|
|
Flying with a laptop (in the USA)
|
|
|
|
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Join Date: Aug 2007
Status:
Offline
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
Offline
|
|
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.
|
Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Aug 2002
Status:
Offline
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY²
Status:
Offline
|
|
* 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Status:
Offline
|
|
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
|
MacBook Pro 15.4/ i7 2.2 / 8.0/ 750/ DL SD/ APX
iPhone 4 16GB (black)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status:
Offline
|
|
Turning the computer off is not necessary.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status:
Offline
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Jose, CA
Status:
Offline
|
|
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
|
Celebrating 10 years and 4000 posts on MacNN!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status:
Offline
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Colorado
Status:
Offline
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Louisiana
Status:
Offline
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Jose, CA
Status:
Offline
|
|
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
|
Celebrating 10 years and 4000 posts on MacNN!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status:
Offline
|
|
I'm based out of Denver and have never seen them ask to have a computer turned off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
Offline
|
|
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.
|
Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Professional Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Teaneck, NJ
Status:
Offline
|
|
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.
|
AT&T iPhone 5S and 6; 13" MBP; MDD G4.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dedicated MacNNer
Join Date: Nov 2006
Status:
Offline
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Rules
|
|
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|