Airport security checks

[Thian]

A salesman at Dubai airport showed me a backpack (from Tumi) which had a special laptopsleeve. He claimed that the laptop could stay in that sleeve without opening it before going through the scanners. There even was some label on it to show it was designed for that purpose.

 

How is that possible? I thought that opening the laptop was for security-reasons to show that there's no bomb or modifications to the laptop??

 

Tumi is one of the topbrands so now i don't know who to believe. 

 

Can anybody explain me how this works?

[Thian]

 

 

It is this one, they call it T-pass which is the special sleeve for laptops.

[lassebasse]

I thought that the purpose of removing the laptop was that it was blocking the screening of the main bag.  My laptop is always in a special sleeve in my backpack and I just take the sleeve out with the laptop. I have never been asked to show the laptop itself.

[Thian]

48 minutes ago, lassebasse said:

I thought that the purpose of removing the laptop was that it was blocking the screening of the main bag.  My laptop is always in a special sleeve in my backpack and I just take the sleeve out with the laptop. I have never been asked to show the laptop itself.

I see, well you might be right in that the scanner can't go through the laptop...i though it is so they can scan the laptop seperately (it also has to go in another basket) to see if you put a bomb in it or so (would be easy to make that).

 

So this Tumi sleeve is nothing different than any other sleeve. Than why do they call it T-pass and promote it as something new? I don't need that sleeve though but am looking for a waterproof backpack which protects the laptop very well.

 

Also i sometimes read that they catch pedophiles by what kiddyporn movies they have on their harddisk...So those guys must have had to turn the laptop on i assume...i never had to do that.

 

Thinking about it i never had to show my power supply either, that could also be a bomb...

 

Well Tumi lost some credibility, that T-pass seems to be nothing special.

[Katia]

These types of "TSA-friendly" bags have a special section for the laptop that zips all the way open and lies flat, only contains the laptop, doesn't have a bunch of other zippers and such, so it's easy to see the laptop clearly on the scanner, separately from the rest of the bag.  (Example-- see photos of it open showing how the laptop part works: https://www.ebags.com/product/swissgear-travel-gear/1900-scansmart-backpack/205059?productid=10111179)

 

I've never been asked in an airport to turn on any of my electronic devices (phones, tablet, laptop) to prove they work or anything like that, no one has ever wanted to inspect them short of sending them through the scanner, etc.  When I moved, I had a rucksack and messenger bag full of all sorts of electronics-- phones, laptop, tablet, wireless router, I think iPod, cords galore... thought I'd get stopped for sure, but never a question; they must be used to seeing that stuff.

[Thian]

42 minutes ago, Katia said:

These types of "TSA-friendly" bags have a special section for the laptop that zips all the way open and lies flat, only contains the laptop, doesn't have a bunch of other zippers and such, so it's easy to see the laptop clearly on the scanner, separately from the rest of the bag.  (Example-- see photos of it open showing how the laptop part works: https://www.ebags.com/product/swissgear-travel-gear/1900-scansmart-backpack/205059?productid=10111179)

 

I've never been asked in an airport to turn on any of my electronic devices (phones, tablet, laptop) to prove they work or anything like that, no one has ever wanted to inspect them short of sending them through the scanner, etc.  When I moved, I had a rucksack and messenger bag full of all sorts of electronics-- phones, laptop, tablet, wireless router, I think iPod, cords galore... thought I'd get stopped for sure, but never a question; they must be used to seeing that stuff.

At airports i always  have to take out the laptop, i never heard of this system where you can only open the backpack to show the computer. Also the laptop always had to go in a new basket, cannot go on top of anything else.

Now when i approach the check i put everything in a purse so the staff can't steal anything..also i don't want to show my wallet or so. Works well this way.

 

It's not an issue for me to take the laptop out, only one time i grabbed the wrong laptop from the belt but luckily the owner of that laptop came to ask me about it and he happened to have the same model as me.

 

I'm confused about this brand though, i've seen it in Thailand and always thought they were cheap copies of the real swiss brand from the swiss armyknife. But that one had a black logo iirc. I don't care much for brands though but am fond of high quality things, especially when i put my valuables in them.

 

Last flight i brought a new laptop to Thailand, i wanted to bring the old one as well to give it to my thai cousin but didn't dare it, i was scared the customs would think i brought this new one to sell it to a Thai. Laptops are much cheaper in Europe.

 

I wonder how many laptops we can bring before they start asking questions or demand importtax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rc2702]

I have had a quality waterproof canvas style cote and ciel back pack for 5 years that has served me and my devices very well. 

 

As good as the bag is if I'm travelling I still stick a plastic cover over it just in case.

 

 

[Thian]

9 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

I have had a quality waterproof canvas style cote and ciel back pack for 5 years that has served me and my devices very well. 

 

As good as the bag is if I'm travelling I still stick a plastic cover over it just in case.

 

 

That brand looks good, no zippers at all. Never heard about it before.

 

I also want a 100% waterproof backpack and now was thinking about Showers Pass or Thule. Thule is cheap in Europe but Showers pass is only in the USA but can be ordered online i assume.

 

This one is what i would like to buy i think..

[Rc2702]

Just now, Thian said:

That brand looks good, no zippers at all. Never heard about it before.

 

I also want a 100% waterproof backpack and now was thinking about Showers Pass or Thule. Thule is cheap in Europe but Showers pass is only in the USA but can be ordered online i assume.

 

This one is what i would like to buy i think..

The one I have is called Meuse I think.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cote+and+ciel+canvas+backpack+review&client=ms-android-samsung&prmd=svin&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibr_v94bvWAhUMmrQKHXX6AcwQ_AUIEygD&biw=360&bih=560&dpr=2#imgrc=MDxiuBjWkOXbtM:

 

The bag does have zippers but they are concealed and the main reason I purchased it was the zips as they are not easy to open and when was living in bkk that solved my concern. 

 

Been looking for a handmade leather backpack for a while. If I had more time in laos I could get one made by a shop there. Hate bags with pockets too easy to open just not practical at all for the urban environment. Emphasis on weatherproof and crimeproof for me and my devices.

 

 

 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, Thian said:

I wonder how many laptops we can bring before they start asking questions or demand import tax.

 

For years, I routinely carried 3 laptops- one for work, one for personal and a backup netbook.  Never once had to explain them.

 

On another topic, I'm old enough to remember having to start up a laptop at airport security to prove it was functional and not just a bomb.  Real PITA to make absolutely sure the battery wasn't dead when I got to the airport.   That was back when a laptop cost $5,000 or more and very few people carried them.  That all stopped when they became mainstream.

 

I typically keep my, laptop in a protective pouch in the carry-on and never had to take the laptop out of the pouch, though I did take the pouch(es) out of the carry-on and each went in its own bin.

 

[Thian]

9 hours ago, impulse said:

 

For years, I routinely carried 3 laptops- one for work, one for personal and a backup netbook.  Never once had to explain them.

 

On another topic, I'm old enough to remember having to start up a laptop at airport security to prove it was functional and not just a bomb.  Real PITA to make absolutely sure the battery wasn't dead when I got to the airport.   That was back when a laptop cost $5,000 or more and very few people carried them.  That all stopped when they became mainstream.

 

I typically keep my, laptop in a protective pouch in the carry-on and never had to take the laptop out of the pouch, though I did take the pouch(es) out of the carry-on and each went in its own bin.

 

I never thought about zippers not easy to open but yes i also want that now.  Still remember standing in a train after a flight to Germany...i had to stand in the hall between loads of gypsies and was wearing all valuables in my backpack which i couldn't see, i just was pushed in that overfull train.

 

This new laptop boots in 6 seconds, previous one took 5 full minutes haha, shutdown also 5 minutes. Would be fun to show that to the customs.

 

Once in an air asia flight there was a chinese man opening my backpack which was right above me. I let him him do for a while to see what he was after. But when he opened the zipper i grabbed his arm and told him to p off. 

 

I think i also go for the one you guys have, no zippers seems to be the best against water and thieves.

 

 

 

 

[Katia]

10 hours ago, Thian said:

At airports i always  have to take out the laptop, i never heard of this system where you can only open the backpack to show the computer. Also the laptop always had to go in a new basket, cannot go on top of anything else.

Now when i approach the check i put everything in a purse so the staff can't steal anything..also i don't want to show my wallet or so. Works well this way.

 

It's not an issue for me to take the laptop out, only one time i grabbed the wrong laptop from the belt but luckily the owner of that laptop came to ask me about it and he happened to have the same model as me.

 

I'm confused about this brand though, i've seen it in Thailand and always thought they were cheap copies of the real swiss brand from the swiss armyknife. But that one had a black logo iirc. I don't care much for brands though but am fond of high quality things, especially when i put my valuables in them.

 

Last flight i brought a new laptop to Thailand, i wanted to bring the old one as well to give it to my thai cousin but didn't dare it, i was scared the customs would think i brought this new one to sell it to a Thai. Laptops are much cheaper in Europe.

 

I wonder how many laptops we can bring before they start asking questions or demand importtax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think the reason you have to take the laptop out of the bag, though, is because the other things in your bag, zippers, etc. get in the way of them seeing the laptop clearly.  So, from what I can gather, the point of these bags is that this part opens up with JUST the laptop and nothing else in the way, so it's all right.

 

As far as Swiss Gear... I was thinking the same thing about Thai Swiss Gear, that it's knockoff or that perhaps it's authentic Swiss Gear that "fell off the truck" (though the one I linked is from eBags and I think is "real" Swiss Gear).  I do, however, have a Thai Swiss Gear suitcase that I got for cheap at MBK and I actually like it (I didn't buy it for the brand-- I just happened to like the suitcase and it happened to be the Thai Swiss Gear).  I've only used it a couple of times, but it seems sturdy so far.  It's even got that zipper that you're not supposed to be able to open with a pen.  Maybe it would fall apart with heavy use, but it doesn't *feel* crappy like some things do right off the bat, if that make sense.  It's my only experience with the Thai Swiss Gear stuff, though, so maybe it all sucks and I got lucky.

[Thian]

Once i looked at a Swissgear backpack (the real brand is Victorinox i remember now) in BKK and it had the zipper open behind the thing you use to close it. So it was a cheap quality and already broken. 

 

Real Victorinox bags cost about the same as Tumi..i won't feel happy to carry that in an overloaded train or so.

 

I realise now that i don't want any brandname printed on the backpack and no zippers at all to not get attention to it.

 

So I need a waterproof backpack, no zippers, no brandnames shown and it only needs to fit laptop and winterjacket. Oh and ballistic nylon would be great..

 

 

[Katia]

I'm not sure the difference between Victorinox/Swiss Gear.  I've seen things before to suggest that Swiss Gear / Wenger / Victorinox are all one and the same company.  But, again, I'm sure that has no bearing on Swiss Gear Thailand.

[Thian]

50 minutes ago, Katia said:

I'm not sure the difference between Victorinox/Swiss Gear.  I've seen things before to suggest that Swiss Gear / Wenger / Victorinox are all one and the same company.  But, again, I'm sure that has no bearing on Swiss Gear Thailand.

Well we have a Wenger duffel bag but within a week some ventilationpiece came off and can't be put back, there's a hole now. So i guess the only real swiss quality brand is Victorinox and that's also what's on the swiss army knives i had as a kid.

 

Can we buy Cote and Ciel backpacks in Bangkok somewhere? I would like to see/feel one in real before buying it (online maybe).

 

 

 

 

[Rc2702]

Just now, Thian said:

Well we have a Wenger duffel bag but within a week some ventilationpiece came off and can't be put back, there's a hole now. So i guess the only real swiss quality brand is Victorinox and that's also what's on the swiss army knives i had as a kid.

 

Can we buy Cote and Ciel backpacks in Bangkok somewhere? I would like to see/feel one in real before buying it (online maybe).

 

 

 

 

I saw them at emporium but the material was different and price reflected it. Was no where near as durable but style was the same.

[TommyTucker]

If anyone wants to but secure luggage, take a look at Pacsafe products. Really well made bags, wallets, suitcases etc etc with many "anti-theft" devices.
The straps of bags have wire running through them so they cannot be cut/slashed, the zips are all anti slash and the bags have wire mesh at the front so they cannot be slashed. Most products are now RFID safe meaning that your bank cards and credit cards cannot be scanned and copied.
There is a shop in Amazon Plaza that sells a large range and is competitively priced, most Malls now sell their products as well.
 

[Thian]

8 minutes ago, TommyTucker said:

If anyone wants to but secure luggage, take a look at Pacsafe products. Really well made bags, wallets, suitcases etc etc with many "anti-theft" devices.
The straps of bags have wire running through them so they cannot be cut/slashed, the zips are all anti slash and the bags have wire mesh at the front so they cannot be slashed. Most products are now RFID safe meaning that your bank cards and credit cards cannot be scanned and copied.
There is a shop in Amazon Plaza that sells a large range and is competitively priced, most Malls now sell their products as well.
 

Yes i've seen those in BKK, but it has a hideaway raincover, still don't know if i like that..i rarely walk in the rain though. All that protection is great, i need that. Will have a look at them when i'm in a mall.