In this digital and information age, staying connected to close people and the rest of the world is crucial. That’s where smartphones, tablets, and laptops play a key role. They are essential equipment for work, communication, and entertainment as well. Generally, when it comes to air travel, carrying smartphones and tablets is easy. But, it is not the same with laptops as they have larger diameters. Therefore, many passengers are concerned about carrying a laptop on flights and often ask “Can you put the laptop in checked luggage?” Or can you carry it in carry-on bags? Let’s find out everything related to carrying a laptop on a flight in this comprehensive guide.
Answering Can You Put the Laptop in Checked Luggage
A short and straightforward answer to “Can You Put the Laptop in Checked Luggage” is Yes. You can definitely put your laptop in checked luggage that usually goes inside the aircraft’s store. But, is it safe to put your laptop in checked luggage? There are so many factors to consider. We will discuss them in detail in this guide.
Top Factors to Consider For Putting Laptop in Checked Luggage
Below are the top factors that you must consider when having a laptop on an air trip:
Regulatory Guidelines
Obviously, the first and foremost thing to consider is regulatory guidelines as these will help you know what the instructions are to carry a laptop on the flight. So, before deciding to pack your laptop in checked luggage, you must familiarize yourself with the relevant regulatory guidelines. You will find the instructions to follow and you must abide by them.
Generally, it is not safe to put a laptop in checked baggage because it undergoes a rough security check and loading process. Because of this, there is always a higher chance of your laptop getting dented, scratched, or damaged. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States recommends carrying laptops and other delicate electronic devices like tablets in carry-on baggage rather than checked baggage due to security concerns. Another reason for this is that electronic devices are usually subject to additional security screening when you put them in checked baggage. Therefore, the wiser option is to carry it in a handbag that you will carry in flight.
Airline Policies
Different airlines have different policies regarding the transportation of electronic devices. While a few airlines may allow you to carry your checked baggage, others may prohibit it due to safety concerns. They usually recommend against it and instruct passengers to carry laptops in handbags. Therefore, to know the answer “Can you put laptop in checked luggage,” it’s essential to check the specific policies of the airline you’re flying with to ensure compliance and avoid any potential issues at the airport and during travel.
Risk of Your Laptop Getting Damaged
As we already mentioned earlier in this guide, the risk of your laptop getting dented, scratched, or even damaged during transit is the primary concern with putting your laptop in checked baggage. This is because checked baggage is typically subjected to rough handling. This increases the likelihood of fragile items like laptops, tablets, and some other pieces being bumped or crushed. Laptops, in particular, are vulnerable to damage due to their delicate screens and internal components.
You may try your best to pack your laptop with proper padding to reduce the risk of damage, but this is never enough. There’s still a chance that your laptop may sustain damage from external pressure or impacts. Furthermore, variations in the cargo hold’s temperature and air pressure might also have an impact on electronic devices, possibly leading to malfunctions or irreversible damage.
Risk of Theft and Loss
Besides this, carrying laptops in checked luggage also involves the risk of them being stolen or lost. The airlines and airports do their best possible to provide a 100% secure system for checked luggage, but they are still in certain cases facing issues of theft and mismanagement of the check-in procedure. Laptops are valuable, compact, and convenient to carry as well thus they are the first things that burglars target.
In case your checked luggage is lost or stolen, you are certainly going to be at a financial loss but at the same time, you will face trouble managing your work or travel arrangements. Furthermore, purchasing a new laptop or recovering the lost one can be costly and time-consuming as well. This may lead to the loss of important data.
Data Security Concerns
Along with the physical risk of your laptop getting damaged in your checked bag, data security concerns are quite important. Desktops hold a large amount of personal information and confidential data that you may lose during rough handling or inside the store under uneven temperature and air pressure.
Whether the airline workers have to go through the routine of handling your laptop or questions about its contents, the procedure always poses a risk that your laptop could be turned on or tempered. The crew generally works as a team of trustworthy and disciplined professionals, but the issue of tampering cannot be ruled out.
Alternatives to Checked Luggage
In light of the existing factors that we explained above, some passengers handle their laptops in handbags which is typically the best option. Carrying your laptop in a dedicated backpack or sleeve gives you more reasons to keep it with you at all times thus minimizing the risk of damage or loss while preventing anyone else from stealing it while you are around.
We highly recommend you concentrate on packing only vital items and safeguarding space for your laptop in your handbag. Besides that, you would probably like to buy a compact laptop that is easier to carry.
Conclusion
Let’s conclude “Can you put laptop in checked luggage.” Although it seems more convenient to stow your laptop in the checked luggage, it is wise to review the above risks and concerns before you decide to pack it. It doesn’t take much to think about and understand the potential for damages, theft, and data security that travelling with a laptop involves. Therefore, there are weighty reasons to attach primarily focusing on the safety and security of your laptop when traveling by air.
By knowing about the Principles and Instructions in regulations, airline policies, and a good way of carrying a laptop, you can have a wonderful memorable trip. The way you decide to transport your laptop – either by carrying it in your carry-on baggage or taking precautions when packing it into checked baggage – by choice you should always keep its safety and security at the top.
