Prevent scratches going through security?

Question

Prevent scratches going through security?

I know this doesn't only apply to MacBooks but I got my baby yesterday and will be travelling to Japan a week from today. Question: You know those stupid plastic trays they order you to put your laptop in . . . I know that the pristine surface of my MacBook is going to get scratched if I just put it in there by itself. What do you think is acceptable to protect it without raising Security's hackles? I was thinking of just putting it in the plastic sleeve it ships with in Apple's box.

A mite anal, I know, but doesn't everyone want to protect their newborn?

G5 2.0 Dual; G4 867; MacBook 1.83; iBook G4 14", Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on May 25, 2006 6:58 AM

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Answer 1

May 25, 2006 7:04 AM in response to Nicholas Robinson1

I've always travelled with my PowerBook in a sleeve so when they ask me to remove my laptop and place in a separate tray it goes into the tray in the sleeve. I've never had a problem doing it this way.

By the way, my sleeve is a NeoCase from RadTech.

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Answer 2

May 25, 2006 8:55 AM in response to infinite vortex

Yes, I actually already had a NeoCase for my iBook 14". I guess I'll just use that. I thought they might insist on it going "in the buff" so to speak.

Nate, it depends on the airport, but usually they will want you to take the laptop out of your carry-on, then put it in a plastic tray, separately from your other stuff (shoes, coat, coins) and then they pass it through the X-ray machine. In the old days they would also want you to turn it on to prove that it works but they don't seem to do that any more. I would leave it in sleep mode, though, just in case.

Sometimes a security type will stop you on the other side of the X-ray machine and ask you if they can pass an explosive-detector wand over the laptop. This doesn't affect it at all, so of course say yes (or risk a night in the pokey.)

A large part of why I actually wanted to buy a smaller laptop as opposed to the G4 14" is that you can barely even get the lid open to 30 degrees on an economy tray. Here's hoping this time it's first class or at least I can open the MacBook enough to see the screen.

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Answer 3

Jun 2, 2006 7:09 PM in response to Nicholas Robinson1

Nicholas - two trans continental flights a week for a couple of months gives me lots of recent experience: Fresno / San Francisco / Denver / Dulles / BWI were involved depending on my schedule. Not a mark or ANY damage at all. The secret: I placed my Mac in one of the new transparent Hefty Jumbo one zip bags. More than enough protection from scratches in the plastic trays and the see through nature of the Hefty bags helped me avoid any additional security handling of my Macs.

It works - try it - you'll like it 🙂

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Answer 4

feebeez

Level 1

8 points

Jun 3, 2006 9:02 PM in response to Nicholas Robinson1

If you have to fly in and out of a New York area airport, try to arrange it to be Newark, they have never made me take my PowerBook out of it's RadTech Sleevz. I have yet to travel with my MacBook though.

MacBook, G5 iMac, G4 PowerBook, G3 iBook Mac OS X (10.4.6)

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Answer 5

Northoak

Level 3

795 points

Jun 2, 2006 6:05 PM in response to Nicholas Robinson1

UPDATE......NEW Radtech MacBook Sleevz Now Available! ~ $24.95

NEW RADTECH MACBOOK SLEEVZ

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Answer 6

Jun 3, 2006 7:05 PM in response to Rick Bolton

As I suspected, they took my 'Book out of its Radtech sleeve without even asking! But they at least put it on top of the sleeve in the container.

I'll have to look into the Ziploc idea.

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Answer 7

Jun 3, 2006 11:35 PM in response to feebeez

Newark airport rocks. I forget the restaurant but it has the most killer burgers in the US airport system. Just don't drip on your MacBook (had to tie the two together somehow!)

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