Travelling with Electronics

[farmerswife]

This will be the first trip where we are bringing not only our regular camera, but a camcorder and dvd player. How do we get all of this on the plane? I guess I could check my camera. I would rather not check the camcorder and the dvd is really for the plane. I know with laptops you have to turn them on when going through the screeners do you have to do that with camcorders or dvd players?

7 days to go!!

 

[Annette_VA]

I never check my cameras - I just don't trust them sitting in the belly of the plane w/ who knows what stacked on top of them.

I don't have a portable DVD player (we just use our laptops to play DVDs on flights), so I can't answer about that, but I do know that I've never had to turn on a camera or camcorder at the security check.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would carry on those things - they are the sorts of things that can get damaged or disappear too easily out of checked baggage.
The signs by security tel you to take laptops out of your bag and put them into a security bin by themselves. I would think DVD player might be the same, but we've nver traveled with one. We have also never been asked to turn on a computer, but being asked to do that is a possibility. So, you want to make sure the batteries are charged/in.

 

[BuzzNutt]

I would definatly recommend against checking a camera. You are better off seperating them into carryons. You do not have to open the dvd player or cameras. They might get wiped down with a bomb detecting cloth. It leaves no residue and will take an extra minute. I would place as much as you can in one bag so to speed up security and only one bag needs to be dug through.

Have a great time!

 

[pezpam]

If you do decide to put any of those items in your checked baggage, invest a few dollars in a TSA-approved lock for the suitcase. There are several styles and basically they are locks that the TSA has special keys to open, but which anyone else cannot open and would have to break to get into your case. At least here at our local airport (Albany, NY) there are cameras trained on all of the TSA baggage screeners when they open checked luggage and the management can go over those tapes if you have a problem. I wouldn't trust the airlines farther than I could throw a 737 - they'll just tell you that they can't prove anything and/or that cameras and such are specifically excluded from their reimbursement/protection plans.

It might not be perfect, but it does give me greater peace of mind when I can't avoid checking something like that. I also have not had a problem since I started using them. Wish I could say the same about *before* I started.....