Checking a laptop in baggage - still a big no no?
 

Leaving today on a hectic 55,000 real miles safari to 3 different continents in a week or so. Lots of take offs and landings.

My main laptop is having issues closing the lid as frame has cracked, and my fear is it will kack itself by journey end and as it occured only today no chance to have lid replaced.

My back up lap top I was thinking of popping into into a padded computer case inside suitcase and if main one kacked it I'd have a back up with most of my data on there.

I recall reading that screens explode or crack in aircraft holds etc. Is that just an urban myth - or issues with older screen technology, or a very real danger these days?

Heading to airport in a few hours, so thanks in advance for any input. ;)

Glen

Are you kidding? The cardinal rule remains: never check anything you couldn't stand never to see again. I don't know about air pressure issues destroying your screens, but I do know about sticky-fingered security people and handlers rifling your bag. Don't do it

Besides, if your laptop screen is cracked and won't close properly, one good drop from a fair height (when your checked bag rolls off a cart or is booted up onto a belt by a rough handler) would finish it anyway.

We always check bags and they are never rifled, and we do a few 100,000 real miles a year. (Altho this trip includes Bolivia so never say never!) Belt ties, TSA locks etc.

I was only curious if laptop will likely be damaged in cargo hold.

Well, suit yourself, but you're taking a hell of a risk. That's like saying you never bother wearing seat belts because you've never been injured in a serious accident. Good luck.

NEVER EVER EVER EVER check ANYTHING of value in your checked luggage!!!!

Rule #1, Rule #2352, Rule #659232233 all apply.

I usually never check luggage. However recently I was forced to check a piece of luggage.

Upon arriving at my destination, I noticed my luggage had been opened and rifled through - I had nothing of value in it, but nonetheless it was opened and rifled through, and no TSA love note left!!

NEVER EVER EVER check anything of value! I'd rather FEDEX it or UPS it with insurance!

The back up laptop is possibly worth less than the suitcase exterior cost!

It has no great value, but will be handy if the main ones folds.

Sorry this is not a thread asking if someone should check baggage. I've done that for over 5 million miles of travel with no issues.

I just want to know if there is any EVIDENCE that the laptop will not like it. :)

What he said. ^ FT is chockablock with people who've lost valuable stuff from checked luggage and are out of luck because the airline points the finger at security services and vice versa. Anything you check is completely vulnerable to crooks in various uniforms. End of story.

A laptop is a magnet for a thief. Airlines are not liable if it goes missing or gets damaged. Why not just take the backup laptop as a carry on and leave the near-death one at home?

Bolding mine: This is F/t rule #2 (right after rule #1 which is hang up and call back ;))

Mods can close this thanks - it has turned in an OMNI thread about checking baggage, despite trying to get an actual answer to the thread question.

to answer the actual question
 

there is no technical risk to checking a laptop PC in a suitcase, beyond the standard "rough handling" issues that can arise with any suitcase. The lower pressure / temperature in the cargo hold will not cause the display to crack/explode/what have you.

As long as it's packed adequately so the usual cargo handling processes don't physically damage it, your only other worry is theft. Since you seem comfortable with that, you're good to go.

Personally, I've done similar things with low value older notebooks, like yours, where even if it's stolen there's no real loss. The one thing I'd suggest is taking out the hard disk and carrying that with you, since while the PC itself may not be worth that much you may have personal data on the disk that's valuable and/or sensitive. At least on all my notebooks (except for Macbooks) popping the hard disk out or in is a very simply task.

Bob

I've not heard of any problems, it seems that quite a few people do check them. The baggage holds are pressurized exactly the same as the passenger compartment, but not all holds are heated. I would try to pack it towards the middle of your suitcase, so that it has some protection against cold if your suitcase happens to be near the planes skin.

Back to the original question : My experience
 

I have had multiple instances over the past years where I had to have laptop/s in my check-in bags. No issues whatsoever. My strategy has always been to put it in a nice padded/armored case, then pack it in the suitcase. There has been instances where TSA has opened the entire thing (left me note).

So far so good, no exploding screens or whatever.

Good luck with your adventure.

Thanks last 3 posters .. that is what I thought, but my partner scolded me not to, so thought on FT someone will have some FACTS - not urban myth about the pressure cracking screens!

May be a bit naff but I had a pad of VistaPrint stickers done that say 'Password Protected - $300 reward if found - no questions asked, if returned intact if lost" and my email address.

A medium level used lap top is worth nothing like $300 to anyone else except ME!

Never had to pay out, but I can bet if stolen I'll get an email "found this in a dumpster - is the reward for real?".

1) Be careful of temperature differences -- removing the machine from a cold-ish hold and turning it in the 100F heat of a safari may cause condensation, so let the machine get used to the temperature change.

2) Remove the battery, or tape over the power contacts so make sure it doesn't turn on. A laptop that turns on inflight packed around clothes may create heat damage.

No other technical issues come to mind, and I'll spare you the lecture on never packing a laptop in checked luggage ;)

Have a great trip.

Glen,

I've done it many times without issue on domestic and international flights.

I put it in the middle of the suitcase with clothes around it and have never had a problem (or a similarly packed bottle of wine broken).

Have a good trip!

My BIL has a SwissGear roll-aboard that has a built-in computer compartment. I gasped the first time he checked it .... and gave him Rule #1, Rule #2352, and Rule #659232233.

He looked at me like I was crazy, and did it anyway. What do I know?

At this point, he probably has put his laptop in a checked bag on about a dozen TATL flights and 4-6 TPAC flights .... and all the short-medium distance connecting flights.

He's never had a technical issue .... and maybe security has not discovered the laptop compartment???

I would not, but if you must, then pad and protect it very well.

Modern laptops are fragile, and subject to internal damage especially if shaken or knocked about from side to side.

If your current laptop is on it's last legs, replace it with a tablet when the time comes. Lighter, more thin, not as fragile as one thinks, easier to work with, and to pack. I just took one from the Alps to the Amazon and back without problems. But in checked luggage ? I think not.

#1 rule in not getting caught taking things is to never tell anyone you have them. But then again, theifs are often not so smart. But enough of that.

Your main risk here is going to be force damage caused by any impact or drop... not just top or bottom but the sides where you have a number of modular components [not to mention of course all the internal goodies like the hard drive which are fairly mechanical]. The screen should perform just fine after the altitude, although again, it doesn't take a ton to break / disrupt them in terms of movement. Invest in the case or a bag designed to hold something mid-pack.

As ScottC mentioned, remove the battery to be safe on any warming issues.

You may want to hand carry that and pack the adapter a bit away. Not sure how the x-rays look at checked bags but less electronic "bumps" means less reason to open up, look, and move something up top.

A few years back we had a security shut down on TATL with no hand luggage allowed WT all, went on for about 2 weeks as I recall. I needed to head over to Dallas with my laptop in my hard case checked in. No damage issues but the advice on temp change is goos, the laptop had condensation on the outside so had obviously not been in a heated compartment.

Wouldn't do it often I don't think

Assuming that the battery is lithium ion, as almost all are these days, if you remove it from the computer, you'll need to hand carry the loose battery with you on board. It cannot be loose in a checked bag.

Theft issues aside, I've gate checked my laptop many times as the bag it rides around in usually won't fit the overheads on a CRJ. The airlines don't want you to do it because of the possibility of handling damage but I've never had a problem.

I never checked my laptop, dsl camera and lens. However, a cousin of mine is a silver jewelry manufacturer. Every year he flew internationally to Jewelry fair in Tucson AZ, checked his merchandises which worth at least $40k in one big hard suitcase and not loosing any sleep over it. :p

I have done 100s of thousands of miles over the last 10 years, through some of the most god forsaken countries (bolivia, paraguay, rural indonesia etc) and have never had anything stolen out of my luggage. I have checked laptops, SLR cameras, synthesizers...anything. Having travel insurance means not having to stress too much about it. Losing a laptop would be a pain for sure (however I DO backup regularly) but sometimes when your carryon is already huge you need to check in other stuff.

Almost every trip I go on recently I pack a couple of bottles of fine wine for my important customer - these are just wrapped inside t-shirts in the miiddle of the case. Again, never stolen, never broken.

Now that I have posted this, expect to see me back in month or so saying how, for the first time ever I had a broken bottle and stolen laptop....!

Well an update report - that packed in a flat laptop bag, it survived the 25,000 miles of SYD-LAX-IAD-DXB just fine. :)

The only mishap was the &*&%$%& TSA totally removed my allegedly 'TSA Friendly' new $30 combo lock padlock bought from Lonely Planet mail order, on the LAX-IAD. :mad: :td: :rolleyes:

Took Scott's good suggestion and removed the battery.

As per Chatterbocks comment we often take booze in checked bags as well (3 bottles bubbly each in these same bags) and again well wrapped they always survive. Bubbly far better than still wine, as the bubbly bottles are under pressure and even a hard knock will not generally break one.

Chatterbocks - off to Bolivia tomorrow via USA and EZE,so I'll see how it suurvives that. :)

Isn't it funny how you can travel 50,000 miles, visit remote locations and wander through the jungle, and the US TSA is the worst part of the experience?

Well TSA do not make travel life fun Scott, we certainly all realise that by now!

Ensuring we are secure is fine, but literally stealing new locks is quite another thing. :td:

I feel sure the Security Forum has 50,000 rants, and no more are really needed, but geez you pay $30 for a 'TSA Approved' lock from Lonely Planet, and when they use bolt cutters to remove it, really earns them some of that loathing!

Anyway, in Dubai where booze costs a ton, sipping ozzie bubbly here now that made it safely, despite the TSA is getting the last laugh I guess. :cool:

I've given up on TSA locks. Too many have gone missing. I use thick zip ties which are cheap and, if nothing else, somewhat tamper evident.

Another good option is affix stuffbak.com stickers to all of your portable devices. This permits you to update rewards as needed as well as protects the privacy of your contact info. Also different size stickers with some that probably smaller than vistaprint (whatever those are).

Studies have shown most people are honest and will return found items if they have an easy way to do it - i.e. calling a number or emailing. Unfortunately most devices lack this info - and with password protection you can be SOL>

Having recently left a laptop at a TSA checkpoint (since safely recovered:) ) you might also consider the following advice from TSA: Place a label with your name and cell phone # inside your battery case. This is the first place TSA will check and they can then page you if you are still inside the terminal (as will often be the case). This is actually easier said than done as my Lenovo doesn't have a good surface and I don't think I can even open my Apple case.

This is true also if you are leaving devices in the back of hot cars. Also keep in mind the varied temps in the baggage hold, though that would probably be more likely to affect the wines than your electronics.

Also good to remove the battery to prevent fires a la the Sony laptop incidents. Sometime "off" is not really "off" and my blackberry has a habit of turning itself on in the overhead compartment.

I used to pack an Asus netbook with a solid state hard disk and never had a problem. One thing to note though: If you are flying with SAA (or going through JNB at all, with any airline) at any point in your trip, I remind you their baggage policy:

- 23KG economy
- 30KG business or gold
- A certain sense of entitlement to any valuable items in your checked in bag.

(Edit: And that includes DVDs, leather belts, new shoes and cameras, as well as laptops.)

I see that a security employee was just caught stealing an IPAD from checked baggage and trying to hide it down his trousers.

The article also mentions the thief previously stealing and then selling over $50,000 USD worth of computers, GPS, and other valuables also taken from checked passenger baggage. Photos were taken, uploaded, and many of the items sold online BEFORE HE COMPLETED HIS SHIFT !

Additionally, the thief made his bail of $ 4,000 USD (no doubt from the stolen proceeds of his theft sales) to end his stay in custody. Being a US Federal employee, what happened to the famous Levenworth Prison ? Hardly an example of justice for the passengers that were his victims, is it.

Still think it's a good idea to carry valuables and electronics as check-through luggage ?

Still works fine for us. Laptop stil lworking fine after about 10 checked long flights.

A million cars a day get stolen globally, but I still choose to drive one. Call me reckless. :cool: