Laptops in checked baggage
 

Whilst I would prefer to have my laptop in cabin baggage some weight restrictions can make that difficult to achieve.

Please does anyone have any ideas about the advisability of putting a laptop in checked baggage and the best way of protecting it against damage in transit?


Michael

I do it regulally within Europe but then my case is locked. I place it in the middle of all my clothes so it has some protection.

In the few instances when I've checked luggage (I carry-on mostly) I never put in ANYTHING I would hate to lose in that luggage. While the ratio between the total number of bags checked vs. number of thefts and/or lost bags is probably low I figure it's better for it to happen to someone else rather than me. Why take the chance, I say carry it with you - that's what I do.

No way. Absolutely no freaking possible way. Well, unless it's a company laptop and you really hate your job and your employer.

I would never in a million years do that. But if you do, I'd advise you to back up all your files before you do. Or at least those files you can't live without.

I agree..I would carry it on the plane with you. Normally you are allowed a laptop plus a carryon also. My husband and I always take our laptops on board and like a backpack of some sort with us. It's a little more to carry onboard but still worth it knowing it's safe and sound with you.

Even if you are departing from the UK, where you can only take one carryon through security (not 1+1), you still cannot check any valuables. Just go read about the BA luggage mess at LHR for the past week (and on-going). Your laptop will be sitting with 20,000+ bags for days. And when you eventually get it back, you may find that it had been soaked in rain.

I was under the impression that you may not put a laptop in checked baggage in the US, but I may well be wrong. In any case, given the increasing frequency of theft from checked baggage, I wouldn't do it.

I have checked a laptop when I had a shoulder injury and could not carry it so I know you can. I think you guarantee that the bag will be opened by the TSA if you check it since I got a note regarding a search from them everytime I checked the laptop.

It's a nuts idea - unless you really want to "lose" it.
Whilst the number of thefts vs number of bags is low, the number of thefts vs number of bags with high value items in them is far higher.

If it is a company laptop I suggest you check the rules for ensuring it's security - putting it in checked lugage is probably up there with "don't leave it on the car seat" in things not to do and is probably a disciplinary offence to boot

Airlines specifically refuse to accept responsibility for valuables and electronics lost or damaged, so make sure your personal insurance covers everythng you check.

My daughter's iPod was stolen from our luggage in Jo'burg. Our insurance company said they had no liability for electronics that were checked rather than carried on. They did give us $100 as a goodwill gesture.

Thanks for responses.

Interesting that most people were concerned about loss.

Travelling from UK means one bag. My laptop and its stuff weigh 3.0kg, camera kit I would never put in the hold weighs 2.5kg and other camera stuff I would like to keep with me comes to 1.0kg. That means 6.5kg without a bag so difficulties may be encountered.

The laptop (used for pictures while away) is fully insured and, whilst I would not want to lose it at least one full backup will always be with me in the cabin so its loss would not be disastrous.

Incidentally I recently found reference to a water tight bag which could be useful to protect things from damp in addition to blightyboy's comments about location in the suitcase.

Of course a different issue is putting a lithium battery in the hold. I have heard some authorities are beginning to get twitchy about this.

Michael

On a return flight from Frankfurt to Houston via DFW two years ago, I had some pain medication stolen from my checked bag. When we arrived in DFW and had to retrieve our luggage to go thru Customs, my TSA approved LOCK was still on my suitcase. However, when we arrived in Houston, the TSA lock was gone. It had been cut off or removed somewhere in between the two airports. Fortunately, the pain medication was the only thing missing, but there was nothing of value in the suitcase because our laptop and camera equipment went with us on the plane.

Lesson learned -- even with a good lock the thieves can still get in if they think there is something worth stealing. Take your computer and any other valuables with you on the plane.

Wasleys - is this traveling for a photo job or just pleasure?

The reason I ask is because if it's for pleasure AND you would be willing to wait to post process your photos until your return, you could leave the laptop at home and take a PSD.

I have a CompactDrive PD70X, 120gb harddrive and it's no bigger than a paperback. It weighs less than a pound (not including 4 rechargable AA batteries). I can't view or process any photos once downloaded to the device, but I can clear off my memory cards each day, and I don't have to worry about carrying a laptop.

There are several choices in PSDs, some with viewers (though they don't usually display RAW images), at varying prices.

Interesting response. I do have full backup on disc which I carry with me and there are no sensitive files or info on my laptop these are all on a disc or stick which I have with me. The reason that i do put laptop in the hold luggage is as wasleys says, in the UK where we are only allowed 1 hand baggage only it can be a problem by the time you have medication, wash kit, clean set of underwear and shirt(incase bag gets lost), reading materials etc

interesting you bring clean undies in a carry on. i've thought about this before. if my baggage was lost or misplaced, the first thing i'd want is my laptop and internet connection to find out where to go and buy anything i needed wherever i was.

It's a lot quicker to replace clothing than a laptop.

My mother always said that you had to wear clean underwear just in case you had an accident

wasleys - the ultimate decision whether or not to put your laptop in with your checked luggage is yours alone to make. The majority of the responses you received (most from people who travel a great deal) advise against doing that but yet it seems you are still seeking confirmation that if you do your laptop will be safe from theft. No one can give you any guarantees. It's your laptop - do with it what you want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC87wodcUWU

Did anyone else see the AA special &quot;Inside American Airlines: A Week in the Life&quot;, where they showed the baggage handling machines at DFW? That machine looked like it kicked the bags to different conveyor belts with a <b>huge</b> amount of force. I would think, no matter how well packed, the hard drive in the laptop would suffer.

Wasleys - what is the point of your question if you don't want to listen to answers. Fair enough, you decide to go your own way but why keep arguing with the people who have taken the time to offer advice?

Sarvowinner,

I have thanked people for responses, even though most failed to address the nub of the original question which was about weight and how to protect against damage and chose to concentrate on loss. I made a second post which explained the weight issue in greater detail. That cannot reasonably be described as 'keeping arguing'.


A_Traveller,

In no way have I 'sought confirmation that (it) will be safe from theft'. I have enough sense to know that is impossible. Other posters raised the issue of theft at some length. Indeed I have explained the machine would be fully insured and commented that its loss 'would not be disastrous'. As I said I would rather lose the laptop than the camera, and the camera is more vulnerable to knocks than the computer. Cabin baggage weight restrictions and the one bag rule in UK present several difficulties over issues like this.


toedtoes,

Thank you for your comment. In fact it's leisure work, but as we are often away for some time the idea is to try to get as much work done while we are away rather than be faced with a vast number of pics on return.


Michael

I'm sorry Michael. I read the question as &lt;&lt;Please does anyone have any ideas about the &quot;advisability&quot; of putting a laptop in checked baggage and the best way of protecting it against damage in transit?&gt;&gt; and focused on Part A &quot;the advisability&quot; as I regarded it as totally inadvisable, I didn't focus on Part B, &quot;protecting it against damage&quot;.

Placing it between clothes is the best bet. It would also be advisable,if you can remove it, to put the hard drive in your carry on.

&lt;&lt;&lt; Indeed I have explained the machine would be fully insured &gt;&gt;&gt;

I'd be surprised if the laptop is insured at all let alone fully.

Most insurance policies I've seen would reject a claim for a stolen laptop if it was put in checked luggage

Protecting it from damage - laptops fly every day. That is how it got to your house in the first place. Mine came from Dell wrapped in bubble wrap, nested in styrofoam, and then in a sturdy box.

If this is going to be a regular mode of transportation for your laptop, I would suggest you either call manufacturer and ask them - people ship laptops back to company all the time for repairs - or second best would be to go to packing/shipping company (like UPS Stores/Mailboxes Etc) and ask them for packing suggestions.

alanRow

<i>Most insurance policies I've seen would reject a claim for a stolen laptop if it was put in checked luggage</i>

There is no exclusion in the policy.

My broker has confirmed coverage.

I would carry the laptop in a backpack onboard.

But if I had to pack it I would remove the battery. Wrap the computer in bubble wrap (or the small foam case I have) and place it in the center of the bag with clothes above and below it and on all sides.

Then place the battery in an easy to get to location, assuming that the bag will be opened because the battery must look approximately like a pipe bomb in the scanner. I'd wrap the battery too, and keep it away from the puter.


Another reason for separating the battery is because I wouldn't want it to be broken off. If it was connected to the computer then I think that I could grab the battery in one hand, the computer in the other hand and bend it hard enough to break it loose. Not that it is likely that much force would get to the inside.

Ideally, you'd want to put the padded computer into a hard box and then put that into the center of the luggage.

That's what I would do, and then I would kiss the computer goodbye expecting to never see it again.

lol

mrwunrfl- sounds like you just gave instructions on how to gift wrap a present for a baggage handler! You forgot to mention the bow though! LOL :)

Actually, now I remember that I accidentally checked luggage containing muy laptop.

I have a large rollaboard with an easy access pocket in front so that I can remove/return the laptop from the bag when going through security.

On one occaision I was very late and had to check the bag after getting on the plane. That is, I took the bag to the plane and then they put it down below. It was a big rush and I forgot that my laptop was in the bag.

I got off the plane at LAX but the bag went to GUA. It spent three nights at the Guatemala City airport and then flew back to LAX where it was handled by the lost luggage folks.

The laptop was in the bag and was absolutely not damaged.

Wasleys... what weight restrictions are you talking about? Every airline I fly in and out of England (BMI, American, Virgin, etc.) has no weight restrictions for cabin baggage... just a size limit.

Like the idea of separating the battery -- it adds a lot of the weight -- but could you put it in checked baggage or would TSA howl?

slangevar,

<i>what weight restrictions are you talking about?</i>

The restrictions most airlines apply and which vary considerably from operator to operator. Last three airlines I flew with - Estonian, SAS, Air Greenland - were all 8kg and one had a different size limit. On one checkin my cabin bag was checked for size and weighed.

I have heard reports that some people have had cabin baggage weighed both at checkin and at the gate.

This may be of interest, though I'm not sure how current the information is:

http://www.dpsoftware.co.uk/airlines/

&lt;&lt;&lt; Every airline I fly in and out of England (BMI, American, Virgin, etc.) has no weight restrictions for cabin baggage. &gt;&gt;&gt;

BMI - 7 or 10kg depending on class
Virgin - 6 or 8 kg
AA - 18kg

The only 2 airlines that I know of that don't put a weight restriction on hand luggage are BA &amp; Easyjet

How bizarre... I fly all of those airlines and not once has anyone requested to weigh my carry-on bag(s).