Traveling with an eInk reader

[MaggieScratch]

I just found out today I'll be attending a conference for work in a couple of months that will involve a plane trip. Of course one of the reasons I purchased my Cybook was for ease of carrying lots of reading material while traveling, but for the first time I thought about eInk devices and the TSA. Has anyone traveled with an eInk device? Did security notice it or comment upon it or ask "What the heck is it?" Did you have to take it out of your carryon like a laptop? I like to be prepared.

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

I just found out today I'll be attending a conference for work in a couple of months that will involve a plane trip. Of course one of the reasons I purchased my Cybook was for ease of carrying lots of reading material while traveling, but for the first time I thought about eInk devices and the TSA. Has anyone traveled with an eInk device? Did security notice it or comment upon it or ask "What the heck is it?" Did you have to take it out of your carryon like a laptop? I like to be prepared.

I had no problem on several overseas and domestic flights with my eb1150. It just remained in my carry-on.

Dale

[Alisa]

I haven't had an issue with security. I do take it out but they've never looked at it. I can't remember the last time they looked at my laptop, either. I haven't attempted to read it before we were in flight and electronic devices were allowed, but I've read here that some folks have been told by flight attendants to turn it completely off.

[cassidym]

Hi MaggieScratch. I've flown with my Sony 505 several times and the TSA guys have never questioned it. I keep it switched off until the flight crew says we can power on electronic devices.

You'll really like having it with you. Makes flights go faster and the great thing is having all those books at hand.

[Taylor514ce]

Just tell them it's a "liseuse", and steadfastly continue to use the term when they want clarification. That should get you earmarked for selective screening in a jiffy.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by MaggieScratch

I just found out today I'll be attending a conference for work in a couple of months that will involve a plane trip. Of course one of the reasons I purchased my Cybook was for ease of carrying lots of reading material while traveling, but for the first time I thought about eInk devices and the TSA. Has anyone traveled with an eInk device? Did security notice it or comment upon it or ask "What the heck is it?" Did you have to take it out of your carryon like a laptop? I like to be prepared.

I've taken my 500 and now 505 on trips with me. My 500 has been to Scotland. My 505 has been to New York City and Naples, Florida. I've had the reader in my bag when it went through the scanner. it was no problem at all. They never checked my bag or asked about the reader. My wife's 500 has gone with us as well. Again, no problem with her taking her 500 along. Nobody has evenr asked what it is.

The only thing you have to note is that during takeoff and landing, you cannot be reading from your eink device.

[RWood]

It was a slow day at DFW (Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport) I was the line and the TSA person was interested in the Sony 500 so I had to give a demo. Here at IAD (Washington Dulles) it is a non-issue. Same for LAX.

[wallcraft]

The iLiad is larger that the Cybook, and I started out treating it as a laptop (i.e. sending it through the X-Ray machine separately). However, I now leave it in my bag. One time a screener asked me if it was a DVD player, but even in that case I did not have to remove it from the bag.

[JSWolf]

Our flights have originated at Logan Airport in Boston.

[BruceW]

I have taken a number of international trips with my Sony 500 and had no trouble at all. I have not had any trouble reading my book prior to the "electronic OK messages". On the last trip I was actually sitting in from of the steward and had to give her a demo during the take-off role. She thought it was a great thing, and plans on getting one so that she has reading materials for the layovers.

[JSWolf]

Well done Bruce! Have some extra karma.

[Taylor514ce]

"It's an e-book reader", I answered in response to her soft-voiced query. She leaned forward for a closer look. Now, I'm a grown man, not some hormone-addled teenager - but I do love a woman in uniform. I kept my eyes on her face, her face...

"... hundreds of books use it anywhere and the screen no eye strain...". I was babbling, the neurons typically used for coherent speech co-opted by her scent, the strand of hair escaped from her perfect coif. I nearly dropped my reader as I restrained my hand from tucking it back behind her ear.

"...read it in bed I love reading in bed do you read in my bed? I mean I love your bed, not that your bed is any of my business no, sorry, I meant to say no backlight we'll have to leave a light on..."

Her slight smile and whispered "naughty boy" undid me completely. This was going to be a long flight.

[BruceW]

Taylor51ce are you not suposed to be the depressed robot not the Frustrated Robot or did you get a new memory flash from Igor?

[Taylor514ce]

I refuse to be pigeonholed into a single persona.

[MaggieScratch]

Thanks everyone! I'll take out the laptop then and leave the Cybook in the bag. I'm glad to hear the security folks seem okay with reading devices. I'll probably entertain myself with the inflight magazine or my tatting till the plane is in the air, though! On my last plane trip (which was much longer than this one will be) I finished my book in the middle of the flight...argh. No more!