Hi guys I've looked at the DL site and searched the forums but nothing on this, so please help me. I bought 2 laptops as gifts and I will be flying DL to IST soon, is there any problem packing the 2 laptops in their boxes(they are sony vaio TX's extremely small) in my luggage, is that against the rules, or does it mean that TSA will turn my luggage(clothes) upside down. I travel very frequently and have never done this, so your help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Should be no problem at all, but I really wouldn't.

What I would do is check the BOXES and put the laptops in my carry-on. Never NEVER check a laptop.

Any specific reason why?
If theft is the issue. I'm not scared about that, because I fly BizElite and the designated BizElite concourse at JFK is very transparent when it comes to luggage screens, they do it right in front of your eyes. I could wait for them to be done and wait till they put the luggage on the belt.
If you think that the laptop can break, thats not likely either because it was shipped with UPS and the laptops are packed with material that can handle the UPS abuse therefore it can handle the airline abuse
What do you think?

Yikes. As a BizElite customer, do you also follow the case down the chute, under the terminal, through the sorting area, onto the cart and out on the tarmac? Way too many places for it to be stolen, flying Business has nothing to do with it, and at a large airport like JFK your chances of never seeing them again is far too large.

Then of course there is the chance that the bags will simply be misrouted and you'll never see them again, there is no way the airline will cover the costs.

The "abuse" from UPS is nothing compared to the things that happen to a bag at an airport. UPS does not throw your bag, UPS does not drop it off a conveyor from 20 meters high onto asfalt.

Really, I understand you think you'll be safe, but don't take the risk.

Gok,

It doesn't matter if the BizElite area is viewable, when your luggage is out of your control its out of your control. . . and DL has no liability whatsoever in the event that the computers are damaged or go missing on your journey. You just spent a couple of thousand dollars for computers, why wouldn't you keep the laptops with you, ship them as cargo, or use fedex or ups? If they go as luggage, you are at risk.

If its a customs problem you are worried about, at IST if they decide to check your bags, it is likelier that they will open your checked-in bags before they your carry-on bags.

Of course not, but my main concern was the TSA, If I'm using TSA locks who will open it after the TSA?

Believe me, if you ever seen a UPS logistics center it is comparable to the airports, hence they encourage the use of "packaging material"

hfly: If its a customs problem you are worried about, at IST if they decide to check your bags, it is likelier that they will open your checked-in bags before they your carry-on bags.
Customs is not a problem for me, I'm not worried about that But now that everyone is warning me against checking the laptops in, I really am facing a dilemma

How many times have I read on here that someone used TSA locks only to find them cut at the other end? The airlines do not pay you back for lost high-value items like cameras, jewelry and computers for a reason---THEY GET STOLEN!!

Now, I'm not saying that the the baggage handlers at JFK are any worse than any other airport. It happens everywhere. The best way never to see those laptops again, in my opinion, would be to check them in as luggage.

Oh, I guess around 1000 possible people.

Really, the TSA is the least of your worries. What if your suitcase gets misrouted and ends up goodness knows where, do you really think they will treat the contents with respect? There are airports where no laptop would ever make it safely out the correct end.

But really; we offered our advise, it is up to you whether or not you take that advice, I've seen far too many people lose their entire suitcase, or just the valuable stuff they had in it.

[QUOTE=gokmengs]
Believe me, if you ever seen a UPS logistics center it is comparable to the airports, hence they encourage the use of "packaging material"

I agree that a UPS sorting center is at least a brutal as an airport,but and this is a big but... UPS is far less apt to have a "pilferage problem"
That said ..
Carry them on

If I were you I would NEVER check those. If you ever look out the window of a councourse you see how ground workers handle bgs.

It's not so much worring about the laptops getting stolen, but rather they'll be thrown around and possibly broken.

If I were you I would do as ScottC sugguested, check the boxes and put the actual laptops in your carryon.

Not only is checking laptops a bad idea for MANY reasons (most already stated) it does indeed go against Delta's guidelines.

From their website http://www.delta.com/traveling_check...alue/index.jsp

"Delta is not responsible or liable for cash, camera equipment, commercial effects, computer software and equipment, electronic equipment, fragile articles, jewelry, lifesaving medication, negotiable papers, irreplaceable business documents, works of art or other similar valuable items contained in checked or unchecked baggage. These items should be carried by the passenger."