Ways to get your electronics home without you
 

If the electronics ban goes into effect from Europe to the US I suspect quite a few folks are going to be looking for alternatives to putting their gear into checked baggage. For example, I'd rather trust FedEx with my laptop than airport security and baggage handlers.

I'm hoping those with knowledge of international shipping might share ideas on how to ship electronics, such as laptop computers, with the least difficulty and cost.

After looking at the FedEx site, one question I have is how not to pay duty when shipping my laptop home to myself - I have the receipt, who would I show it to?
(Mods: as this question is indirectly related to security, i.e. dealing with the problems caused by security policy, I'm posting it here. pls move if you feel it would be better elsewhere)

There will be some countries that don't buy into an ineffective ban and make it possible to get to some countries that are contiguous enough to US land or seaports to make it possible to travel with the electronic items without being separated from them.

Cargo theft is a risk -- even when dealing with major overseas cargo carriers. For devices where the most valuable material is the data, better find a way to protect that data.

Also, when items with valuable data are transported out of your sight, there will be a risk that law enforcement or intelligence authorities -- or those acting on behalf of such -- may meddle without it being all as obvious as if the items remained in your sight during the trip.

Some of the data monitoring/surveillance/spying operations engaged in by intelligence agencies couldn't have happened as they have without meddling with cargo shipments.

If data integrity and privacy protection isn't a major concern for the individual and you'll send them out of sight either way, then look first at having the best insurance coverage for damage, loss and theft regardless of whether it goes via common carrier as checked baggage or via cargo.

If I travel with my massive 15.6 inch cheap Windows PC, I will be taking the SSD out first and keeping it on me if that is allowed. Otherwise, at least the SSD somewhere in the suitcase removed from the PC.

Taking a laptop without a removable drive WILL be an issue though, as would taking a tablet :(

I think there is a US Customs form you fill out for such instances to make sure you don't get any duty levied...forget what it's called but IIRC someone posted a link to it in the main laptop ban thread.

The only items of concern for my wife and I are her camera stuff. So with good insurance coverage she'd just get a nice pelican case to check it in if it comes to that. Obviously the memory cards would be with us in the cabin. Seems like the most reasonably option since even shipping FedEx isn't totally foolproof.

I'm thinking about buying a cheap iPad (older model) exclusively for travel and using this combined with cloud and email attachments when needed. I would then just put it in my checked bag. I'd need to be careful not opening anything confidential on it and also always logging out/closing/deleting most stuff before packing. Part of the pain would be not having a decent keyboard to use as well as speed and the latest bells and whistles to which I've grown accustomed.

I'm even considering resurrecting an old iPad, but it's really too old to work on many websites, including some that I need to use for travel. This could make sense if the electronics ban is expected to be temporary, but the old iPad has some pictures, etc. that I might want and I would not want some random stranger to have.

US CBP Form 4457.

That's fine if you're still in the travel planning stage, but for those whose plans are set and paid for, changing at the last minute to alternative routes to avoid the ban isn't feasible.

With some of the risks you mention it's a matter of playing the odds: is FedEx more or less likely than anonymous baggage handlers and security personal likely to damage or steal my electronics?

With FEdEx at least there is a paper trail of accountability that is completely lacking with checked luggage.

As for data monitoring/surveillance/spying operations, what counts on my laptop is created with proprietary software and I own the copyright on the majority of my work (as in registered with the U.S. Copyright Office). Any government agency who accesses it might be entertained, but not enlightened on any issue upon which they might have legitimate concern.

Good to know. Thanks.