Laptop in hand luggage
Discussion
I've found it's normally best to keep it switched on in sleep mode when doing the security malarkey. Otherwise they will make you boot it up from cold at the x-ray machine.
And the Canadians will have no interest in it whatsoever when you arrive there. (Unless you're already on their watchlist)
And the Canadians will have no interest in it whatsoever when you arrive there. (Unless you're already on their watchlist)
Unless it is LogainScare / FlyMayBe on an internal flight.
Check in: Laptop in your hold bag, Oh no sir, has to go in the cabin, have you a bag it can go in the cabin in?
Me: Yep, my laptop bag, that is it in in the hold bag, after the last time it got confiscated on the Tarmac and put in the hold and it got broken and you wouldn't pay for repairs. I now keep the laptop and it's padding etc in its bag all together, like I have done the last five flights with you.
Check in: Oh no sir, please take your laptop bag out and put it in the overhead lockers.
Me: OK.
Get to the plane (Inverness you walk out to the plane).
Crew: [Dalcross handling fellow] Hi sir, overhead lockers are full, we'll put your laptop bag and coat in the hold for you......so they do.
Me: On seeing the flight attendant inside the plane...Hi, confused with my laptop bag, where should it be?
Crew: What laptop bag? You're nopt carrying one. Have you put it in the overhead locker?
Me: No, the baggage guys took it off me and put it in the hold.
Crew: Oh, they do do that, they're not the brightest. Was it turned off? Probably be OK,
End of Convo.
Check in: Laptop in your hold bag, Oh no sir, has to go in the cabin, have you a bag it can go in the cabin in?
Me: Yep, my laptop bag, that is it in in the hold bag, after the last time it got confiscated on the Tarmac and put in the hold and it got broken and you wouldn't pay for repairs. I now keep the laptop and it's padding etc in its bag all together, like I have done the last five flights with you.
Check in: Oh no sir, please take your laptop bag out and put it in the overhead lockers.
Me: OK.
Get to the plane (Inverness you walk out to the plane).
Crew: [Dalcross handling fellow] Hi sir, overhead lockers are full, we'll put your laptop bag and coat in the hold for you......so they do.
Me: On seeing the flight attendant inside the plane...Hi, confused with my laptop bag, where should it be?
Crew: What laptop bag? You're nopt carrying one. Have you put it in the overhead locker?
Me: No, the baggage guys took it off me and put it in the hold.
Crew: Oh, they do do that, they're not the brightest. Was it turned off? Probably be OK,
End of Convo.
Just an anecdote, but it also applies to large airlines.
A few years ago I was travelling from Birmingham to West Africa, so used Air France via CDG. Birmingham to Paris was on one of those 4 engined BAe RJs, and I was in business class. When I got to the door of the plane (on an air bridge) I was stopped and told that the flight was full and they would take my wheelie bag and check it in to the hold, and I could retreive it at my final destination (still over 12 hours away)!! Checked in? To Africa? With no locks? Yeah, right.
I refused, quoting their own guidelines not to put valuables in checked-in luggage. I also had electronic stuff like laptop and documents, to do some prep for my meeting, at CDG and on the long haul leg. They were having none of it, so I asked them to call the duty manager. She turned up after 5 minutes, and just repeated the story. Full flight, you have to check it in. I could see I was getting nowhere so I had no option. I told them I had very valuable items in the bag that shouldn't be checked in, and also documentation that I needed during the flight. They relented that I could remove the valuable and important stuff from my wheelie bag take it into the cabin with me. I explained that it was all valuable and important, otherwise it would already be in the hold, in my suitcase. I would also need something to put it in, like a bag. They went and got me 2 carrier bags, so I emptied my wheelie and put everything into the 2 carriers, and they checked my empty wheelie bag into the hold. When I got on board, I was the only person in business class on that leg, and the overhead lockers were empty. I was f@@king fuming, and logged a complaint with the cabin crew (but never heard any more about it).
But the old witch in charge of Air France ops at Birmingham saved her face and won the day.
I've never travelled with Air France since, and never will.
A few years ago I was travelling from Birmingham to West Africa, so used Air France via CDG. Birmingham to Paris was on one of those 4 engined BAe RJs, and I was in business class. When I got to the door of the plane (on an air bridge) I was stopped and told that the flight was full and they would take my wheelie bag and check it in to the hold, and I could retreive it at my final destination (still over 12 hours away)!! Checked in? To Africa? With no locks? Yeah, right.
I refused, quoting their own guidelines not to put valuables in checked-in luggage. I also had electronic stuff like laptop and documents, to do some prep for my meeting, at CDG and on the long haul leg. They were having none of it, so I asked them to call the duty manager. She turned up after 5 minutes, and just repeated the story. Full flight, you have to check it in. I could see I was getting nowhere so I had no option. I told them I had very valuable items in the bag that shouldn't be checked in, and also documentation that I needed during the flight. They relented that I could remove the valuable and important stuff from my wheelie bag take it into the cabin with me. I explained that it was all valuable and important, otherwise it would already be in the hold, in my suitcase. I would also need something to put it in, like a bag. They went and got me 2 carrier bags, so I emptied my wheelie and put everything into the 2 carriers, and they checked my empty wheelie bag into the hold. When I got on board, I was the only person in business class on that leg, and the overhead lockers were empty. I was f@@king fuming, and logged a complaint with the cabin crew (but never heard any more about it).
But the old witch in charge of Air France ops at Birmingham saved her face and won the day.
I've never travelled with Air France since, and never will.
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