Game system on a plane

Hey. I'm going out of town to my grandma's beach house in a couple days on a plane. I wanna know if you're allowed to put a game system on a carry on bag. I wanna pack it because when you're at the beach, there isn't much to do at night. So why not sit back and play some GTA or whatever? Please tell me you are allowed to pack a system in a carry on bag

I don't see why not. For handhelds they might ask you to turn it off for take off and landing if you're using it during the flight itself; other than that just make sure you take it off the bag before you put the bag in the metal detector, otherwise it might damage it (they will warn you to take out any electronics before putting the bag in anyway).

As long as there's not a threat to the Security packing a console on a plane, your all good. To me, I don't take any consoles on a plane, I just take my Nintendo handheld for easy access gaming while traveling and and hey, your on vacation, I can just game at night with my handheld.

I know from experience that you absolutely can do this, and in fact carry-on is the recommended way to do it rather than leaving it in checked luggage. Unless you have TSA Pre Check or some other expedited security status (and if you're asking this question I'm assuming you don't) then you'll have to remove it from the bag so it can be x-rayed separately just as you would have to do with any other electronics (laptops, DVD players, etc) over 2 lbs. This isn't to prevent it from being damaged, it's because it needs to be examined as a separate item by the x-ray to make sure you haven't hollowed it out and filled it with drugs, bombs, etc.

When traveling with electronics, you should -never- leave anything of value in your checked bag. Airlines do not guarantee valuables or electronics in checked luggage against damage or even straight up theft. I travel for work and our company policy is that our work laptops (which carry sensitive data) are never to be put in checked bags. If you get to the other end and your console is damaged or broken (or even MISSING), you are SOL. Not only should you keep it in your carryon, but you should pack a sufficient amount of clothing/soft items around it in all directions so it's not likely to be damaged if the bag gets jostled a bit.

Make sure that the bag you put it in will fit in the overhead bin space for the plane you are flying on. If you're flight is around 750 miles or more, most airlines will put you on a full sized jet which means up to a 19" or 20" bag will fit. Shorter flights might be on "regional" jets or turbo props which tend to have backpack sized overhead bins. If you are on one of these you'll have to gate check (for free) your normal carryon bag. If this happens, this is generally pretty safe because they take the bag from you are the gate and return it to you at the gate, which doesn't offer a lot of chances for baggage theft. Just make sure it's well packed inside the bag because these guys aren't exactly gentle with them.

It's not to keep it from being damaged, it's because they need to x-ray it separately to see it clearly. It's strictly a security requirement. If you have TSA Pre Check, these requirements are loosened and you only have to take objects out of your bag if they cannot figure out what they are on x-ray after it goes through the machine but otherwise you leave everything in your bags. Even if you don't have pre-check, there are special laptop bags you can buy which are "TSA approved" where you don't have to take the laptop out of the bag for the x-ray, but if you use these bags you can't put anything else in them besides the laptop.

-Byshop

@Byshop: Ah, I see. Never really payed much attention on what's going on in the x-ray...I'm normally late enough as it is XD Now that you mention it I remember seeing my laptop going in the x-ray machine anyway, just outside my suitcase...I normally don't take electronics with me so it only happened once.

I have never had a problem doing so, but different airlines have different rules, but I can't see any of them having an issue.

I'm sure their website will tell you what you can and can't take on.

I've carried laptops, a Mac Mini, a Wii on different domestic flights. Airport security didn't have a problem with any of them.

Your system will always be there, you can game whenever you get back home but you still want to game whilst on Holidays? I don't mean to judge but there's plenty to do at night whilst on holidays, like hitting a few pubs in town assuming you're at the age to drink and party. Don't bring it, it'll distract you... like I said you can game any other time you want.

I'm assuming he's going to be stuck with his grand folks. If that's the case, then he better bring it.

Agreed.

I've done it a few times with no problem from TSA. Some systems are easier to fly with than others. I used to just throw my gamecube in a backpack because it was cheap and pretty much indestructible, but if it was something like a PS4 I'd look into a travel case or maybe wrap it in some towels at least.

Airlines don't care. Security is the only place you can potentially get flak for it if you don't remove it from your bag before putting the bag through X-ray. Once you're through, the only thing the airlines themselves will care about is "does your bag fit on the plane". If you're bag is too big then they may gate check it.

Yeah, what if the op is a kid? He may not even be allowed to wander out at night.

Anything from the PS3/360 generation and up is big and heavy so this is good advice. Maybe sure clothes or something soft covers the console in all directions.

-Byshop

yes, you're allowed to. I've carry-on my Xbox before, because it didn't want it to get damaged in check-in. But pack it so you can easily pull it out at TSA; it follows the laptop rules.

Or he could enjoy spending some time with them while they are still around! I'm sure they would appreciate that. I guess if they go to bed early though there is no harm in getting a few hours in after. :)

Personally I just take a handheld for the plane journey and a book for the beach/before bed when I'm on holiday.

Back in the 90s they had no problem with me bringing my gameboy color to play pokemon. Then again, this was before 9/11. I haven't flown since.

@bulby_g: I'm picturing something like this:

-Byshop

Be sure you can easily remove the game system from your pack because it will likely have to be scanned separately from the rest of your luggage. Other than that it should be simple to take any sort of electronic device through security.

I'm actually on a United flight to Denver right now. Only brought the 3DSXL and the Vita, though. Hoo-ray for in-flight internets.

-Byshop

I did say "assuming he's at the age to drink and party". =P

it always cracks me up with they start that turn off your device shit.

are we really about to go down because of a phone signal?

what about the thousands of signals you pass through every second during takeoff and landing?

the very idea that a phone or device signal puts a plane in danger is one of the most ridiculous things i have ever heard.

I take it you're an expert on telecommunications.

A lot of airlines don't do that anymore and the ones that do, if you ask them why, they'll tell you "It probably doesn't do anything but better to be on the safe side".

i'm an expert in common sense.

if any kind of electromagnetic radiation brought down planes it would be raining jet parts on your lawn right this second.

the non-funny non-sarcastic answer would be they want you to shut up and listen to the emergency instructions.

I'm a fan of common sense as much as the next guy, but I tend to leave technical matters to experts. I'm not saying you should retire your own brain and concede to others, but your own judgement remains uncertain in such instances.

@Riverwolf007: If you're not interested in listening to the instructions you won't, whether you are texting, playing games, twiddling your thumbs or spacing our looking through the window. Besides, after the first few times I'm sure you've got them memorised.

It's not. No, the plane won't drop out of the sky but they can cause other complications. Any handheld device puts off EMF which can have an adverse affect on communications and navigation. Additionally cell phones, tablets, some e-readers, etc can/do have cellular transmitters which can really muck things up. A single device probably isn't a big deal but multiply that times 300 passengers in close proximity to the plane's instruments. A friend of mine has a brother who is a commercial airline pilot. He has mentioned how big a difference turning off devices makes on how clear the radio is.

Takeoff and landing are the most dangerous points during any flight. The plane is closer to the ground and travelling at slower speeds. The slower the plane is travelling, the greater the risk of a stall. The closer the plane is to the ground, the less time the pilot has to react if something goes wrong. Also, the plane is in closer proximity to more planes during takeoff and landing, increasing the risk of collision. If anything goes wrong (inside or outside the plane) the pilot needs to be in constant communication with the tower.

These days, devices are more efficient, better shielded and put off less EMF than they used to so the FAA has relaxed that restriction. You're allowed to use small devices during takeoff and landing now, provided they are not transmitting devices or they have been switched to "airplane mode".

-Byshop

cool, thanks for weighing in.

i always think of places like LAX where you have 10,000 people in the terminal with their phones on.

@Riverwolf007: I'm actually on your side, in case it wasn't obvious =P

oh yeah i got that.

It's nice that they relaxed this. Some of us like e-readers when travelling as opposed to carrying a couple pounds in books and takeoff/landing can be boring. Airlines used to make you clear the screen on e-paper readers like the non-color Kindles, which is dumb because e-paper readers aren't actually "on" just because there's something on the screen. The display is persistent, meaning that the image stays on the display without power. The screen is only powered during page changes or when the screen is being updated, which is why their battery life is measured in "page turns" as opposed to hours. However, training flight attendents on the nuanced differences between e-paper and LCD readers would be silly so they treated them all the same.

The size limit on electonics devices during takeoff and landing isn't related to the interference they can cause, but rather how dangerous they would be if they suddenly turned into projectiles because the plane makes a sudden move. The techical limit is 2 lbs, which generallly means laptops have to be put away but anything else can be used.

-Byshop