MBP vs The Airport

[barkomatic]

I bought a clear snap on shell for my MBP. I don't usually need one but thought it might be useful when going through security at the airport to try and prevent damage in that specific scenario. About 5 years ago I had another new laptop which ended up getting scratched when it was on the conveyer. The agents were in a mood that day and were rushing people through the line. An agent ended up pushing several bins on the conveyer when mine fell to the floor and dumped my computer out. The screen didn't shatter but it was scratched up--it was about 6 months old at that point.

Do you think the TSA will ask that the shell be removed? I have a feeling they would. If so, I won't bother putting it on and will take my chances. I'm not in TSA PreCheck--so normal security line for me.

 

[mrgabel]

I've put Mac laptops thru airport security checkpoints—throughout the US and Europe—inside a thin leather sleeve without incident for nearly a decade. While checkpoint policies vary (some want the laptop in a separate bin with nothing else, some just removed from luggage but okay to share with liquids or keys, etc.), I have not once been asked to remove the laptop from the thin leather sleeve. In view of this, I'd not worry about a protective shell, provided it is close-fitting and is not bulky or otherwise unusual. In other words, slim and boring protection is very unlikely to draw removal requests; however, if your covering looks strange or promotes radical politics, your mileage may vary.

 

[barkomatic]

I've put Mac laptops thru airport security checkpoints—throughout the US and Europe—inside a thin leather sleeve without incident for nearly a decade. While checkpoint policies vary (some want the laptop in a separate bin with nothing else, some just removed from luggage but okay to share with liquids or keys, etc.), I have not once been asked to remove the laptop from the thin leather sleeve. In view of this, I'd not worry about a protective shell, provided it is close-fitting and is not bulky or otherwise unusual. In other words, slim and boring protection is very unlikely to draw removal requests; however, if your covering looks strange or promotes radical politics, your mileage may vary.

Thanks, I have a leather sleeve so maybe I'll just try that. If they do want me to take it out, it would be quicker to pull it out of a sleeve than remove the shell. I definitely always get the line where the computer and iPad are required to be in separate bins with nothing else in them.

 

[Christopher Kim]

I'd be pretty sad if that had happened to my 6-mo old new MBP!

I don't use a shell, but have a thin leather sleeve I use. When I used to travel a lot pre-COVID (similar sleeve with my prior 2016 13" MBP), I would take it out, put in its own bin, remove it from the sleeve, but place it on top of the sleeve.

Also (and this is something I do regardless), I wait with my bins moving them forward until my bins go into the x-ray machine. Not for any one reason in particular, but 1) I keep the bins moving forward to ensure my bins don't get left behind (or any bins of passengers in front of me get left behind) because of a space between bags/bins (happens sometimes when ppl in front have left spaces between bins so 1 gets left behind the conveyor belt automatically so everything needs to get pushed), 2) stay with my stuff as long as possible, 3) time it better so that more likely I get to my stuff on the other end around the time my stuff gets through the machine.

Most of the time this is no problem (and actually preferred by the TSA agents as then they don't have to watch for gaps between bins/bags). Occasionally, it can get a bit weird when a bottleneck occurs, and there's a line-up between 2 machine lines, to go through the metal detector, but I generally do it anyways.