoprene ones), has no extra pockets, and has no cables/etc in those. I've never seen that challenged since they went into effect. Sometimes you can get by with a more complex sleeve, but that's an exception.

2) The laptop must be by itself in a tray. Sometimes you can sneak in a phone or ipod, but often not. Suggest not trying.

3) I turn mine off (not just suspend). X-rays can do strange things to RAM on rare occasions.

4) I have had to turn it on when going through customs. It depends on the country and if you get tapped for deeper screening. I have never had to turn it on at a US airport.

And just a general tip, allow longer than you remember to get through security. Best resource is www.tsa.gov.
 
My advice? don't drink 13 shots of vokda when your in the air... I did and dropped my computer.. left a big dent in the unibody... had to get a new bottom case and battery cover...
 
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