Laptop & TSA

ATC Vector · May 9th, 2008, 23:47

Hi,

I recently acquired my first laptop, and I will be traveling with it for the first time soon. I bought a protective sleeve to put the laptop in; I was wondering if I need to remove the laptop from the sleeve, or if it can stay inside, as long as the laptop's in a separate bin.

Thanks!

JaceTheAce · May 9th, 2008, 23:52

You have to remove it from the sleeve.

It's such a stupid rule... checking crews' laptops!

One thing I don't understand is we have a crash ax in the cockpit that can do a lot more damage than a tiny pair of scissors in our rollaboard... or better yet, a yoke in our hands and a hunk of flying metal. Just doesn't make sense. Absolutely no logic behind it.

flyguy · May 10th, 2008, 00:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

You have to remove it from the sleeve.

It's such a stupid rule... checking crews' laptops!

One thing I don't understand is we have a crash ax in the cockpit that can do a lot more damage than a tiny pair of scissors in our rollaboard... or better yet, a yoke in our hands and a hunk of flying metal. Just doesn't make sense. Absolutely no logic behind it.

The TSA doesn’t even know we have a crash axe. One of my captains said a TSA agent did an inspection on is aircraft one day and was flabbergasted when he saw the axe. He didn't try to confiscate it (surprisingly enough

) but mentioned that not he, nor any of his co-workers knew anything about axes in the flight deck. Maybe if someone explained to some powers that be in the TSA that we do have an axe up there, and some halon fire extinguishers (more than 3 ounces) and all sorts of things that can cause some damage, they might let us bypass security altogether. We should all just become FFDOs.

Doug Taylor · May 10th, 2008, 00:45

A TSA agent inspecting the aircraft? That's about like watching my cats watch soccer!

Clocks · May 10th, 2008, 01:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

A TSA agent inspecting the aircraft? That's about like watching my cats watch soccer!

Had one the other day...still trying to figure out how they determined the airplane is safe by walking halfway to the lav then leaving in less than 30 seconds.

kmiller · May 10th, 2008, 01:05

Ummm if it's one of those thin sleeves, you can leave the laptop in it. I and other employees have scanned laptop still in those sleeves, and never caught any flack for it. Me personally, as long as it's just the laptop and nothing else in there it doesn't really bother me. Why, because I can clearly see it. Does the way some coworkers and I do it go all across the board, I highly doubt it. TSA is known for being inconsistent as we all know.

kmiller · May 10th, 2008, 01:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaceTheAce

You have to remove it from the sleeve.

It's such a stupid rule... checking crews' laptops!

One thing I don't understand is we have a crash ax in the cockpit that can do a lot more damage than a tiny pair of scissors in our rollaboard... or better yet, a yoke in our hands and a hunk of flying metal. Just doesn't make sense. Absolutely no logic behind it.

I can't agree with you more. We can't take a baseball bat through pax checkpoint, but yet you can walk through w/ a skateboard. Last time I checked, a skateboard can do just as much damage as a baseball bat. I asked one of my sup's that, and I couldn't get an answer......maybe that's why I'm classified as being one of the many TSA rebels

taz · May 10th, 2008, 02:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

A TSA agent inspecting the aircraft? That's about like watching my cats watch soccer!

if only they can do a better job at inspecting the aircraft, so i don't have to check all those access panels during my walk around...

kmiller · May 10th, 2008, 09:55

I inspected a plane maybe twice, Eos and Maxjet. All that we did was make sure that the seals were where they were suppose to be and not broken. Mainly in the bathrooms, and make sure nothing else is hidden.

meyers9163 · May 10th, 2008, 11:18

Recently if its only a short trip I'll leave my laptop behind. Just such a pain to be honest... plus an extra bag! argh!

launchpad · May 10th, 2008, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

A TSA agent inspecting the aircraft? That's about like watching my cats watch soccer!

Especially when you tell them to make it snappy because we're running late.....5 of them get on, one of them lifts a blanket, and they all leave thinking they've saved the world. Good stuff.

surreal1221 · May 10th, 2008, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmiller

I can't agree with you more. We can't take a baseball bat through pax checkpoint, but yet you can walk through w/ a skateboard. Last time I checked, a skateboard can do just as much damage as a baseball bat. I asked one of my sup's that, and I couldn't get an answer......maybe that's why I'm classified as being one of the many TSA rebels

Just quit man. . .and encourage as many others to quit as well.

What made you decide to go and work for the Ministry of Peace in the first place?

If I don't agree with my employer's policies on a certain matter, I leave said employer and seek other employment. Maybe that's just me.

tonyw · May 10th, 2008, 20:52

It's really dumb.

There's just no reason to do much screening of crews. Crews have all the tools they need to do what they want in their hands. What are they going to do, make you give up your hands?

That's just stupid.

If someone has slipped through the background screening, well, the TSA isn't going to catch them.

mtsu_av8er · May 10th, 2008, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by surreal1221

If I don't agree with my employer's policies on a certain matter, I leave said employer and seek other employment. Maybe that's just me.

LMAO!!!

Monty · May 10th, 2008, 21:33

I leave mine in a thin sleeve and never get a word said to me about it. I'm not taking a chance on those idiots dropping it and leaving me having to pay for a new one!

wheelsup · May 10th, 2008, 21:33

If you're going to keep that sig, could you adjust the width of it?

kmiller · May 10th, 2008, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by surreal1221

Just quit man. . .and encourage as many others to quit as well.

What made you decide to go and work for the Ministry of Peace in the first place?

If I don't agree with my employer's policies on a certain matter, I leave said employer and seek other employment. Maybe that's just me.

Because it's a steady pay check, and it's getting my through grad school. If I can find something else in the engineering field like I got my first degree in, I'll be gone in a heart beat.