Yes! You most certainly can carry your laptop, notepad, I-pad, and MacBook along with your backpack, luggage, and accessories in the airport. However, the airline security system demands some protocols to prevent the smuggling of drugs and gold.
So It is essential to have prior cognition of the rules to avoid triggering alarms and getting penalties.
To-do and Not To-do:
When it comes to traveling overseas, security checks at the airport are a headache for not only newbies but also frequent travelers. According to the regulations of the Transportation Security Admission System(TSA), your personal laptop or any other mobile electronic device should be taken out from your luggage, suitcase, or backpack for scanning purposes.
In brief, you can’t keep your laptop or notebook in your checked-in bag, they need to be in your carry bag. After it passes through the X-ray belt, You might also need to switch on your devices for manual inspection by the authorities.
Why Security Checking is Needed?
In plain eyes, this whole security system might appear as an additional hassle. But it’s actually necessary more than you realize. For example, PanAm 103 was destroyed by explosives disguised in a boom-box stereo.
So the screening process determines if the laptop contains the general circuit boards and elements. Indication of any type of damage or repair might take more scrutiny because deformed laptops are often used to hide smuggled products.
It explains why you need to take out every single piece of electronic component for examination that includes laptop batteries too. If lithium-ion batteries are kept in checked luggage, most probably it will be denied on-board.
How Many Laptops Can You Carry?
The good news is there is no limit in terms of the number of laptops according to the TSA. One can carry as many as one wants, be it professional or personal. But different airlines impose different impositions on the number.
Also if it’s an international flight, the customs department of the country you are arriving in can have a lot to handle. From tariff to search without a warrant. Though all of them will be checked individually that’s not stopping you from maintaining your personal space.
Ways to Lessen Check-up Hassle:
If you are someone who prioritises time and comfort above money, you might opt for a checkpoint friendly bag with no metal snaps, zippers, buckles or pockets inside the bag which can lie flatly in the X-ray belt.
The most exciting information we can give you is, all the stress and rush will be over once 3D scanning technology is implemented on all the airports.
In the US, it will take most likely five years to replace the old scanners of most of the US airports. This new technology known as computed tomography will be able to scan the laptops even when it’s inside a bag or under a pile of clothes.
Additional Tips:
Most airlines try to provide you with a cozy travel experience (for business purposes obviously). So it’s allowed that you use your laptop in mid-flight but not during take-off or landing.
To take that advantage complementary, some pre-flight preparation might help. Before going through the security process, you ought to back up windows laptops or backup Macbooks to cloud storage or an external hard drive-in case any unwanted incident like confiscation or theft occurs.
Noting down your laptop name, model and configuration can come in handy too. For international flights, carry a plug adaptor so that it can work on a 230-volt current.
Conclusion:
After all the bars and protocols, when you are half-laying on your cozy seat try to find the switchboard in the back or in the side. That will enable a fun journey without making your (not your’s, actually your laptop’s) battery dead. Best of luck with your on-air experience!