Apple’s MacBook Air not approved for flying; causes owner delay in airport security
By Jonathan Schlaffer
Don’t travel with new technology if you want to make it through airport security in a timely fashion. One owner of a MacBook Air was stopped because the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents couldn’t identify the traditional parts of a laptop on it.
As the laptop was going through the X-Ray machine it caused the TSA agents some confusion and they had to examine the X-Ray image closer. After deciding they didn’t know what to do with it, they decided to pull the owner aside and ask him some questions.
The TSA agent could be heard saying, “There’s no drive, and no ports on the back. It has a couple of lines where the drive should be.” According to the owner’s blog post about the incident, this discussion was taking place among the senior (older) agents.
Apparently, staying up on the latest technology isn’t a requirement for being a TSA officer but, in some cases, neither is a good dose of common sense.
When a younger agent joins the team he tries to tell them that it’s a MacBook Air and uses a solid state drive instead of a hard drive. The senior agents don’t appear to understand what that means so he says “Instead of a spinning disc, it keeps everything in flash memory, like the memory card in a digital camera.” He then points to the X-Ray image, trying to explain where the SSD is and what it does; he is not entirely successful.
Eventually the agents allow him to turn on the “device” and run some programs; though, still not entirely convinced the agents allow the owner to go on his way. By this point, his flight has already boarded and left the terminal.
He goes on his way to get a new ticket but not before hearing the younger agent again telling the senior staff that, “It’s a MacBook Air.”
The moral of the story is, don’t buy the MacBook Air with the SSD. That would be my advice anyway since it’s overpriced and has little in the way of horsepower. If you must buy a MacBook Air, buy the one with the standard hard drive.
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March 10th, 2008
These paranoid security checks at airport are going way too far !!!
March 10th, 2008
These paranoid security checks at airports are going way too far !!!
March 10th, 2008
About 10 or so years ago we were going through the Philly airport on our way back home. I had stopped to ask the TSA supervisor if we could carry on my son’t RC gas car in a box if it would fit in the bin. The answer was, “it depends on the TSA you go through…” which I thought was a bit vague. You’d think they’d have the same standards.
However after this the supervisor let on that they had a lady who was in a wheelchair downstairs and they just didn’t know what to do. It seems she had a toolkit for her wheelchair and the TSA won’t let tools onboard. I guess this lady, though they could verify she needs the wheelchair, was going to disassemble the plane in flight or go invade the cockpit by taking apart the lock and then ….. geeze do these folks realize how stupid they look when there isn’t a shred of common sense to be found in what they do?
It would have been ever so easy to take the tool kit and have a flight attendant hold it during the flight and since disabled folks in wheelchairs get off first, give her back the tool kit at that time.
That would have been too easy and simple.
March 10th, 2008
I just had to comment on the moral of the story… after telling us of the hassle that ONE traveller had with a MacBook Air because this machine is not a traditional laptop and caused confusion to Aiport Security, the author of this post tells us not to buy a MacBook Air because it is overpriced and had little in the way of horsepower. What does one thing have to do with the other?
I can respect that you don’t like the MacBook Air, but to tell this second hand story to satisfy your own opinion while using that dramatic, attention getting and false statement as a title is quite immature and above all selfish. Suffering from a lack of attention are you?
Pity…
March 10th, 2008
I took my Macbook Air on a trip from Atlanta to Austin, TX, and back in early February. No problems at all either way–oh, the folks at Austin were curious about it and wanted to see it because they had seen the commercials and couldn’t believe how small it was, but that had a lot to do with the fact that it was 6:20 in the morning, there was no one else around, and it was something different. So thankfully, my TSA experience with a Macbook Air was much more pleasant.
March 10th, 2008
I presume it might have helped to open Disk Utility and show where it says “SSD” or whatever it shows.
March 10th, 2008
So, Ed, am I to believe that you’ve never read another article that doesn’t have at least one personal view in it? I think not.
Dramatic, attention and getting and false statement? Yeah, I’m sure you’ve never seen one of those on any other website either.
“Causes owner” as in singular… as in one…
Most of our posts have “dramatic and attention getting” headlines. Get with the program. I fail to see how it’s false.
But then again, I guess you leave comments like that on other websites as well. So be it, you’re entitle to your opinion just like I am to mine.
March 10th, 2008
I agree with Ed’s remark above. The beginning and the middle of the story has nothing to do with the ending. One does not lead to the other. It’s a total non sequitur.
Rather, an ending could possibly look like this:
“And so perhaps the MacBook Air is not ‘airworthy’ after all. Guffaw.”
An ending like that would be more humourous and appropriate since after all the post itself (except for the non sequitur ending) was quite hilarious.
March 10th, 2008
I forgot to add that my model was the SSD-equipped Macbook Air. That’s what piqued the curiosity of the TSA personnel–it didn’t make any noise when it was running!
So the moral of my story was “If you want to wow TSA staff and make them like you, buy the Macbook Air with SSD.”
YMMV
March 10th, 2008
“So, Ed, am I to believe that you’ve never read another article that doesn’t have at least one personal view in it? I think not.”
Uhm, plenty of them, but how would you know what I have or have not done? And what does this have to do with other articles? It has to do with you poorly written one.
“Dramatic, attention and getting and false statement? Yeah, I’m sure you’ve never seen one of those on any other website either.”
Becasue other ‘articles’ do this or that does not make something correct. That you knowingly post false statements is bad enough. That you do it becuase others do it is a real shame. And, this is far from being an article.
“Causes owner” as in singular… as in one…
Did you forget the first statment in your title: the lie that the ‘MacBook Air is not approved for flying’? Where is your proof (your ’singular;one’ source isn’t any proof) that it isn’t approved for flying?
And don’t miss how you contradict yourself: It is not approved for flying but in your own story the passenger is allowed into the terminal with his MacBook Air afterall. Did the MacBook Air suddenly become approved halfway through your article and there is some law that you can’t change your title once you have come up with it?
“Most of our posts have “dramatic and attention getting” headlines. Get with the program. I fail to see how it’s false.”
Again, where is the proof that the device is not approved for flying? Where in the law is that stated? What attributes of the MacBook Air go against a law that would prohibit it from being transported on an airplane? There is nothing wrong with attention-getting titles as long as there is merit for them.
“But then again, I guess you leave comments like that on other websites as well. So be it, you’re entitle to your opinion just like I am to mine.”
Making assumptions such as the above are the one’s that lead you to write a poor blog with non-related arguments and statements you cannot prove. My posts, while filled with fact and a demand for sincerity, are my opinion. I am entitled to my own opinion. Your blessing is not a requirement. Your blog, however, states something as a fact, not opinion. You are not entitled to lie so that your website gets more hits.
Why do I bother making a remark to your blog and why bother answering your thoughtless response to those remarks? Because I read MacSurfer everyday, and so often it is littered with this type of misleading information. It takes up room, time and money and I am making an effort to let you know that so that you either stop posting this stuff or try writing something wirthwhile. That you will be a better writer from my comments is just gravy for you. Lastly, it wouldn’t hurt if you read the mission statement of the website you work for. Thus far, you’ve only proved that BLORGE.com is bad propaganda. Demand more of yourself and try not to insult the reader, its a turnoff.
March 10th, 2008
Apparently Anger and Spelling don’t mix - I fall into this myself - Opinions are what they are, and time is wasted reading opinions and rants. Do any one of us have a life if we are engaged in this ? - Go on -