Getting Clie thru airport security

[benroa]

Wondering if anyone has had any trouble getting their Clie through "the heightened" airport security procedures post-9-11.
I know they're strict on laptops, but what about PDA's? I'm going on a trip and want to be prepared...

[crh3f]

I've had no problem taking my laptop through security, so I don't forsee any problem with a Clie...

[Alistar]

If they check it, they usually just make sure it works, turn it on hit a button or two. Its not like they will take it apart on you.

[bobbd]

With all electronic equipment, make sure you can power it up and have it show the startup screen. Or if it's a camera, that it can take a picture. I've had airport security want me to start one thing but not another. And make sure that any startup screens or logos are non-threatening. Airport security seems to take a very dim view to jokes.

Bob

[RichInKC]

I was on the road on 9/11 and continued to travel for awhile. I've been through several airports (LaGuardia, O'Hare, Dallas, Sea-Tac) and never had a problem getting my Clie through. The X-Ray machines have never harmed it. I have been asked to boot it up each time, so I recommend making very sure it is charged before you head to the airport. I did have it in my shirt pocket once at Sea-Tac and put it in for a manual check. That raised some questions from security since they had no clue what it was. It was easily remedied, but I learned to keep it in my laptop case from that point on. Thankfully, I was able to find a position that doesn't involve constant travel, so I no longer have to deal with the hassles.

[big_raji]

I had a problem a couple of months ago.

I had my NR70v, Ericsson T39 cellular, Laptop, and digital camera along with all the cables and cradles. The only reason I took it on carry-on is because I didn't want it damaged in my normal luggage.

The made me power on EVERYTHING, as well as make sure it all worked. I spent about 2-3 minutes on each item. It was insane.

Then, just when I thought I could put everything away, they wanted me to hook up all the cables and cradles, and show how they worked. They went so far as to examine every memory card and battery I had.

I almost missed my flight. In total, I think it took about 15-20 minutes. People kept looking at me, thinking that I was being arrested for something.

I'm thinking that I was discriminated against, because I'm half east-indian, with a name that was obviously not north american. The only reason I say this is because some older white male ahead of me had his laptop and PPC looked at for a total of 20 seconds. There were also other white people with electronics waved through rather quickly. I also had a canadian passport that I applied for and received about a month before the original 9/11, which seemed to raise a few eyebrows.

I wasn't happy. I wasn't about to start freaking out though, it's not like I was in a Wal-Mart being mistreated by employees.

I travelled to the Ukraine a few years ago, and was greeted at customs by non-english signs and forms, as well as angry looking 18 year old security guards with machine guns that didn't speak more than 5 words of english. Somehow, I felt more welcome there.

[hansschmucker]

Land of the free, home of the brave. *Smile*. Seriously though: It was interesting to see the inner parts of my Clié when visiting the chancelor's office (in Germany). Before flights within Europe, I just let them check via X-Ray as well, as it makes their job a lot easier as well. The only time I was asked to turn it on was before a flight to Berlin, because the airport guy was thinking about getting a Clié himself

[bblgun]

Hi! Well in my case it was pretty fast, they just passed it thru the x-rays and that was it.
It was in the Los Angeles international airport so i don't know if it had anything to do with it, or the fact that i was travelling back to Panama. However it was the first day that the US changed it's alert from yellow to orange (it is orange, right?).

Well anyways, just wanted to tell my experience... thanks for listening!

[studentdoc]

I was flying a few years ago, before 9/11 but during an "alert" time when people were a little nervous because of a bombing on an airline. I was carrying a Compaq server to NJ for our company and ended up having to check it in its box because it was too big. I had to pull it out for them to look at it and thought, what the heck, I might as well put the extra 256 MB of RAM in the thing while I had it open. Big mistake; they thought I was arming the bomb or something. They checked that thing up and down and me, too. It took a loooongg time to get away from the ticket counter that day.

I don't think I would even try to add anything to a machine today. People are just too nervous. Of course, I can understand, especially if you don't know computers. And with cops confiscating guns in the shape of cell phones, I am sure they are suspicious of anything electronic.

[hobodale111]

This doesnt really relate to the question but can you even use your pda on an airplane? I havent flown on a commercial airline in about three years and I dont remember if you can or not.

[studentdoc]

Yes, above 10,000 feet (a few minutes after takeoff) the pilot usually announes it is okay to use portable electronic equipment except for cell phones. You just cannot use it during takeoff and landing.

[Rowdy]

Originally posted by studentdoc
Yes, above 10,000 feet (a few minutes after takeoff) the pilot usually announes it is okay to use portable electronic equipment except for cell phones. You just cannot use it during takeoff and landing.

BUT...


I was told during a recent flight that you cannot power on anything that transmits RF signals, so that means make sure you don't have bluetooth or WiFi systems up and running...

[RRexA]

Well maybe this will help. I'm a pilot and I have not had a problem getting PDA's or Laptops through Airport security. Sometimes they will check them sometimes they won't but unless you say something stupid, should take no more than 5-10 minutes. Laptops and PDA's are pilots friends..... LOTS of waiting around in Pilot lounges and such... So mine go EVERYWHERE with me =)

Hope that helps

[ErnieB]

The only problem I had is the "security" people wanted to "inspect" my NR70.  Six of them "inspected" it for 10 minutes by passing it around and playing with it.  This included the "security" supervisor.  I complained to the airport authority, but I was summarily blown off as being over-imaginative and a trouble-maker.  After all, the "security" staff was there for my well-being.

[benroa]

Thanks for everyone's replies - I feel better about taking my Clie on board now (and even running it thru the x-rays).

Guess I better not have the stopwatch or world time skins pop up if security decides to power it up though!

[Tedlick]

I just went through airport security this past weekend with my Clie NR70V.

Both the trip down and the trip back were uneventful. I simply had the handheld in my coat pocket, and put the coat through the xray machine. On the trip down, my carry-on had the charging cradle as well (on the trip back I checked that bag). At no time was I required to pull it out and turn it on.

On an earlier flight (last Thanksgiving) I specifically asked the TSA agent about my PDA (thinking it'd be treated like a laptop). They told me to put it in my coat pocket and send it through the xray machine, which is what I've been doing since with no problem.

[T1000X]

Kinda makes me feel a little better about the whole flying experience. When it's time for me to go flying, I'll just put my cellphone, PDA and keyboard (I keep in a case on my belt) through the X-Ray machine. I've been leary about flying since all of the extra "security" they have.

[gregcswanson]

I have never had any issue with my Clie, BUT I was going through Tel Aviv (Israel) Airport at 5 in the morning when during the security check they asked me to power on a laptop (I had two in my back-pack, and two PDA's, but they only wanted to see this one).

They just happened to pick the only one that had a hebrew keyboard... this would be normal in Israel except I'm Australian and cannot speak a word of hebrew, I was there on a business trip and the company I work for gave me a newer laptop to take home (and get the keyboard swapped in OZ).

Back to the story, I opened the laptop, got past the inital questioning about the keyboard, and powered it up.... Windows 2000..... smoke!

For some reason the laptop had picked right then to blow up... I S##T myself :eek:. Within a few minutes they had they guys with machine guns escorting me off to "work out the situation". Eventually they confiscated the laptop, gave me a shipping receipt for the laptop and put me on the plane.

At home the shipping company could not track the laptop, but it did turn up eventually and every corner of the box had been kicked in. The worst part was when the Dell tech found the issue. It was caused because one screw was missing in the MB because a rattling fan had been replaced improperly before I got the machine....:mad: .. I laugh about it now...