Laptops?

[ChisJo]

I have heard that bringing laptops onto a plane can be a real nightmare. We are thinking of bringing ours on our upcoming trip, but I am hesitant because of all the horror stories I have heard. Can anyone tell me their experience with this? Good or bad?

 

[F4disneyfan]

My inlaws have done this 2 times once as checked bagage in their luggage and once as carry on. As carry on it was always in the way as they didn't want to put it in the overhead compartment. As checked baggage the screen got broken during baggage transportation so they do not plan to ever take their new one with them again.

 

[dhluvsDisney]

Um, my husband and I travel for business, and our laptops are ALWAYS with us. We take them on board and even use them on board. We've yet to ever have a problem over many years.

 

[TimNDansMom]

My DH always takes his laptop on the plane with him and puts it in the overhead compartment and never had a problem. I took mine with me last week for the first time and did the same thing with no problem. I put my jacket on top of it so no one would place anything else there. I would never pack it in my luggage for the same reason F4disneyfan stated. It is something else to deal with when going through security (I had a tote bag as well) because you have to take it out of the case and put it into the plastic container to go through screening, but wasn't a big deal to me, we had lots of time.

 

[MinnieMommy]

We've taken ours as carry on without any problems. Great for downloading pictures each day!

Interesting info dh recently found out at a meeting regarding Freedom of Information and Privacy Act(or similar??) ..... airport security is allowed to copy all of the information from your hard drive. Just FYI if you have any sort of files that have personal info like banking, SIN etc. (sorry my "tech" speak isn't very good!)

 

[shoes99]

We take ours as carry-on and have not had any problems. No nightmare. When you go thru security, you have to take the laptop out of its carry case. We store it in the overhead compartment, or under the seat in front of us. We bought a roll on case from e-bags and it fits under the seat.

 

[PurpleEars]

We have also taken our laptop on the plane for a number of trips without any problems. Just pull it out and put it in the plastic bin when you go through security. They usually ask you to turn it on to make sure it is really a laptop and that's about it.

We always put the laptop bag under the seat in front of us, because (1) we know exactly where it is the whole time, and (2) we can watch a movie on the laptop. We bought a headphone splitter so we can plug 2 sets of headphones into the computer when we watch a movie.

We are now thinking about taking 2 laptops and a network cable on the plane so we can play computer games together!

 

[ChisJo]

My inlaws have done this 2 times once as checked bagage in their luggage and once as carry on. As carry on it was always in the way as they didn't want to put it in the overhead compartment. As checked baggage the screen got broken during baggage transportation so they do not plan to ever take their new one with them again.

Yikes!

I think we will take ours onto the plane this time round, just to see if it works for us. We do want to use the wireless internet when travelling, and also we want to be able to download our photos, which I know we'll have lots of (I'm a photo freak!). Also, we were thinking about watching some movies when we have the layovers, so thanks everyone for your responses....it doesn't sound as bad as I thought it would be!

 

[F4disneyfan]

Yikes!

I think we will take ours onto the plane this time round, just to see if it works for us. We do want to use the wireless internet when travelling, and also we want to be able to download our photos, which I know we'll have lots of (I'm a photo freak!). Also, we were thinking about watching some movies when we have the layovers, so thanks everyone for your responses....it doesn't sound as bad as I thought it would be!

Ya they were none to impressed but reluctantly their travel insurance paid for a new one for them. They took theirs primarily to take the images off their camera. So rather than that now they just bought larger capacity memory cards for teh camera to make things easier. We did the same we take 2 2 gig cards and a single 8 gig card with us.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

I have circumnavigated the globe several times with mine on business and never had any problems. Interestingly enough many countries do not ask you to take your lap top out of the bag although Canada does. I have also never been asked in the last few years to turn either my laptop or my blackberry on.

 

[Ham Ham]

Yikes!

I think we will take ours onto the plane this time round, just to see if it works for us. We do want to use the wireless internet when travelling, and also we want to be able to download our photos, which I know we'll have lots of (I'm a photo freak!). Also, we were thinking about watching some movies when we have the layovers, so thanks everyone for your responses....it doesn't sound as bad as I thought it would be!

Carrying the laptop on the plane is always advisable. If you have a proper case storing it above or below shouldn't be an issue.

If carrying on the plane make sure the batteries are charged in case CATSA or TSA wants to see it powered up.

Here's some cases that can take abuse. Click on images for links.



Another option is uploading your photos to your iPod.
CLick for info.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Carrying the laptop on the plane is always advisable. If you have a proper case storing it above or below shouldn't be an issue.

If carrying on the plane make sure the batteries are charged in case CATSA or TSA wants to see it powered up.

Here's some cases that can take abuse. Click on images for links.



Another option is uploading your photos to your iPod.
CLick for info.

We have the ipod adapter for our Nikon D80 it works like a charm. Once you return home just synch it up and transfer the pics to your computer. The in laws were lucky enough to get their travel insurance to replace their notebook but that soured them from ever taking it again unless they drive.

 

[AndyMcV]

Hi Gang

I too travel with a laptop for work and took a laptop on our last 2 trips to Disney. I've never had a problem bringing it on the plane. I've had to remove it from it's backpack to go through the airport scanner but that's it. When I'm on the plane I've just put it under the seat in front of me when I'm not using it.

To be honest it's a nice backup for all those precious photos taken on a Disney trip.

The only thing I've heard lately is that when flying into the US there was something about scanning laptop harddrives where they actually make you start up your computer. Maybe someone can confirm this for sure.

I wouldn't worry about taking a laptop. I'd just bring it on the plane with you.