Try going through a tier 3 airport like Appleton, WI. Make you turn your laptop on for sure due to their older x-ray unit.

Dorian

Airport security is so easy to fool when it comes to bringing electronics through.

If one wanted to, they could get one of those dummy cell phones that they have at the phone retailers, stuff it with C4, and you're good to go.

I will never leave my faith in airport security unless they make some severe changes in which the checks are made.

US security is a joke and really a risk, especially when one can compare to the seriousness of European security and security personnel. Wish there were more spot inspections and tests. But then our solution to fake FBI agents gaining access to buildings is to require genuine FBI agents to check their weapons.

I got a smallish laptop (Sony PCG-CX1) which security doesn't even notice! I've never been stopped since I bought it.

Also my new cell phone doesn't set off most metal detectors. So if I hang my shirt out over the phone on my hip, they don't even realize it's there. Yet if my shirt is tucked in, they ask to see the phone turned on. What a joke!

I agree with Pitbull1K,

The trick I use for my laptop and the airport x-ray machine is to put the laptop in my roller-bag. I can't recall the last time my laptop has been checked since, while other less fortunate souls both before me and after me in the x-ray line have been "chosen". I think they focus on laptop carry bags.

Also, here is a pretty interesting article on the subject I found today.
http://www.apbnews.com/newscenter/br...er0529_01.html

Reprise for newbies! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

You know, I have never been asked to turn on my laptop - and I have never traveled without it. I would say about 1 out of 4 times I am asked to let them do the residue test thing, but that's all. If you're worried about getting held up why don't you just close the lid and put your laptop on standby - that will save a lot of time waiting for a reboot.

I do this all the time and highly recommend it to everybody else. Besides coming up very bast, traveling with a disk in the drive keeps stray items in the bag (like paperclips) from getting in.

It's becoming a moot point though, it's rare now I get asked to turn the laptop on, mostly they just swab the case.

I've been doing this for years - and I must look suspicious (no comments please) because I'm forever being asked to power up.. having a diskette in the A drive makes it painless -well, less painful. My battery is dead, so I CAN'T powerup without dragging out the power cord, finding an outlet, having them hover over me, etc.. one of those inexpensive tasks I never seem to get around to http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Ever notice a correlation between being asked to power up and the number of minutes you have to get to your gate? When I have two hours, I'm NEVER asked http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I don't know where you guys are going through security, but I've never been asked to power up my laptop. Just put it through the x-ray machine and keep going.

I frequently have it checked for gunpowder and remains of explosives (as described by the security droid, but who knows) with the cotton swabs, but never have to remove it from my briefcase.

Since I got the Sony Picturebook over a year ago, I never even get the cotton swab check. They must think it's a large Palm Pilot. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I have never had to power it up; however they often do the swab thing when it is in a PC case, but never when it is in a backpack. Now what happens when the residue thing makes a mistake and it comes back positive. What do they do?

I haven't had anyone ask me to boot up my notebook in years-- but I also carry it in my briefcase.