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Cybersparrow · Nov 8, 2007, 06:13 PM

I'm flying out to visit my parents soon. I'm bringing along my new MacBook so I can get some schoolwork done while I'm there. Do you guys have any tips for getting through security with as little hassle as possible? Also, do they even let you actually use a laptop on a plane anymore?

ghporter · Nov 8, 2007, 06:31 PM

Try going to the TSA web site and searching for "laptop." There's a lot of good information to prepare you for your screening on it.

And yes, once the plane is at altitude, you can use your laptop.

Scarpa · Nov 8, 2007, 07:05 PM

There should be very little hassle bringing a laptop through. Just make sure it's out of the bag and by itself in one of the bins they give you to pass stuff through the xray. They don't make you turn them on anymore.

As for using it on the plane that's allowed as well but you will have to turn it off during ascent and descent.

mdc · Nov 8, 2007, 07:07 PM

* Get it out of its carry case when you get to the baggage / metal detector check, since it has to go through the scanner thing alone.
* Turn off WiFi
* Be prepared for people to feel free to watch whatever you're doing on your laptop while you're flying.

azt33 · Nov 8, 2007, 07:22 PM

Does anyone know if it is better to actually turn off the laptop when the laptop goes through the scanner? I never turn off my laptop, I just put it on sleep. I wonder if it could harm the laptop in anyway

chabig · Nov 8, 2007, 07:48 PM

Turning the computer off is not necessary.

imitchellg5 · Nov 10, 2007, 01:30 PM

Yes it is. It should be completely off. Depending on the airport, they'll make you turn it off and rescan it if it's on.

ibook_steve · Nov 10, 2007, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Yes it is. It should be completely off. Depending on the airport, they'll make you turn it off and rescan it if it's on.

Can you name an airport? I've been flying all over the US recently and this hasn't been the case anywhere.

Steve

chabig · Nov 10, 2007, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

Yes it is. It should be completely off. Depending on the airport, they'll make you turn it off and rescan it if it's on.

I'm an airline pilot. I fly all over the United States. I never shutdown my computer, it always sleeps. I've never had any data loss. I also have never run across an airport that asked me to turn the computer off. In fact, the opposite (that they want to see the machine operate) is more likely, but I've never had them ask that either.

Chris

imitchellg5 · Nov 11, 2007, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by ibook_steve

Can you name an airport? I've been flying all over the US recently and this hasn't been the case anywhere.

Steve

DEN, COS
Colorado Springs is always picky as heck though, Denver can be too.

Jawbone54 · Nov 11, 2007, 12:27 PM

I've taken my notebook on about 12 plane flights this past year. They've never asked me to turn it off. Not in Tampa, Houston, Memphis, Toronto, or Dallas. Airports may vary from place to place about little things, though. Even individual employees seem to have little picky "issues."

If you're in Washington D.C., you have to have your computer on and show them that it "works" by moving the mouse around and clicking on something before they'll let you in almost any building. It gets annoying.

ibook_steve · Nov 11, 2007, 01:46 PM

I've been at Denver and Colorado Springs and never had a problem. Just left my MBP in sleep and put it in a separate bin.

Steve

chabig · Nov 11, 2007, 02:58 PM

I'm based out of Denver and have never seen them ask to have a computer turned off.

ghporter · Nov 11, 2007, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

I've taken my notebook on about 12 plane flights this past year. They've never asked me to turn it off. Not in Tampa, Houston, Memphis, Toronto, or Dallas. Airports may vary from place to place about little things, though. Even individual employees seem to have little picky "issues."

If you're in Washington D.C., you have to have your computer on and show them that it "works" by moving the mouse around and clicking on something before they'll let you in almost any building. It gets annoying.

I've found that they're FAR more careful in D.C. than elsewhere, and that this was true long before 9/11. While I think that not having a completely scripted process that's identical everywhere is probably a good idea, it really doesn't help to have only one, really strict place.

But there's no reason for the computer to be off at any point if you don't want it off. Your wireless-YES! But the whole computer? No.

SSharon · Nov 15, 2007, 01:06 PM

Yea, I have never had a problem sending my sleeping ibook through security. They never ask me to wake it up or turn it off.
I've been through just about every Chicago, DC and NY airport.

loveanh · Nov 15, 2007, 01:15 PM

I'm in the DC area and I know Reagan and Dulles are strict when it comes to little things like turning on the laptop. Heck, when you fly in or out of Reagan, you can not use the bathroom for the first 30 mins departing or the last 30 mins when arriving.