Bringing a lap top on a plane

"Alan S" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 May 2008 07:25:22 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

I'll be doing this for the first time in a few weeks. Will there be
any problems regarding airport security? What's normal procedure for
ths?


TIA

From where to where? The others are correct if you are
flying to, from or within the USA, but not necessarily in
other countries. Some will require you to remove it and scan
it separately, some have no problem if you leave it in the
bag.

Some (Indira Ghandi Airport) can give you a hard time if you
have it outside the bag as a second carry-on; although the
guy in front of me there seemed to get it through after a
discussion. No doubt a tip appeared and the rules were
probably different the next day.


In all fairness, Alan, the Central Industrial Security Force, which runs
airport security in India, is one of the most decent and hardworking of the
disciplined forces in the country.

CISF officers just enforce what rules they're told to enforce. Their working
language is English and they can be very helpful people at unfamiliar
airports, much more so than gate agents.

I doubt there was a bribe involved. I've had "discussions" about a second
laptop bag myself and eventually been let through. (Eventually I bought a
padded cover and just pop the laptop into my carryon bag).

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

On Fri, 16 May 2008 16:54:13 +0100, (David Horne,
_the_ chancellor (*)) wrote:

wrote:

I'll be doing this for the first time in a few weeks. Will there be
any problems regarding airport security? What's normal procedure for
ths?

I don't have a clue where you are, but around _here_ it's not a problem.
However, you have to take the laptop out of its case/bag and put it in a
separate container at security.

At Heathrow now, mercifully you don't any more - although in the 2
times through terminal 5 I've watched people completely fail to get to
grips with the new machines/layout, works pretty well but for the
idiots though.

Jim.

On Sat, 17 May 2008 13:43:53 +0530, "grusl"
wrote:


In all fairness, Alan, the Central Industrial Security Force, which runs
airport security in India, is one of the most decent and hardworking of the
disciplined forces in the country.

CISF officers just enforce what rules they're told to enforce. Their working
language is English and they can be very helpful people at unfamiliar
airports, much more so than gate agents.

I doubt there was a bribe involved. I've had "discussions" about a second
laptop bag myself and eventually been let through. (Eventually I bought a
padded cover and just pop the laptop into my carryon bag).

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

George, I'll eventually be writing a separate blog entry on
Indira Ghandi Airport. It was a fascinating and frustrating
experience, both arriving and departing.

I understand where you are coming from, but you may no
longer be seeing the place from the eyes of a foreign
tourist. And bear in mind that for comparison on this last
trip I passed through two Aussie airports (OOL, SYD),
Bangkok, Siem Reap, Hong Kong, Delhi, Amman, Cairo,
Heathrow, Dulles, JFK, Can Cun, Merida, Mexico City, Dallas
and Honolulu. Some were a pain, some were effortless, but
DEL was in a class of it's own.

Here is just a brief description of my departure experience.

Arrived at 3:30 am for the 6:20 Royal Jordanian to Amman. At
that time I expected things to be quiet. Wrong. A large
crowd was milling about on the sidewalk outside the doors.
They were outside because I found that I needed my passport
and boarding pass just to enter the building. The sergeant
on the door had apparently not heard of e-tickets. So I
rummaged through my luggage until I found the email with my
Qantas itinerary on it. He begrudgingly let me in.

As I entered the door a guy appeared from nowhere and
grabbed the larger of my two bags, literally out of my
hands, and immediately threw it on a security x-ray scan
machine where it disappeared into the bowels of the scanner.
As it appeared at the other end a security man sealed a
plastic strip around it to indicate that it had been scanned
for checked baggage. I wasn't impressed because I had
intended taking both as carry-on; that had been OK on the
previous five flights. The security guy would not give the
bag to me but only to my helper who had put it in the
machine. He wouldn't give it back until some rupees appeared
in my hand.

I eventually found the Royal Jordanian desk, but only after
another unsolicited helper showed me where it was; for a
tip. There was a remarkable absence of signs, and the only
working TV displays in that area did not show Airline
counter locations. Maybe they do on other days...

I should mention that I'll be calling the blog entry on
India "Work in Progress". It's a fascinating country and I'm
very pleased I went, but the place is just chaotic. The only
airport I've ever arrived at with more stuff hanging from
the ceiling, more damaged walls and floors, and less things
working was Darwin when I arrived with the damage assessment
team after Cyclone Tracy. And every unfinished repair had a
"Work in Progress" sign on it. I never actually saw a
workman near one of those signs. Not in the airport, nor on
the roads nor in public buildings.

These are some photos I took to while away the time while
standing in queues:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan_s/...7604919289274/

OK, I've checked in at Royal Jordanian; she whisked that
second bag away on the conveyor as soon as she had my name
to make up a tag. It was only later that I realised that
she, and the first guy, had done me a favour. She told me to
go to immigration queue. But I was unaware that she missed a
very important point. She didn't give me a carry-on bag tag.

There was another sergeant, or maybe a corporal, checking
passport and boarding pass before you could enter the
immigration queue. It was set up with ribbons into one of
those "snake" affairs. The sort where you could slip the
ribbon out of a supporting post if necessary. Which is
exactly what the cop did about 40 minutes later when a VIP
of some sort arrived, showed his passport and a few hundred
rupees, and went to the front of the queue. No-one said a
word. I got through about twenty minutes later. It took me a
long time in the original queue to enter the country - but
even longer to leave it.

Then I went through another passport and boarding pass check
as I left immigration, to enter the queue for the gate
lounge security scan and carry-on check. That was when I saw
the "Only One Carry-on Bag Allowed" sign and silently
thanked the people who sent my other bag to be checked.

Eventually, I reached the sergeant at the front of the
queue. That was after the laptop incident I referred to. The
sergeant became agitated and would not let me pass. He spoke
no English. The English tourist behind me told me that he
wanted to stamp the tag on my carry-on - and I had failed to
put a tag on the bag.

After a lot of discussion in mutually incomprehensible
languages a supervisor arrived and told me I must return to
the RJ counter to get a tag and go through the long
immigration queue again. I gave up arguing and headed off
and luckily found an RJ person who offered to go back and
get me a tag - but just then the English guy called me back
and said he could give me a BA tag. The sergeant accepted
that - with no name, no flight number, and the wrong
airline. All he wanted was a tag so he could stamp it. The
queue had moved so slowly that I had not lost my position.

When I finally queued to board the aircraft, another cop was
beside the flight stewards checking those carry-on tags. It
didn't matter that mine was blank and for a different
airline - it had a stamp! So I was allowed on board.

I have a vague feeling that I've missed one of the security
scans in that description; but I think you will understand
that I was immensely relieved when the plane took off for
Jordan with me on board.

If I visit India again, I may go by ship:-)


Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Angkor Wat

"Alan S" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 17 May 2008 13:43:53 +0530, "grusl"
wrote:


In all fairness, Alan, the Central Industrial Security Force, which runs
airport security in India, is one of the most decent and hardworking of
the
disciplined forces in the country.

CISF officers just enforce what rules they're told to enforce. Their
working
language is English and they can be very helpful people at unfamiliar
airports, much more so than gate agents.

I doubt there was a bribe involved. I've had "discussions" about a second
laptop bag myself and eventually been let through. (Eventually I bought a
padded cover and just pop the laptop into my carryon bag).


George, I'll eventually be writing a separate blog entry on
Indira Ghandi Airport. It was a fascinating and frustrating
experience, both arriving and departing.



I do hope you'll spell it Gandhi.


Here is just a brief description of my departure experience.

Arrived at 3:30 am for the 6:20 Royal Jordanian to Amman. At
that time I expected things to be quiet. Wrong. A large
crowd was milling about on the sidewalk outside the doors.
They were outside because I found that I needed my passport
and boarding pass just to enter the building. The sergeant
on the door had apparently not heard of e-tickets. So I
rummaged through my luggage until I found the email with my
Qantas itinerary on it. He begrudgingly let me in.


If it was 2004 I would agree. But every CISF officer has seen e-tickets now.
They're commonly used domestically.

As I entered the door a guy appeared from nowhere and
grabbed the larger of my two bags, literally out of my
hands, and immediately threw it on a security x-ray scan
machine where it disappeared into the bowels of the scanner.
As it appeared at the other end a security man sealed a
plastic strip around it to indicate that it had been scanned
for checked baggage. I wasn't impressed because I had
intended taking both as carry-on; that had been OK on the
previous five flights. The security guy would not give the
bag to me but only to my helper who had put it in the
machine. He wouldn't give it back until some rupees appeared
in my hand.


I'd say it was a porter who wanted to be paid for "carrying" your bags. It
does happen ... you have to hold on to everything. Delhi's much worse than
the south.

I eventually found the Royal Jordanian desk, but only after
another unsolicited helper showed me where it was; for a
tip. There was a remarkable absence of signs, and the only
working TV displays in that area did not show Airline
counter locations. Maybe they do on other days...


Uh, not necessarily. Mostly it's TV with brief moments of departure boards.
You can see the mouse moving each digit by hand.

[snip bag tag story]

The only purpose of the tag is to provide a blank space for a stamp. It
provides no other purpose, so it doesn't matter what tag is used.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

"Alan S" wrote in message
...


Arrived at 3:30 am for the 6:20 Royal Jordanian to Amman. At
that time I expected things to be quiet. Wrong. A large
crowd was milling about on the sidewalk outside the doors.
They were outside because I found that I needed my passport
and boarding pass just to enter the building. The sergeant
on the door had apparently not heard of e-tickets. So I
rummaged through my luggage until I found the email with my
Qantas itinerary on it. He begrudgingly let me in.

Normal practice at all Indian airports and has been mentioned here, by
myself, at least twice in the past.

As I entered the door a guy appeared from nowhere and
grabbed the larger of my two bags, literally out of my
hands, and immediately threw it on a security x-ray scan
machine where it disappeared into the bowels of the scanner.
As it appeared at the other end a security man sealed a
plastic strip around it to indicate that it had been scanned
for checked baggage. I wasn't impressed because I had
intended taking both as carry-on; that had been OK on the
previous five flights. The security guy would not give the
bag to me but only to my helper who had put it in the
machine. He wouldn't give it back until some rupees appeared
in my hand.

Very odd. You must look like someone from 'not here'.

The scanning and banding is normal at all Indian airports.

I eventually found the Royal Jordanian desk, but only after
another unsolicited helper showed me where it was; for a
tip. There was a remarkable absence of signs, and the only
working TV displays in that area did not show Airline
counter locations. Maybe they do on other days...

Again, normal. Ask a passer-by wearing an airport badge. You'll find they
all speak English and are all keen to help.

I should mention that I'll be calling the blog entry on
India "Work in Progress". It's a fascinating country and I'm
very pleased I went, but the place is just chaotic. The only
airport I've ever arrived at with more stuff hanging from
the ceiling, more damaged walls and floors, and less things
working was Darwin when I arrived with the damage assessment
team after Cyclone Tracy. And every unfinished repair had a
"Work in Progress" sign on it. I never actually saw a
workman near one of those signs. Not in the airport, nor on
the roads nor in public buildings.

Try Bombay. It has been being refurbish for at least two and a half years
now. The place is still a building site.

OK, I've checked in at Royal Jordanian; she whisked that
second bag away on the conveyor as soon as she had my name
to make up a tag. It was only later that I realised that
she, and the first guy, had done me a favour. She told me to
go to immigration queue. But I was unaware that she missed a
very important point. She didn't give me a carry-on bag tag.

The carry-on bag tags are not issued by the counter staff but by a person
(probably not uniformed) who'll be walking up and down the check-in queue.
If your bags were banded they'll have assumed they were both hold luggage.

There was another sergeant, or maybe a corporal, checking
passport and boarding pass before you could enter the
immigration queue. It was set up with ribbons into one of
those "snake" affairs. The sort where you could slip the
ribbon out of a supporting post if necessary. Which is
exactly what the cop did about 40 minutes later when a VIP
of some sort arrived, showed his passport and a few hundred
rupees, and went to the front of the queue.

I find that 100 rupees is quite adequate to get me to the front of the
queue.

CISF cops don't have a 'corporal' rank.

Then I went through another passport and boarding pass check
as I left immigration, to enter the queue for the gate
lounge security scan and carry-on check. That was when I saw
the "Only One Carry-on Bag Allowed" sign and silently
thanked the people who sent my other bag to be checked.

Normal anywhere outside of the USA.

Try turning up at Heathrow with two carry-ons heading anywhere but the USA
or South America and you'll get one slung in the hold as well.

Eventually, I reached the sergeant at the front of the
queue. That was after the laptop incident I referred to. The
sergeant became agitated and would not let me pass. He spoke
no English. The English tourist behind me told me that he
wanted to stamp the tag on my carry-on - and I had failed to
put a tag on the bag.

I have never been through an Indian airport security check where at least
two of the staff, one man and one woman, didn't speak English. Anyone in
an officer's uniform will speak good English because they're all graduates
and you can't get on an undergraduate course at an Indian university without
a decent command of English.

I have a vague feeling that I've missed one of the security
scans in that description; but I think you will understand
that I was immensely relieved when the plane took off for
Jordan with me on board.

The first time I went to India there were eight or nine checks, it has got
a lot better in the past two or three years.

If I visit India again, I may go by ship:-)

I looked that up (I like Indian airports about as much as you do) but it's
too expensive.

On the other hand Indian airports are a good introduction to India in that
they're a lot more efficient than most of the rest of the country...

You don't 'visit' India, you 'experience' India.

You'll find the place either addictive or repellent.

Most people find it addictive...

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

rec travel europe...
Sigh

"William Black" a écrit dans le message de
...

"Alan S" wrote in message
...


Arrived at 3:30 am for the 6:20 Royal Jordanian to Amman. At
that time I expected things to be quiet. Wrong. A large
crowd was milling about on the sidewalk outside the doors.
They were outside because I found that I needed my passport
and boarding pass just to enter the building. The sergeant
on the door had apparently not heard of e-tickets. So I
rummaged through my luggage until I found the email with my
Qantas itinerary on it. He begrudgingly let me in.

Normal practice at all Indian airports and has been mentioned here, by
myself, at least twice in the past.

As I entered the door a guy appeared from nowhere and
grabbed the larger of my two bags, literally out of my
hands, and immediately threw it on a security x-ray scan
machine where it disappeared into the bowels of the scanner.
As it appeared at the other end a security man sealed a
plastic strip around it to indicate that it had been scanned
for checked baggage. I wasn't impressed because I had
intended taking both as carry-on; that had been OK on the
previous five flights. The security guy would not give the
bag to me but only to my helper who had put it in the
machine. He wouldn't give it back until some rupees appeared
in my hand.

Very odd. You must look like someone from 'not here'.

The scanning and banding is normal at all Indian airports.

I eventually found the Royal Jordanian desk, but only after
another unsolicited helper showed me where it was; for a
tip. There was a remarkable absence of signs, and the only
working TV displays in that area did not show Airline
counter locations. Maybe they do on other days...

Again, normal. Ask a passer-by wearing an airport badge. You'll find
they all speak English and are all keen to help.

I should mention that I'll be calling the blog entry on
India "Work in Progress". It's a fascinating country and I'm
very pleased I went, but the place is just chaotic. The only
airport I've ever arrived at with more stuff hanging from
the ceiling, more damaged walls and floors, and less things
working was Darwin when I arrived with the damage assessment
team after Cyclone Tracy. And every unfinished repair had a
"Work in Progress" sign on it. I never actually saw a
workman near one of those signs. Not in the airport, nor on
the roads nor in public buildings.

Try Bombay. It has been being refurbish for at least two and a half years
now. The place is still a building site.

OK, I've checked in at Royal Jordanian; she whisked that
second bag away on the conveyor as soon as she had my name
to make up a tag. It was only later that I realised that
she, and the first guy, had done me a favour. She told me to
go to immigration queue. But I was unaware that she missed a
very important point. She didn't give me a carry-on bag tag.

The carry-on bag tags are not issued by the counter staff but by a person
(probably not uniformed) who'll be walking up and down the check-in queue.
If your bags were banded they'll have assumed they were both hold luggage.

There was another sergeant, or maybe a corporal, checking
passport and boarding pass before you could enter the
immigration queue. It was set up with ribbons into one of
those "snake" affairs. The sort where you could slip the
ribbon out of a supporting post if necessary. Which is
exactly what the cop did about 40 minutes later when a VIP
of some sort arrived, showed his passport and a few hundred
rupees, and went to the front of the queue.

I find that 100 rupees is quite adequate to get me to the front of the
queue.

CISF cops don't have a 'corporal' rank.

Then I went through another passport and boarding pass check
as I left immigration, to enter the queue for the gate
lounge security scan and carry-on check. That was when I saw
the "Only One Carry-on Bag Allowed" sign and silently
thanked the people who sent my other bag to be checked.

Normal anywhere outside of the USA.

Try turning up at Heathrow with two carry-ons heading anywhere but the USA
or South America and you'll get one slung in the hold as well.

Eventually, I reached the sergeant at the front of the
queue. That was after the laptop incident I referred to. The
sergeant became agitated and would not let me pass. He spoke
no English. The English tourist behind me told me that he
wanted to stamp the tag on my carry-on - and I had failed to
put a tag on the bag.

I have never been through an Indian airport security check where at least
two of the staff, one man and one woman, didn't speak English. Anyone
in an officer's uniform will speak good English because they're all
graduates and you can't get on an undergraduate course at an Indian
university without a decent command of English.

I have a vague feeling that I've missed one of the security
scans in that description; but I think you will understand
that I was immensely relieved when the plane took off for
Jordan with me on board.

The first time I went to India there were eight or nine checks, it has
got a lot better in the past two or three years.

If I visit India again, I may go by ship:-)

I looked that up (I like Indian airports about as much as you do) but it's
too expensive.

On the other hand Indian airports are a good introduction to India in that
they're a lot more efficient than most of the rest of the country...

You don't 'visit' India, you 'experience' India.

You'll find the place either addictive or repellent.

Most people find it addictive...

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

"Runge11" wrote in message
...
rec travel europe...

If you've nothing constructive to add then shut up.

You never have anything constructive to add so you can always shut up.

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

"William Black" wrote in message
...

"Runge11" wrote in message
...
rec travel europe...

If you've nothing constructive to add then shut up.

You never have anything constructive to add so you can always shut up.



I'm rarely reminded of its continued presence. No idea why it's here. It's
contributes nothing and never travels ... reminds me of those old busybody
neighbours harassing kids from the fence. Fortunately we're spared most of
its postings, which are in some dying European language.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

Yes mr black you are very constructive using this place as your drawing room
This is the worst of the rec travel groups.
Maybe one day someone around you will clap your mouth shut so you cannot
abuse people like a superior being you think you are.
Playing in the same league as martin and co, ugh.


"William Black" a écrit dans le message de
...

"Runge11" wrote in message
...
rec travel europe...

If you've nothing constructive to add then shut up.

You never have anything constructive to add so you can always shut up.

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

Thank you russel, I've never had the pleasure of addressing you and never
will, good job !

"grusl" a écrit dans le message de
...

"William Black" wrote in message
...

"Runge11" wrote in message
...
rec travel europe...

If you've nothing constructive to add then shut up.

You never have anything constructive to add so you can always shut up.



I'm rarely reminded of its continued presence. No idea why it's here. It's
contributes nothing and never travels ... reminds me of those old busybody
neighbours harassing kids from the fence. Fortunately we're spared most of
its postings, which are in some dying European language.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore