Airport security & laptops

Unfortunately my laptop battery has died [n] so I won't be carrying it with my laptop. Will this be a problem at security in the UK and the US?

I've never been asked to prove my laptop works, but I'd carry the charger just so you can show it passes POST just in case they want to check.

I have had to boot up my laptop a few times in the USA by TSA officials so not sure if you will have a problem or not.
Sorry

Regards,

Hackneyguy

[mitchja]

I've also had to boot up my lap-top a few times when going through US security too.

Regards

Oh ok, my laptop has to use mains power to work, will they allow me to plug it in?

quote:Originally posted by GodAtum
Oh ok, my laptop has to use mains power to work, will they allow me to plug it in?


You can always ask but to be honest I doubt it.

They've never asked me to switch my laptop on but I've had to switch my Ipod on loads of times for them and even take the battery out of my mobile to show them.

ISTBC but I thought it was the battery that was the suspect device, not the pc/ ipod / phone i.e. the switching on is not to show that the device works but rather that the battery is actually a battery ?

Paul

You're going to need a battery no doubt. Is it worth just getting one, so the issue goes away? As you'll be stuffed if you need to prove it and can't and can't see security being too forgiving...

I am surprised at how many people have been asked to switch on their laptops etc. I'll guess that I went through security 40-50 times in US airports last year and was not asked a single time ...

[Darren Wheeler]

Look around for a cheap, generic battery. Murphy's Law says if you haven't got a working battery, you will be asked to switch it on.

Better to spend a few quid on a battery now than either be refused access air-side or have to abandon your laptop.

[HighFlyer]

I've been asked to switch on my laptop before in the UK and US, one time my battery was dead and I told them this and they were fine about it. Another time I was asked to remove the battery and I said that my work was in standby so I couldnt without shutting everything down first and again they said it was fine and not to bother. I do wonder if part of this is just a routine of sorts.

Personally, I'd take the risk, I dont recall needing a battery as a condition of travel, but it depends how comfortable you are with that.

Thanks,
Sarah

I suppose I could take the battery with me and say the battery is not charged so I need to pug it into the mains?