brit_usa2014

I am going home next week for Christmas and bought a Samsung Tablet during Black Friday Sales for folks back home. Do I put it in checked baggage (and risk it being stolen) or do I put it in cabin bag where it might be under more scrutiny for it being a Samsung product and also due to the fact that it's not charged and that the battery will have so far never been charged? It's supposed to be a Christmas Present so dont want to open it if it can be avoided!

tonrob

Cabin baggage. Are you aware of any problems with Samsung tablets? I thought it was only certain phones that were banned for a while by certain airlines. Also no routine extra scrutiny of cabin baggage leaving the US. No reason you shouldn't be fine.

S Folinsky

The rules on inspection of cabin electronics just changed.

daveincolchester

The last I read, was that any laptop or tablet had to be capable of being turned on, presumably to make sure it wasn't just a case loaded with explosives.

Mercury39

What changed? Did anything change on inspection of cabin electronics within/leaving the US?

rpjs

It used to be that just laptops had to be screened out of carry-ons, now they want tablets out too, and going through JFK last week (but not LAS yesterday) they also wanted cellphones out as well. At JFK the tray with my electronics got pulled for further inspection but all they did was an explosives swab of the laptop, didn't ask for me to turn it on.

Rete

Thanks for that info. I'll be travelling up to SH next month and to Europe next spring so good to know.

BenK91

At LAX recently I was asked to turn my iWatch on as I put it in the tray with it turned off.


Wasn't asked to turn my laptop on though.

Jack8602

I've flown in and out of the US probably around 60-70 times since the 'Must be able to turn device on' rule was put in - every time i fly i have around 3 or 4 devices with me. Not once have I been asked to power them on. I always keep the power cables with the devices too.

I'd never risk putting them in checked in baggage.

BenK91

What do you think they do with it? Try and kick a 60yd field goal with your bag across the tarmac?

rpjs

Pilfering the shinys from the bag is what most people are worried about.

BenK91

Really? I can't say I've ever been concerned about that but maybe I just don't care as most of the devices I ever take with me belong to work...

tom169

Every time I have flown UK/US I have had a note left in my bag saying it was searched. It's at these opportunities where thefts occur. It does happen, but thankfully not encountered it myself.

That said, If I had my work laptop with me it definitely would not get checked. Don't want to lose my job over a lost laptop.

Edit: I write this aboard a domestic flight to Vegas with sketchy wifi.

brit_usa2014

Exactly, this is what Im most worried about. A few years ago on a flight from Boston-Paris my bag was checked. Like Tom mentioned above I came to know because there was a note inside that said "this bag has been checked, thank you for your cooperation". The irony of it? Even using a tsa approved built in lock on the bag, the security somehow managed to reset the combination lock and change 2 numbers so that the lock was stuck and couldn't be moved. Dh used a number of combinations and finally got the correct code to open the lock (and for some reason we couldn't get the damn lock to reset )

Jack8602

Mine are all devices that belong to my company - considering i travel for business if i rocked up on the other end without my device, I'd be screwed.