Bubble-wrapping my PS4 and Mac??

[Tarek]

I am going to be going back to my country for vacation on the 14th of December and I am going to have to put my PS4 and MacBook in the luggage because I won't really have space in my carry-on bag. I was wondering what the best way to secure them and keep them safe is? I have been thinking about investing in some bubble wrap and wrapping them like 3 or 4 times which should keep them properly tucked away and safe from any shocks or drops.

What do you guys think? Would that be the best way to go about it?

Thanks for your suggestions and advice

 

[hallux]

I wouldn't worry about wrapping them, they won't make it past the baggage screeners in your home airport. Seriously, I would find every way possible to carry those items on.

 

[Tarek]

I am sorry but what do you mean by that? The thing is, I am not even allowed to carry my laptop when I am coming back to the UK from Egypt, unless I make a stop (transit) in another country first. Don't ask me why, but those are just the rules in the UK.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I am sorry but what do you mean by that? The thing is, I am not even allowed to carry my laptop when I am coming back to the UK from Egypt, unless I make a stop (transit) in another country first. Don't ask me why, but those are just the rules in the UK.

Because batteries can be rigged to explode. The UK would class Egypt as a potential country of risk.

Anyway not wanting to stray into PRSI territory, I'd agree with @hallux, carry them on if you value them. Especially the MacBook. I'd never put my DSLR in the hold. It always stays in my carry on. They throw things around far too much out in the hold.

 

[StarShot]

I wouldn't worry about your checked bag getting thrown around as much as I would worry about it being stolen by one of the baggage smashers. My rule is nothing in checked baggage that is valuable or electronic. Sounds like you're in the UK. If you're not allowed to carry anything on a nonstop from Egypt to the UK, I would route through a stop that does allow it. I'm guessing it would be cheaper than a nonstop as well.

If you're still wonder why this rule is in effect, look back at the Russian flight from the Sinai to St. Petersburg. They think a bomb in a computer blew up the plane. This is the age we live.

 

[ZapNZs]

How do airline regulations in the two respective areas play into this? Have either adopted any recent rules on the matter in regards to the FAA's (very recent) suggestion that laptops be banned worldwide from luggage checkin across all major carriers? I tend to like neoprene material for adding an additional level of protection to more delicate items. I find thick neoprene sleeves can often protect computers even in the event of relatively nasty falls. I use a case currently from Booq which has a neoprene material on the inside but the outer portion is a hardcase, so it also adds some protection against compression (which I imagine is likely with luggage)

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If you're still wonder why this rule is in effect, look back at the Russian flight from the Sinai to St. Petersburg. They think a bomb in a computer blew up the plane. This is the age we live.

Its interesting how mandating such items for checkin mitigates certain safety risks but causes others, and that mandating such items for carryons mitigates some of those other risks but causes others. I'm very curious to see how the international community will respond to this. Hopefully we can all reach some sort of policy agreement that maximizes safety while minimizing inconvenience.

 

[jtara]

There are conflicting issues about batteries, that might suggest they are better off stowed in one place or another.

The amount of explosive that might be put in a vacated or partially-vacated battery space has generally been judged to be more problematic in the passenger compartment than in the cargo hold. It's not enough to bring a plane down, so not much incentive for putting a battery-bomb in the cargo hold. But it's enough to hurt/kill/maim people in the passenger compartment.

On the other hand, the batteries themselves are judged more troublesome in the cargo hold than in the passenger compartment, because a small fire in the passenger compartment will be immediately noticed and put out before it can spread. (On the other other hand, many/most cargo holds aren't pressurized, reducing oxygen for combustion...

Honestly, I would just avoid taking the Mac. It is likely to cause you delays and/or get stolen.

Just wrap the PS4 in clothing. But... who takes a PS4 on vacation?!

It's not necessarily better-off in the passenger compartment. My Macbook has a couple of dents from being stowed in the overhead during a bumpy flight!

Which brings us to the point... your Mac will survive whatever the airport gorillas do to it. Consider any cosmetic damage a badge of honor.

 

[D.T.]

If I had to store them in something other than a carry on, I wouldn’t bring them.

 

[Tarek]

Well, my vacation at home before I come back is going to be over a month and I play PS4 online with my buddies regularly so I don't want to be without it for that long. I guess I can pay a visit to Curry's PC World or similar stores in order to find a protective sleeve for my MBP. I actually recently ordered a case for it from Amazon but I doubt that it's protective since it's made of plastic and leather.

I think I'll do what I did last time, which is wrap the PS4 in a couple of towels and put it between the clothes rather than on the bottom or the top, hopefully nothing bad will happen.

And no, I don't think I'll be comfortable leaving my laptop here, especially since it has all my data on it and I am currently renting a studio in a student accommodation where the reception, cleaners, etc. actually have access to it.

Thank you for all for your suggestions.

 

[2984839]

I wouldn't worry about your checked bag getting thrown around as much as I would worry about it being stolen by one of the baggage smashers. My rule is nothing in checked baggage that is valuable or electronic. Sounds like you're in the UK. If you're not allowed to carry anything on a nonstop from Egypt to the UK, I would route through a stop that does allow it. I'm guessing it would be cheaper than a nonstop as well.

If you're still wonder why this rule is in effect, look back at the Russian flight from the Sinai to St. Petersburg. They think a bomb in a computer blew up the plane. This is the age we live.

Having worked for an airport both outside on the ramp and in baggage, I would definitely worry more about it getting smashed than stolen.

 

[jtara]

You might consider an Otterbox or similar. I mean a REAL Otterbox, not the thin cases they make for phones and tablets. It's their original product. You'll find them online or at sports outfitters:

https://www.otterbox.com/en-us/drybox.html

They have a foam interior that can be cut to fit, or they might have a pre-cut foam for your Macbook.

You get the bonus of it being waterproof.

Airport security might not carefully re-wrap your macbook in bubble wrap. But they will put it back in it's case after inspection. And custom-cut foam will insure they are not so likely to screw it up.

If you still have it, the original cardboard box is probably the best protection. But inconvenient for airport security. Perhaps you can recover the form-fit foam if you still have it.

 

[Tarek]

@jtara Thank you for your reply. I am not sure I found what you're talking about, to be honest, since Otterbox doesn't seem to offer any products for MacBooks or large tablets and my research has led me nowhere. Another brand, though, seems to sell thick, protective cases for the MacBook, like UAG (Urban Armor Gear) which I've previously purchased from for my old iPhone, however they're quite expensive.

I'm considering just buying a sleeve like the one below and just putting them inside my carry-on backpack and just leave it at that.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JSVER-Macb...-9&keywords=protective+sleeve+for+macbook+pro

 

[Apple fanboy]

@jtara Thank you for your reply. I am not sure I found what you're talking about, to be honest, since Otterbox doesn't seem to offer any products for MacBooks or large tablets and my research has led me nowhere. Another brand, though, seems to sell thick, protective cases for the MacBook, like UAG (Urban Armor Gear) which I've previously purchased from for my old iPhone, however they're quite expensive.

I'm considering just buying a sleeve like the one below and just putting them inside my carry-on backpack and just leave it at that.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/JSVER-Macb...-9&keywords=protective+sleeve+for+macbook+pro

Buy a pelican case if you must put it in the hold.

Amazon link

Not cheap but they will do the job you need.

 

[shinji]

Could you ship them ahead of time? Just insure it, and do your best packing it.

 

[Tech198]

I find it how the there is a vast difference to know the screener would flag it as "potential risk" but the carry on, they just let u thought, as "well, its the same content but based on which method u use to get the result, we will let it go"

not all batteries explode, so i would think there is also no reason to check everyone, plus it would hold everyone up longer...

I don't think their that strict.

When i bought Mac back from Hong Kong all i had to to was sign a desecration, this was a Mac i packed. (I think)

As long its its not in the box it came in, you should be ok.. as it would deem it "not new"

 

[jtara]

Yes, actually, I was thinking of Pelican - I think they were the original waterproof acrylic cases.

But Otter, as well, makes similar products and has for years. It's where their name comes from. (Waterproof.) Otter subsequently found a bigger niche in rugged and waterproof phone cases with a slimmer (and increasingly more-slimmer and less-protective) profile.

It doesn't have to be "made for your Macbook". It comes with foam, from which you cut out blocks to fit... whatever.

A Zero-Halliburtan case would be overkill:

https://gizmodo.com/236430/test-assaulting-zero-halliburtons-aircraft-aluminum-laptop-case/

and would itself be subject to cosmetic damage, but might draw suspicion. Especially if equipped with optional handcuffs.

BTW, it appears that those who want/need to carry a laptop are between a rock and a hard place. I noticed in the news today that American Airlines is banning "smart luggage" (suitcases with lithium-ion batteries and USB ports) in cargo hold starting sometime next year. They can be carried in cargo if the battery is removed (some are removable, some are not) or taken in the cabin. Or the suitcase can be taken in the cabin. If they are banning luggage that have Li-Ion batteries, the end-is-nigh for laptops.

So, the trend is going to be toward no laptops in cargo due to battery concerns, and no laptops in cabin due to bombs-instead-of-batteries concerns. I see a great future in the rent-a-laptop-at-the-airport business. (feasible if you use iCloud or similar).

The concern about batteries is not so much explosion (though they can expand, and sometimes violently, but briefly) - I had an AR.Drone battery expand while in the charger, and left a little black mark on the wall overnight - and my older 2008 Macbook cheap Chinese replacement removable battery expanded, bulging the cover slightly) but more about over-heating and combusting adjacent material. FWIW, I am an app developer - I had to abandon a project using iPhones to detect sleep apnea, because we realized there would be a liability problem suggesting that people sleep with an iPhone strapped to their stomach! (We stowed it in a "sports wallet" - think slim fanny pack). There have been too many incidences of people falling asleep with a phone and having the phone set the bedding on fire. (BTW, the sensors in the iPhone are perfectly capable of detecting breathing patterns (AND, as we were surprised to discover) heartbeat - it's just unsafe to use it for that purpose unless monitored.)

Sorry to say, the sleeve you posted is unlikely to protect your Macbook from cosmetic damage if in the overhead and the plane goes bump-in-the-night. My Macbook was in a similar sleeve. I think it hit the overhead hinge. Put it in the seat pocket! Snap the snaps, if the pocket has snaps.

Hard drives are a concern. If you have SSD, don't sweat it. Just cover any dings with a sticker.
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When i bought Mac back from Hong Kong all i had to to was sign a desecration

I *hope* you actually meant "a DECLARATION".