OK, what's the policy on laptop sleeves at the airport?

[puma1552]

It's been awhile since I've flown into the US so I'm not sure if the policy is the same as it used to be, where you HAD to take the laptop out of the sleeve and let it get banged around in the gray bin by itself.

If you have a sleeve with no zippers on it, is it ok to leave the laptop inside the sleeve, otherwise alone in a gray bin? Or do we still have to take them out?

I'm asking for both Japan and America. Thanks.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

In the U.S. I got away half the time with notebook in sleeve. The other half, I was fine just pacing the notebook on top of the sleeve. My local airport has one of the newer machines where you don't have to take anything out. Yay for DFW...

 

[aethelbert]

The rules are outlined here for travel in the US. If you have a basic sleeve that holds nothing but the computer, you will have to place it in the bin but you can leave the notebook in the case. You will, however, have to remove it from your luggage if you travel that way.

 

[Tomorrow]

In the U.S., a zipper is fine on the sleeve. Make sure there's no mouse, cords, thumb drives, etc. in the sleeve with it.

I've gotten away with having a pen, laser pointer, flashlight, etc. in the sleeve with no problems. They just want the x-ray to clearly show that it's a laptop and not something else.

 

[puma1552]

Awesome, thanks...looks like my foofbag by itself will be fine.

Now, I just need to find out about the policy in Japan...

 

[cpit]

Ulgh... airport security and laptops. Bad memories.

A few years ago I had to take my new and beautiful macbook pro out of my bag and put it into a bin, and the security guards picked it up and inspected it very closely, so on so on, and somehow in the hustle and bustle of everything, a HUGE scratch (more like slash) was etched into the top of it, going all the way across each of its beautiful 15 inches. I now cringe every time I bring my computer through security, and keep an incredibly close eye on it. Oh the pain!

 

[YS2003]

Ulgh... airport security and laptops. Bad memories.

A few years ago I had to take my new and beautiful macbook pro out of my bag and put it into a bin, and the security guards picked it up and inspected it very closely, so on so on, and somehow in the hustle and bustle of everything, a HUGE scratch (more like slash) was etched into the top of it, going all the way across each of its beautiful 15 inches. I now cringe every time I bring my computer through security, and keep an incredibly close eye on it. Oh the pain!

You did not catch that right on the spot? If you did, I think you could've asked them to pay for the damage. I am not sure what TSA's policy is in regard to compensating the damages caused by the TSA security handlers.

 

[OutThere]

I've traveled a lot with my laptop and generally find that taking it out of the sleeve, putting the sleeve in the bin and the laptop on top is acceptable, even if the TSA guys are being strict. They usually appreciate that you're prepared and have your laptop out and ready to go rather than holding up the line as you unpack your bag.

 

[aethelbert]

They usually appreciate that you're prepared and have your laptop out and ready to go rather than holding up the line as you unpack your bag.

As do the people behind you. Even with the new system separating passengers into lines based on experience, I still frequently encounter people that get to their turn and still have their shoes and jacket on, laptop in their luggage, wallet and phone in pant pockets, etc. They go through the metal detectors before taking metal items off of their person. Then following up in shock like they shouldn't have to follow the rules because they're special. Or my favorites: the woman and daughter that just spent $15 on drinks from Starbucks before getting in line and then throwing them on the floor to make a mess in protest of not being able to take it through. All in the "expert traveler" line. Brilliant.

 

[OutThere]

As do the people behind you. Even with the new system separating passengers into lines based on experience, I still frequently encounter people that get to their turn and still have their shoes and jacket on, laptop in their luggage, wallet and phone in pant pockets, etc. They go through the metal detectors before taking metal items off of their person. Then following up in shock like they shouldn't have to follow the rules because they're special. Or my favorites: the woman and daughter that just spent $15 on drinks from Starbucks before getting in line and then throwing them on the floor to make a mess in protest of not being able to take it through. All in the "expert traveler" line. Brilliant.

Slow people in airport security piss me off. Black diamond forever...even if idiots get in with the 'experts'.

 

[shaunymac]

I flew not to long ago and I had to take mine out. Luckily I stalled enough to carefully place my 15" mbp on my sleeve. Phew! If those guy's would have thrown it in the grey tub, I probably would have been in the airport jail for some reason or another.

Oh, if you really want to kill some time at the x-ray machine, take some film in a lead bag. One word, Wow! That threw them for a loop. I met the whole security team.

 

[dbo789]

When I've flown, they've just made me take my laptop out of my backpack, but I can keep it in its neoprene sleeve. However, be ready, as I think they do do spot checks where they'll ask you to take it out and turn it on.

 

[Mr. Giver '94]

Usually at LAX they make you take it out of any protective covering/sleeve. Then you put the sleeve in one of those X-ray baskets and the laptop goes on top of it. That's what I always do because I remember one time a traveler and a security worker got into a bit of a quarrel about it.

That was probably a one-time thing, but most other people do the same thing as I do.

 

[aethelbert]

Slow people in airport security piss me off. Black diamond forever...even if idiots get in with the 'experts'.

I got so fed up with it that I just subscribed to Clear. It seems as if every time I would go through the expert line, mommy and daddy would be there along with Mary and baby Jimmy going to Disney world with their stroller and oversized luggage because the family line was too long. They are, of course, security experts since they picked grandma up from the gate in 1998 when she came to visit.

The one that really pushed me over the edge though was a lady, feeling great importance flying in first class to Orlando (yes, she announced it to everyone in line), pushed people forward with a stroller and was yelling because her flight was already boarding. At the same time, half of the screening area was blocked off for a group of world war II veterans going to visit the memorial in Washington. So stroller woman decides that she'll cut in front of them since the line is shorter. She ended up mowing one man down and severely frightening two of them. So after that was over she gets to the check itself and claims to have no time for the rules as she is in a hurry as an important first class patron. This was the same person in front of me in line at check-in, being mad that she couldn't check fourteen bags and three huge boxes for free on a first class ticket. The satisfying ending, though, was that she missed her flight. Can't say that I've ever been too happy to be in line for security before 5am, but it certainly made it a more interesting show than normal.

Lessons learned: have your **** together before you go through security, know the rules beforehand, and strollers can be dangerous. If you don't know the rules, ask before you get to the front. If you're still not sure, ask for assistance politely and someone will almost always be willing to help you out. Or, use Clear!

 

[Signal-11]

I got so fed up with it that I just subscribed to Clear. It seems as if every time I would go through the expert line, mommy and daddy would be there along with Mary and baby Jimmy going to Disney world with their stroller and oversized luggage because the family line was too long. They are, of course, security experts since they picked grandma up from the gate in 1998 when she came to visit.

Lessons learned: have your **** together before you go through security, know the rules beforehand, and strollers can be dangerous. If you don't know the rules, ask before you get to the front. If you're still not sure, ask for assistance politely and someone will almost always be willing to help you out. Or, use Clear!

Clear went out of business last month.

I subscribed to Clear but I rarely used them. Not because I didn't fly enough, but because those Clear lanes were rarely ever open when I flew and when they were, they were usually on the wrong side of the airport.

I tried signing up for the Privium b/c I was flying so much in and out of Schiphol but I was ineligible. I looked into that thing at Heathrow but again, not eligible.