How To Invert The Screen Colors On Your Chromebook

There are several things you can do to customize your Chromebook experience and make it comfortable to use....

CPU Over Temperature Error: What It Means And How To Fix It

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the heart of any computer, and like any powerful electronic component, it...

10 Of The Best Laptop Cooling Pads You Can Buy On Amazon

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Laptop makers have their work cut out for...

How To See What Graphics Card Is In Your PC

There are multiple components that make a computer, the most prominent of which include the CPU, GPU, RAM,...

Want To Ditch Edge On Windows 11? Microsoft Says No, But You Still Have Option

While it’s been quite a while since Microsoft released Edge, it still isn’t exactly well-liked. Strangely, one of...

What Is Runtime Broker On Your PC, And Is It Safe To Disable It?

When you open the Task Manager on your Windows computer, you’ll find a long list of processes running...

How To Clear Your Computer’s CMOS

Not all computer troubleshooting can be handled within your operating system or by troubleshooting specific components. Some key...

6 Of The Best Microsoft CoPilot+ Laptops You Can Buy

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The era of AI computing is fully upon...

How To Use The F Keys On Your Laptop

If you take a look at your laptop’s keyboard, you’ll notice that the top row keys have icons...

This 37 Year-Old Microsoft Easter Egg May Have Been The Longest Running Secret In Tech History

Tech developers have a long history of adding Easter eggs to software, and users have a long history...

10 Laptop Accessories That Could Increase Productivity

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Productivity is a mindset, and while no accessory...

USB Ports Not Working On Your PC? Here’s How To Fix It

USB ports on your Windows PC or laptop are quite handy. You can use them to connect all...

How To Check CPU Temperature And Fix Overheating Problems

Whether you’re using a laptop or a desktop, CPU cooling may often be a bit of an afterthought....

The 5 Big Reasons Apple’s MacBook Touch Bar Never Caught On

When Apple released its first MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar back in 2016, many saw it as...

What Is The Best Tablet For Drawing In 2025? (According To Users)

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. The tablet sector has gotten more competitive as...

7 Best MSI Laptops For Students Ranked By Price

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. As a tech enthusiast who went through a...

12 Ways To Make macOS Sequoia Run Faster

If you’ve spent any amount of time working with Microsoft Windows, you know it can become rife with...

How To Boot Windows Directly From A USB Drive

Running Windows completely off of a USB flash drive is quite handy if you want to try a...

NVIDIA RTX 5070 Vs 5080 Vs. 5090: How Do These GPUs Compare In Price & Performance?

At CES 2025, Nvidia lifted the covers from its next-gen desktop and laptop graphics cards based on the...

10 Alternatives To The RTX 5080 GPU That Are More Readily Available

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. These days, it can be hard to purchase...

Can You Check Your Laptop On A Plane? Here’s What TSA Has To Say

If you’re traveling by airplane, it’s always a good habit to check your chosen airline’s bag policies before your trip. You may want to skip the long queues at the airport and travel light with just your carry-on luggage — if that is the case, and you intend to take along a gadget or two, you need to ensure they have batteries that are allowed in the aircraft cabin.

For longer trips, you’d definitely want to know how many bags you’re allowed to check in — this is usually indicated on your email confirmation after you book a flight online — and what you’re actually allowed to bring. In general, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that you bring all allowable personal electronics in your carry-on bags, but there are apparently some that are allowed in checked bags as well. To help travelers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a nifty “What Can I Bring” search portal on their website that lets you plan ahead, look up your item on the list, and find out if it’s permitted to be in your carry-on bag, your checked bag, or both. What does it say about laptops?

Should you place your laptop in your carry-on or checked luggage?

Most regular air travelers already rightfully assume that keeping your laptop in your carry-on bag is preferred due to the lithium-ion or lithium metal battery in it. As well, if you happen to be going on a trip that includes a long layover, having your laptop handy along with other personal gadgets may be a good way to pass the time.

However, if you feel like you don’t need your device during the flight and airport stay and would prefer to lessen the physical load of your carry-on bags, according to the TSA, you can place your laptop in your checked baggage. You just need to be cognizant of some safety considerations before you pack the machine away.

First of all, according to the FAA’s guidance on portable electronic devices containing batteries, if a laptop — along with other similar lithium battery-powered gadgets like smartphones and tablets — must be placed in checked baggage, it needs to be completely powered off. This means you need to perform a complete shutdown on your laptop rather than just putting it to sleep.

In addition, the device also needs to be “protected to prevent unintentional activation or damage.” Packing your laptop inside a laptop bag or sleeve before placing it in your checked bag is highly recommended.

Why keeping your laptop in your carry-on bag is the better option

Even though technically a laptop can be placed in a checked bag, it’s important to note that the TSA reserves the right to subject a bag that contains even generally permitted items to additional screening if it “triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns.” A checked bag that has been flagged for whatever reason may require TSA agents to unlock it and, in some cases, remove items that are deemed too dangerous for air travel. You’ll know if your checked bag has been physically inspected if you find a “Notice of Inspection” inside it.

For your own peace of mind, opt to keep your laptop in your carry-on bag instead of your checked luggage. That way, the machine is a 100% identifiable when you’re tasked to place it in a separate bin for x-ray screening at airport security.


Source: http://www.slashgear.com/1788658/can-check-laptop-on-plane-what-tsa-says-about-luggage-requirements/

Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
guest