Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Travel Topics > Air Travel
Reload this Page >

Is it safe to put a laptop in a carry on suitcase?

Is it safe to put a laptop in a carry on suitcase?

Old Apr 27th, 2017, 02:34 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is it safe to put a laptop in a carry on suitcase?

I have a small laptop but it's not small enough to fit into my purse, since I'm going carry on only and I have other stuff to fit in the purse. I really don't feel like buying a bigger purse, so I'm thinking I'll slip it into the front pocket of my carry on suitcase.

Is that a bad idea?

I have a protective sleeve that I put my laptop in, but Im not sure if I'm still risking getting it damaged when trying to lift my suitcase in and out the overhead compartment, or if it were to fall from the overhead. Obviously if my bag needed to be gate checked I'd take the laptop out.

Thoughts?
IceMoon is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 02:56 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,137
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
If it concerns you, do you have a tote or daypack that will contain both laptop and purse? I bring a tablet and it's always in my daypack (I check my main bag) with plenty of padding around it. I prefer a small pack to a tote, find it easier to carry. With your purse inside it would still be just 1 "personal item".
MmePerdu is online now  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 03:07 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,609
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I do the same as MmePerdu, although I don't bother about extra padding as my daypack fits under the seat in front of me. But I wouldn't be especially worried about a bag in the overhead either.
thursdaysd is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 03:21 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
My lap top (or more often my iPad) is ALWAYS in my handbag -- not in the rollaboard in the overhead. Not because of safety so much but because I want to use it during the flight. If your handbag is too small - take a larger one or a tote instead. It doesn't have to be a specially purchased/new handbag. It can be a tote you already own or one you borrow from a friend/relative.
janisj is online now  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 03:43 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,137
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
"...I don't bother about extra padding..."

I didn't mean added padding, but the padding provided by other items I carry in the pack.
MmePerdu is online now  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 03:52 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,142
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
It's fine.
suze is online now  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 05:15 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 24,530
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
No, not in an outside pocket of a soft bag... Too often the overhead bags get shuffled around and squished. Or the slight chance that it falls out from the overhead been. You can use one of those "green" grocery bags as a temporary tote for your personal item if your handbag is too small. Or if your handbag fits inside a backpack, that's a good alternative.
mlgb is offline  
Old Apr 27th, 2017, 05:41 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,959
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've been putting laptops in my carry-ons for over 15 years and those carry-ons have ranged from standard 21" roll-aboards, soft-sided wheeled bags, soft sided back packs and smaller duffles or "hand-bag size "personal items. I've put the laptops both inside the bags, and in outer zippered compartments. I've taken hundreds of flight and have put the carry-on with the laptop in overhead bins and under the seat in front of me. I've traveled in First Class with lots of room, in business class with less room, in coach where space was always at a premium, in commuter aircraft where you have to "gate check" the bag as you board the plane and in small planes where you hand the bag to the pilot and he stores the bag in some available space on the plane. I've been in everything from jumbo jets to 6 passengers private planes. After literally hundreds of flights the only "damage" any of the laptops I owned was one "tiny "ding" in the outside cover of one laptop.

So, the risk of damage to a laptop in your carry-on is almost non-existent.
RoamsAround is offline  
Old Apr 28th, 2017, 12:13 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 97,142
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
My experience matches RoamsAround.

If you are worried about it "falling out of the overhead bin" just take the laptop out of the suitcase before you hoist it up there and keep it with you at your seat.
suze is online now  
Old Apr 28th, 2017, 12:42 PM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
Me too. The reason I put it in my handbag is for convenience, not safety.
janisj is online now  
Old Apr 28th, 2017, 01:28 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,137
Received 26 Likes on 4 Posts
One person's experience has little to do with how another may feel. Fears or concerns are often about what we imagine could happen and in this case it's simple to take precautions, then not think about it again. What does it cost to put the laptop somewhere else? Nothing. If it turns out the alternative seems more bother than it's worth then that outside pocket may seem safe enough.
MmePerdu is online now  
Old May 5th, 2017, 01:07 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i have also the same question in my mind =)
i am traveling with www.batik-air.net
So i hope they wont complicate.
bakarash is offline  
Old May 7th, 2017, 04:38 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I usually work on my laptop during my travel so I just put it where I can easily get it out specially during dull moments or waiting for my flight. I always have a handbag which is exclusive for my laptop and the charger as well.
AmandaDwain is offline  
Old Jun 8th, 2017, 12:19 PM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,076
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Lots of soft bags have sleeves on the outside. Their purpose is to carry laptops and make it easy to access them when going through security and for use on the plane.

There are hundreds of laptops flying right now in that kind of luggage in the overhead bin. If people had their laptops damaged then those bags would not be as popular as they are.

People can have fears and concerns about lots of things, but that does not mean they are being reasonable.
mrwunrfl is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Shianne
Travel Tips & Trip Ideas
33
Feb 13th, 2013 01:54 PM
erb
Europe
4
Jul 14th, 2012 06:12 PM
lettersgo
Travel Tips & Trip Ideas
9
Mar 31st, 2011 07:18 AM
terrapin
Air Travel
7
Mar 19th, 2010 09:00 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -