How safe is it to travel to the US ?

fergal wrote:

As safe as anywhere I've been. For example, in every US airport I
have flown, you have to take out your laptop and have it separately
examined. Not the case in any other airport I have been elsewhere in
the world.

What do you mean by examined ?
Do they scan your hardrive , cd's etc ??

Typically they just make you power it on (to show the battery
isn't replaced by explosive) and then rub a bit of sample paper
all over it in various places, then stick that into an ion
analyzer which can detect explosives with great sensitivity.

--
Ken Tough

Turby wrote in message . ..
On 10 May 2004 05:38:58 -0700, (fergal) wrote:

I have been hearing and reading all kinds of horror stories about
whats going in US airports, is it actually safe ?

I plan to go over for 3 months on holiday visa to get medical
treatment I can't get in the uk , I have valid doctors address and
proof of funds but somehow I still don't feel very secure or thrilled
about going over , esp if you have to wait 5-7 hours in cue as I've
heard ?

Can any one enlighten as to what is actually going on and whether
someone such as myself is any risk , is there anything I should be
aware of that might make them suspicious ??

Safety is not the problem. Frustration and boredom of dealing with
bureaucrats is. I think 2-3 hours wait is more likely than 5-7, and
you might get lucky and whiz through.
As for your last question, there are webpages of things to avoid
taking on board. There was a local "art" exhibit of things
confiscated. Thousands of scissors, swiss army knives, etc. Stuff you
used to take for granted is now contraband.

Turby the Turbosurfer

I do a lot of travelling and I totally agree with Turby.

Ken Tough wrote in message ...
fergal wrote:

As safe as anywhere I've been. For example, in every US airport I
have flown, you have to take out your laptop and have it separately
examined. Not the case in any other airport I have been elsewhere in
the world.

What do you mean by examined ?
Do they scan your hardrive , cd's etc ??

Typically they just make you power it on (to show the battery
isn't replaced by explosive) and then rub a bit of sample paper
all over it in various places, then stick that into an ion
analyzer which can detect explosives with great sensitivity.

SO what happens if you battery is too low to switch it on ,you don't
have one or it's a uk machine like mine that needs an adapter ?

I do have an adapter but my notebook doesn't have a keyboard because
I'm waiting for a new one I hope to get sent over while I'min the us ,
so I can't turn it on enven if I wanted to .

it sounds like I might have problem , do you have any suggestions ??

fergal wrote:

What do you mean by examined ?
Do they scan your hardrive , cd's etc ??

Typically they just make you power it on (to show the battery
isn't replaced by explosive) and then rub a bit of sample paper
all over it in various places, then stick that into an ion
analyzer which can detect explosives with great sensitivity.

SO what happens if you battery is too low to switch it on ,you don't
have one or it's a uk machine like mine that needs an adapter ?

I do have an adapter but my notebook doesn't have a keyboard because
I'm waiting for a new one I hope to get sent over while I'min the us ,
so I can't turn it on enven if I wanted to .

it sounds like I might have problem , do you have any suggestions ??

If you need an adapter to run it, and you don't have a keyboard
for it, then there's not much use carrying it as carry-on luggage.
If you pack it in the middle of a thick suitcase of clothes, it
will be resistent to most shocks.

--
Ken Tough