Originally Posted by
Section 107
Similar to as within the PSCs, yes, the baggage inspection locations behind the scenes have video taken many cameras from many angles which is kept for up to 30 days. It is how theft is discouraged - if someone makes a complaint they can paraphrase Warner Wolfe and "go to the video tape." Using the barcodes on the bag and timestamps as it travels through the system, individual bags can be identified quickly as to which belt, station, time and which inspector checked the bag. They can then "follow" the inspector after the event to see if s/he took any items to a locker or other area. It's not much different than a bank or casino video operation. More than a few TSA "officers" have been caught this way.
PSCs?
Originally Posted by
FlyingUnderTheRadar
Do realize that if your laptop is damaged there is no recourse as the airline will not accept any responsibility.
Originally Posted by
Loren Pechtel
I suspect your laptop drew their interest--you're lucky they even allowed it to fly. There are very good reasons for the rule against checking lithium-ion batteries! They have killed a jetliner, fortunately not one with passengers. Baggage handling also can be rough for something like a laptop, not to mention that you'll get $0 compensation if it wanders off--airlines specifically disclaim any responsibility for that sort of stuff in checked baggage.
Lithium-ion cells can decide to fail spectacularly. Usually it's during charging but on occasion it's happened with no obvious trigger. As the cells age they can develop a fault that causes them to discharge through themselves--the internal resistance is low so this gets very hot and the heat accelerates things even further. If that happens in the passenger compartment people will see it and while the fire itself is almost impossible to extinguish it can be kept from spreading. Nobody will be containing it in the baggage compartment.
Originally Posted by
nk15
They probably checked the laptop/turned it on to make sure it was not an explosive device, how they sometimes ask you to do at the carry on screening...Which explains why the inspection notice was in the laptop. To tell you that this was the concern that was checked.
Originally Posted by
GUWonder
They may have removed the laptop during the course of the checked bag inspection, opened it up to ETD swab it and then put the inspection note there. This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve noticed that done. Why they wouldn’t just swab the laptop while it’s closed? Maybe they could have but just wanted to do two things at once because it’s easier for the TSA checked bag inspector doing the check after a flag following the findings from the read of the primary bag screening machine scan of the bag.
On most international trips — even domestic portions of international travel plans by air on separate tickets — the airlines remain liable for any damage or loss/theft of electronics in US-checked luggage accepted for check-in by the airlines. This is because Warsaw and Montreal conventions’ protections are superior to airline contract of carriage-based claims of exclusion of liability coverage. More on this:
https://whoswholegal.com/features/us...ct-of-baggage1
So are laptops and iPads banned from checked luggage? Pre-COVID, I did place my iPad in checked luggage all the time and I don't remember TSA searching my bag at all. Now, I mainly travel with my three cellphones with the biggest being my iPhone 13 Pro Max as it's good enough for my travel needs. I'm trying to bring as less as possible to minimize my time at security. I know there's always the chance that my carry-on can be flagged for a swab, which seems pretty inconsistent. Based on my experience, I found that I have been swabbed more often at LHR, CDG, YYZ, and JFK. I haven't had that done at any other airports.
Should I avoid putting a DSLR in a camera bag in my checked luggage as well?