Is iPad safe in checkeid luggage on airplane?

Hi estern 800,

Here's the deal - YOUR IPAD WILL NOT BE SAFE AT AN AIRPORT CHECK-IN POINT, IN CHECKED LUGGAGE, OR ON A PLANE!!! YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN PROTECT IT!

Please google the question or google 'how many ipads stolen from checked luggage, and plane seat pockets, etc.

The stories range from TSA officers(?) at check points (aren't we all a little nervous and distracted going through those points where, especially these days, young toddlers, and people confined to wheelchairs are taken to rooms and humiliatingly groped.) Some TSA people would be more than happy if you forget your ipad after you've gotten through (whew!) that scary machine, sometimes forgetting about that ipad that sits in or near the machine until you're out of sight! One female airline attendant in Nevada was recently caught after having stolen an ipad from a plane seat pocket. And get this !!! SHE WAS ONLY SUSPENDED! So the airlines don't care about your property, either. The responsibility is yours.

Most airlines have limitations on how much money passengers are reimbursed for lost/stolen luggage, and most will not reimburse for jewelry or electronics.

SO DEPEND ON ONLY YOU TO KEEP YOUR IPAD SAFE! I suggest the following that you can do to try to protect your ipad. Get help if you need to .

1. Set up the Find My iPhone app It's also for ipad. It's in settings.

2. For a very low price, you can set up the Gotcha' app. It will actually take a picture of the person who has your ipad as he/she turns it on. HAve serial # written on paper and keep it with you.

3. Register your ipad. (Apple does not, at this point, though, offer any help in this matter.)

4. Buy a small nylon flat backpack type of carry-on like this that weighs a few ounces -

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008BTE5OY?psc=1

With your drawstring backpack on the front of you, you will be hands fre, as you said you prefer. Maybe even put the ipad with a cover in a large freezer zip lock bag in the backpack in case you worry about spilling coffee, etc.

5. Wear the drawstring backpack backwards so that it's in front of you at the airport AND on the plane. It's amazing how many ipads disappear because people store them in the plane pocket in front of their seat and then they forget them! Also note, that some have reported that while they sleep, their property is stolen. KEEP THAT LIGHTWEIGHT BACKPACK ON YOU, IN FRONT OF YOU, AT ALL TIMES! You can't as you go through security, so get something bright colored that will be noticeable.

6 Make sure you have a good cover for your ipad.

7. This sounds silly, but before you leave, make a sign that says DO NOT FORGET iPAD. CHECK SEAT POCKET FOR ALL MY STUFF! - on 8.5 x 11 paper - big and bolded. If you don't have access to a computer or printer, ask someone to do it for you. (I actually mentioned this to my husband this week, as I don't expect that, besides "check your seat pockets" that attendants might say before landing, not many reminders are given to "Be sure to take out your ipads, cell phones, laptops, etc." And bring a roll of scotch tape so you can tape the note to the back of the seat in front of you.

8. Also, to take a little more stress off the checkpoint issue, bring a zip lock bag and put your wallet, keys, belt, point and shoot camera, etc., in it before you are near the front of the line to go through. That way, as you've gone through the checkpoint and await what you put in the trays, you only have to grab one zip lock bag and your shoes, of course.

Be sure to use one (or double it for security) with the actual zipper. We started this years ago with our children and it makes it easier, especially if your carry-on bag has gone through and you're stuck behind people and you need to keep an eye on your stuff that is sitting beyond you and you're worrying that someone will walk off with your stuff.

I hope this helps, and hope wherever your travels take you, you have a good time!

Message was edited by: appleuser1322

I regularly take my iPad on trips across country. But I would never put it in checked baggage. I carry a small laptop case that contains my wife's MacBook Pro and my iPad along with a few other things. When going through security I watch both of those like a hawk. The briefcase is not heavy or cumbersome and I keep it under my seat on the plane. I also carry a good sized camera on the plane also. We check our main luggage but we never put anything valuable in there.

If you are worried about carrying the extra weight on the plane you might consider an small piece of luggage that has wheels and can be rolled along.

Personally I would NEVER EVER put an iPad or laptop in my checked baggage......NEVER EVER....

This is probably really two questions:

1. Will the iPad be damaged in checked luggage.
2. Will my iPad be stolen in checked luggage.

Answers are likely:

1. Probably not. If a bottle of wine can make it, so too can an iPad.
2. Most probably yes. I would never put anything of significant value in checked luggage.

Personally I wouldn't risk having seen how some airports handle luggage. Do you not have room for it in your carry-on ?

I'm a senior citizen also FWIW....

An iPad is pretty easy to carry on or put in a small carry on bag IMHO...

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111006035716AAmf70J

 Cheers, Tom 😉