Taking GPS through airport security

[Disney Ron]

Can I bring my GPS on the plane in a carryon?

Will the GPS be damaged going through the Xray?

TIA!!!

 

[GDUL]

Can I bring my GPS on the plane in a carryon?

Will the GPS be damaged going through the Xray?

TIA!!!

I travel a lot and bring my GPS unit in my carry-on all of the time. No damage to it yet!

 

[OKW Lover]

There is no way x-rays will damage your GPS. Bring it along in your carryon. Some airlines will let you use it while in the air, just check on the airline's home page or in their in-flight magazine.

 

[Disney Ron]

Thanks to the both of you for the timely response.

 

[ibcnu]

There is no way x-rays will damage your GPS. Bring it along in your carryon. Some airlines will let you use it while in the air, just check on the airline's home page or in their in-flight magazine.

My husband used the GPS on a flight on Spirit Airlines and was told to shut it off by the stewardess. Hubby and daughter were having a good time watching it until she told them to shut it off. Did we just get a cranky stewardess or is it ok to have on?

Anyway, getting back to the question, once we park the car we're always tossing the GPS last minute in an carry-on or I've even tossed it in my purse and put it through the xray machine in a bin with my laptop and cellphone

 

[vicki_c]

Here's a tip for the GPS though. Before you go into the garage at the airport to get your rental car, take some time to allow your GPS to get a signal outside. We have had trouble with this on two different trips (you think we would have learned the first time). Once we were in the garage, the GPS could not get a signal and then once outside the garage in the car, it couldn't figure out where we were because we were so far from home. It was confused!

The second trip, we actually had to pull over on the shoulder for 5 minutes to allow it to get its fix before we could continue with it (our GPS is a 4 year old Garmin Nuvi, which was great - but it seems to have difficult getting a location sometimes, so that might have factored in - a newer one might work better).

 

[ibcnu]

Here's a tip for the GPS though. Before you go into the garage at the airport to get your rental car, take some time to allow your GPS to get a signal outside. We have had trouble with this on two different trips (you think we would have learned the first time). Once we were in the garage, the GPS could not get a signal and then once outside the garage in the car, it couldn't figure out where we were because we were so far from home. It was confused!

The second trip, we actually had to pull over on the shoulder for 5 minutes to allow it to get its fix before we could continue with it (our GPS is a 4 year old Garmin Nuvi, which was great - but it seems to have difficult getting a location sometimes, so that might have factored in - a newer one might work better).

That is so funny, happens to me all the time, I thought it was my GPS!!!!

 

[maddiesmom0116]

Here's a tip for the GPS though. Before you go into the garage at the airport to get your rental car, take some time to allow your GPS to get a signal outside. We have had trouble with this on two different trips (you think we would have learned the first time). Once we were in the garage, the GPS could not get a signal and then once outside the garage in the car, it couldn't figure out where we were because we were so far from home. It was confused!

The second trip, we actually had to pull over on the shoulder for 5 minutes to allow it to get its fix before we could continue with it (our GPS is a 4 year old Garmin Nuvi, which was great - but it seems to have difficult getting a location sometimes, so that might have factored in - a newer one might work better).

I agree, I had this happen at MCO to me as well. Thanks, I will do this next time.

 

[OKW Lover]

My husband used the GPS on a flight on Spirit Airlines and was told to shut it off by the stewardess. Hubby and daughter were having a good time watching it until she told them to shut it off. Did we just get a cranky stewardess or is it ok to have on?

Could have been a cranky flight attendant. Or it could have been company policy. As I said, some airlines allow it, some don't. You'll usually find info about it in the back of the in-flight magazine. But I believe that the flight crew still has the right to request you turn it off.

 

[clkelley]

Here's a tip for the GPS though. Before you go into the garage at the airport to get your rental car, take some time to allow your GPS to get a signal outside. We have had trouble with this on two different trips (you think we would have learned the first time). Once we were in the garage, the GPS could not get a signal and then once outside the garage in the car, it couldn't figure out where we were because we were so far from home. It was confused!

The second trip, we actually had to pull over on the shoulder for 5 minutes to allow it to get its fix before we could continue with it (our GPS is a 4 year old Garmin Nuvi, which was great - but it seems to have difficult getting a location sometimes, so that might have factored in - a newer one might work better).

Most portable GPS units are that way. If it is not on the entire trip, it takes them awhile to find a signal and figure out where they are. My old portable GPS didn't have a battery (only worked plugged into the wall or car). So when I used it for trips, had to sit in the rental car lot for a few minutes for it to find a signal (or if in a parking garage, exit and stop at the closest uncovered gas station or shopping center that I could find.)

 

[dansyr2514]

Just a tip.....

When bringing you GPS in your carry on, if you have the sandbag type of dashbaord mount you may want to set it on the top of you carryon bag and let them know when you go through the scanner. Apparently some of the sand substance comes up the same color when it is screened as explosive materials. We found this out on our last trip!