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laptops & airline travel

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Markbk

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I have heard that laptops are subseptible to being stolen at the check in points in airports. Do any of you carry laptops when you travel?
 
You mean at the security check point. You place your laptop on the conver to the xray and stand at the other end to retrieve it. Then no one can pick you laptop up.
--
A.Small
 
alldigital said:
You mean at the security check point. You place your laptop on the
conver to the xray and stand at the other end to retrieve it. Then
no one can pick you laptop up.
Click to expand...
You must travel through very lightly loaded airports, and never get stopped for security. While I can generally keep sight of the laptop as I go through the security process, I can certainly imagine them walking off, particularly if they have to use the wand on me, particularly when there are several people in the queue.
 
Hi Markbk,
Markbk said:
I have heard that laptops are subseptible to being stolen at the
check in points in airports. Do any of you carry laptops when you
travel?
Click to expand...
I take a laptop with me wherever I go. The laptop is usually the least of my worries since I travel with multiple bodies and lenses as well. I think I'd fit almost anybody's definition of a frequent flyer, and to some very weird places too.

Really, I don't worry about this very much. Just stay alert. But I do have some habits that I'll share here. Your more primitive airports (N'Djamena, Douala, Maun, etc.) are a different story but assuming it is your normal airport security situation:
  • Don't walk through the metal detector until your stuff, all of it including the laptop, has passed into the x-ray machine. This prevents somebody coming in behind you and taking the laptop, although I think that is very unlikely in these "secure" days. They'll want to rush you, but just stand there calmly and confidently watching your gear and there won't be a problem.
  • Before you get to security, offload all possible metal items into a carry on bag. That includes belt buckle, cell, pens, foil wrapped candy, etc. If you beep going through the machine you are more likely to be pulled aside for the explosives sniffer or a pat down.
  • Often these days, if they do pull you aside, they will say "Is this yours?" and pull the items off to a table while they do the search. If they don't, politely say "I have valuables in those bags. I want to be able to keep an eye on them" or words to that effect. Polite, I said. They get sneered at all day so being nice but professional with your concerns is very refreshing and gets a good result.
By the way,the biggest worry is when you go through security with no problems and there's a crowd grabbing bags. That's the time when somebody about to board a plane is most likely to accidentally grab your look-alike bag and transport it to some unusual location. It seems everybody has a black bag these days. I put bright visual markers on my stuff (fluorescent foam rubber handle pads, unusual ribbon, etc).

Hope this helps,
Rick Wallace
 
Nice tips Rick. Even though I have not had an instance yet, I'll have to keep them in mind next time I'm traveling.
 
Every single time. No problem. I always put it through X-ray as the last item before I go through the metal detector. I watch it go in the X-ray before I leave it. Almost always, I'm through before it comes out of X-ray. And I always keep an eye out ahead to watch for someone getting at my stuff.

Best advice; be cautious and very observant. Cooperate with security and you'll get through much smoother, quicker, and usually before your stuff.
 
I wrote my earlier reply before reading the following. Rick has said exactly what I was saying, and much more, very succinctly. His tips are excellent ... I do the same thing he describes, and very rarely have trouble. Very good advice.
Rick Wallace said:
Markbk said:
I have heard that laptops are subseptible to being stolen at the
check in points in airports. Do any of you carry laptops when you
travel?
Click to expand...
I take a laptop with me wherever I go. The laptop is usually the
least of my worries since I travel with multiple bodies and lenses
as well. I think I'd fit almost anybody's definition of a frequent
flyer, and to some very weird places too.

Really, I don't worry about this very much. Just stay alert. But
I do have some habits that I'll share here. Your more primitive
airports (N'Djamena, Douala, Maun, etc.) are a different story but
assuming it is your normal airport security situation:
  • Don't walk through the metal detector until your stuff, all of it
including the laptop, has passed into the x-ray machine. This
prevents somebody coming in behind you and taking the laptop,
although I think that is very unlikely in these "secure" days.
They'll want to rush you, but just stand there calmly and
confidently watching your gear and there won't be a problem.
  • Before you get to security, offload all possible metal items into
a carry on bag. That includes belt buckle, cell, pens, foil wrapped
candy, etc. If you beep going through the machine you are more
likely to be pulled aside for the explosives sniffer or a pat down.
  • Often these days, if they do pull you aside, they will say "Is
this yours?" and pull the items off to a table while they do the
search. If they don't, politely say "I have valuables in those
bags. I want to be able to keep an eye on them" or words to that
effect. Polite, I said. They get sneered at all day so being nice
but professional with your concerns is very refreshing and gets a
good result.

By the way,the biggest worry is when you go through security with
no problems and there's a crowd grabbing bags. That's the time
when somebody about to board a plane is most likely to accidentally
grab your look-alike bag and transport it to some unusual location.
It seems everybody has a black bag these days. I put bright visual
markers on my stuff (fluorescent foam rubber handle pads, unusual
ribbon, etc).

Hope this helps,
Rick Wallace
Click to expand...
 
Another good practice: If you are travelling with someone else, wait until they have cleared the metal detector and are on the other side (assuming they are not then getting frisked) and THEN put your laptop through. They can keep an eye on it on the other side while you go through the metal detector.

I have also read that because many laptops are indistingushable from others, they are often mistakenly picked up. I have a 3 inch strip of red vinyl tape on the cover of my laptop to set it apart.
 
David Boston said:
Every single time. No problem. I always put it through X-ray as
the last item before I go through the metal detector. I watch it
go in the X-ray before I leave it. Almost always, I'm through
before it comes out of X-ray. And I always keep an eye out ahead
to watch for someone getting at my stuff.

Best advice; be cautious and very observant. Cooperate with
security and you'll get through much smoother, quicker, and usually
before your stuff.
Click to expand...
In LAX the game used to be someone would jump in front of you just after you placed your laptop/camera bag on the belt and they would have multiple metal objects - they served as the stall while their confederate grabbed your laptop. LAPD nipped that in the bud and it is now not as easy as previously - you have to have a ticket to go thru security.

Airports are still places with lots of theives - baggage claim and eating areas are now more of a target for theives than the security check points.

Be aware - that is the key.
 
What about the security procedures for laptops these days? I may take mine on vacation next month, instead of investing in a PSD. My only hesitation is the hassels of air travel with a laptop. Last time I did, I had to wait in a special line and hand it over to the TSA agent (Detroit) and wait for them to open it up, swab it, and analyze the swab for explosive material. Then they wanted me to show them that it is infact a laptop by booting it up, and shutting it back down. This was back in 2002.

In all it probably added 10 minutes to my security check time. And with young kids tagging along, every extra minute of standing in line seems like eternity.

What are peoples experiences lately, in the US, travelling with laptops?
Any tips or suggestions?

Also, is any of the x-ray / scanning equipment dangerous to laptops, DSLRs, or Flash media?

Regards
Rick Wallace said:
Markbk said:
I have heard that laptops are subseptible to being stolen at the
check in points in airports. Do any of you carry laptops when you
travel?
Click to expand...
I take a laptop with me wherever I go. The laptop is usually the
least of my worries since I travel with multiple bodies and lenses
as well. I think I'd fit almost anybody's definition of a frequent
flyer, and to some very weird places too.

Really, I don't worry about this very much. Just stay alert. But
I do have some habits that I'll share here. Your more primitive
airports (N'Djamena, Douala, Maun, etc.) are a different story but
assuming it is your normal airport security situation:
  • Don't walk through the metal detector until your stuff, all of it
including the laptop, has passed into the x-ray machine. This
prevents somebody coming in behind you and taking the laptop,
although I think that is very unlikely in these "secure" days.
They'll want to rush you, but just stand there calmly and
confidently watching your gear and there won't be a problem.
  • Before you get to security, offload all possible metal items into
a carry on bag. That includes belt buckle, cell, pens, foil wrapped
candy, etc. If you beep going through the machine you are more
likely to be pulled aside for the explosives sniffer or a pat down.
  • Often these days, if they do pull you aside, they will say "Is
this yours?" and pull the items off to a table while they do the
search. If they don't, politely say "I have valuables in those
bags. I want to be able to keep an eye on them" or words to that
effect. Polite, I said. They get sneered at all day so being nice
but professional with your concerns is very refreshing and gets a
good result.

By the way,the biggest worry is when you go through security with
no problems and there's a crowd grabbing bags. That's the time
when somebody about to board a plane is most likely to accidentally
grab your look-alike bag and transport it to some unusual location.
It seems everybody has a black bag these days. I put bright visual
markers on my stuff (fluorescent foam rubber handle pads, unusual
ribbon, etc).

Hope this helps,
Rick Wallace
Click to expand...
 
Just went through security at Detroit Metro on 2/6 and Miami Intl on 2/13 with no hassles. They will inspect for explosives if you don't declare it and leave it in a bag. Just use any line and take the laptop out of the bag, place it in a tray and run it through X-ray with your keys, change, and other metal objects. My body got searched at Miami because I left the darn belt on (metal buckle), but the laptop went through with no hassles.

You might have your spouse or traveling companion go first in line in case you are stopped for a body search. Then someone can keep an eye on the laptop.

Don H.
DSLRTechno said:
What are peoples experiences lately, in the US, travelling with
laptops?
Any tips or suggestions?

Also, is any of the x-ray / scanning equipment dangerous to
laptops, DSLRs, or Flash media?

Regards
Rick Wallace said:
Markbk said:
I have heard that laptops are subseptible to being stolen at the
check in points in airports. Do any of you carry laptops when you
travel?
Click to expand...
I take a laptop with me wherever I go. The laptop is usually the
least of my worries since I travel with multiple bodies and lenses
as well. I think I'd fit almost anybody's definition of a frequent
flyer, and to some very weird places too.

Really, I don't worry about this very much. Just stay alert. But
I do have some habits that I'll share here. Your more primitive
airports (N'Djamena, Douala, Maun, etc.) are a different story but
assuming it is your normal airport security situation:
  • Don't walk through the metal detector until your stuff, all of it
including the laptop, has passed into the x-ray machine. This
prevents somebody coming in behind you and taking the laptop,
although I think that is very unlikely in these "secure" days.
They'll want to rush you, but just stand there calmly and
confidently watching your gear and there won't be a problem.
  • Before you get to security, offload all possible metal items into
a carry on bag. That includes belt buckle, cell, pens, foil wrapped
candy, etc. If you beep going through the machine you are more
likely to be pulled aside for the explosives sniffer or a pat down.
  • Often these days, if they do pull you aside, they will say "Is
this yours?" and pull the items off to a table while they do the
search. If they don't, politely say "I have valuables in those
bags. I want to be able to keep an eye on them" or words to that
effect. Polite, I said. They get sneered at all day so being nice
but professional with your concerns is very refreshing and gets a
good result.

By the way,the biggest worry is when you go through security with
no problems and there's a crowd grabbing bags. That's the time
when somebody about to board a plane is most likely to accidentally
grab your look-alike bag and transport it to some unusual location.
It seems everybody has a black bag these days. I put bright visual
markers on my stuff (fluorescent foam rubber handle pads, unusual
ribbon, etc).

Hope this helps,
Rick Wallace
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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