Bringing a tablet on the plane as a xmas present
 

I bought a tablet as a xmas present for my daughter and will need to bring it on a plane to the USA 10 days before xmas. Its all wrapped up and boxed as new. I then remembered that customs can ask you to see your electronics working before boarding the plane and at the scanners they ask you to out laptops from their bags and put them separately.

My question is, will security/hand luggage scanning people accept the tablet in a box wrapped up or will they insist that I unwrap it/take it out of the box. Ill be travelling with my daughter so it will ruin the surprise!

Where are you flying from? I've heard of this rule in Europe but only seen it enforced once, when it was just introduced.

As noted above where you are traveling from is key.

I've generally been fine with keeping my iPad in my backpack with the exception of the UK where it was flagged for additional screening at LHR simply because I failed to take it out (forgot it was a requirement there).

I wouldn't worry much about customs - I've never had an issue there, it's just security that has the potential to be problematic.

Im flying SOF-MAD-LHR-MIA. In LHR we have 3 hours transit and will stay airside, but have an overnight in MAD so will need to go through security again.
Many thanks

If you have to go through transit security at LHR (which I believe you'll have to do), it's going to be a problem - for whatever reason they seem to be big sticklers for tablet removal at LHR.

The situation I noted in my OP was from transit security this past summer going the other direction (JFK - LHR - EDI).

Is putting it in your checked bag an option?

Id feel safer with it in my hand luggage, had a phone stolen once when I forgot to put in my hand luggage.

Ill probably risk it and be prepared to open it if required, itll have a plug (and adapter) if they want to see it working and my wife can take my daughter away from sight.

Thanks for all your help

I've not had to power a device up since forever. But within the last month my tablet had to be out at LHR and BGI, so you may think about leaving a flap at the box end you can seal or even re-wrapping. Or, buy a nice tablet cover or case and gift it in that, with ribbon and card. (And I'd definitely not place it in checked baggage, ever.)

You've got three chances at having to have the laptop out - Sophia, Madrid and Heathrow. Madrid less, but I don't know about Sophia and LHR Flight Connections definitely at least out of your carry on.

I would suggest you are almost certainly going to have to take it out (potentially powering up as well). If it's you and your wife traveling, I suggest having a gameplan. Try to make sure your wife takes your daughter to a different security line to you each time.

This is a good idea - and I concur there is close to a 100% chance you'll have to take it out at LHR.

UK security treats tablets the same way TSA treats computers in the US (apart from Pre-Check line). It's required that they come out and if you don't you are subject to the additional search (as happened to me because I forgot the rule).

I disagree with both the 100% and 0% comments. You may have to open the box, but I think it's unlikely you'll be asked to power it up. I go through LHR several times a week and often bring electronics (including tablets) in boxes or sleeves through. Sometimes they are queried, more often than not they aren't. If you put everything back nicely, the only thing you'll be missing is the plastic film.