Tightened security in the UK and other countries has caused some airlines to put a ban on electronic gadgets like laptops, iPods and cell phones on board.
Laptops, in some cases, have been added to the items banned from entering the plane, apearing on the same list as liquids and lotions on the Transportation Security Administration's list.
I think anybody who takes a laptop and puts it into a conventional suitcase is out of their mind. They aren't made for the kind of abuse airline attendants and in flight compression can dish out. While tough luggage like my Halliburton Zero case would likely protect the computer, I can only imagine what a dented piece of scrap aluminum would emerge in the carousel on the other end.
A possible solution may be the rugged laptops designed to withstand intense physical demands such as drops, shocks, spills and extreme temperatures. Anyone had any luck with checking in your ToughBook or Itronix? Even if you've got the Hummer equivalent in a notebook computer, another concern is loss and theft of the data stored on a corporate laptop.
If you're carrying highly confidential data, you should use encryption and other mechanisms to secure the data in case the notebook is stolen or falls into the wrong hands. You are more likely to lose data from a damaged hard drive than have the data stolen, so backup should actually be your first consideration before you check a laptop as baggage.
Make sure to check with your airline before booking a flight to make sure you can bring your laptop and other electronics on board.
Heightened Security In the UK Means No Laptops, Cellphones and iPods On Board [Gizmodo]
'Mass murder terror plot' uncovered [Guardian]
Local Travelers React To Terrorist Plot [WKTR]