Carrying 17" laptop while flying (United Airlines).

[88keys]

I'll be going on a series of flights this weekend (United/American Airlines) and I plan on carrying a 17" laptop with me and I was wondering if anyone else who has recently flown (particularly with these airlines) has had an issue with it.
2008 was the last time I have flown anyware and I carried a "15 (native) laptop with me and it wasn't an issue. I can just barely get my 17" laptop in the bag I used to carry my 15" in. The bag is a pretty typical sized laptop bag, but is technically too long to fit within the dimensions specified under UA's personal item allowance. But under further reading I discovered that they baggage sizers that passengers can use to see if their bags meet the guidelines and they are sized slightly larger than the written specifications posted online. Given that info the laptop bag would probably fit within the dimensions of tilted slightly.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Does it fit in the carry on sizer? Or are you also taking a carry on?

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Should be fine. Flew them last year and you get your "carry on" which has to fit the size and a personal item (backpack, purse etc) that you can hold in your hand and place under the seat or keep on your lap.

 

[88keys]

I'm taking a carry on too. I can squeeze the laptop in the carry on if I absolutely need to, bit I'd prefer to use the bag of I can.
I have thought about just bringing it along and if worse comes to worse just stuff it in the carry on and throw the laptop bag away. It's old and I haven't used it since I sold my Dell latitude several years ago.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've taken a guitar in a case as carry on baggage. I can't imagine a 17" laptop would be any issue whatsoever.

 

[OutHouse]

i have a 17 inch that i put in my backpack when i fly. no problem.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Just don't look or act suspicious. Last two times I flew, I had a bottle of liquor in my bag and it wasn't in a quart sized bag like the TSA said.....and I carried more than 2 carry-on bags on one flight.... Nobody said anything to me at security or boarding. I've also found that it's easier to stow bags under the seat in front of you than in the overhead compartment in many cases. (if they'll fit) You loose a little toe room, but these days everyone has carry on and on some flights, the overhead bins get full.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Just don't look or act suspicious. Last two times I flew, I had a bottle of liquor in my bag and it wasn't in a quart sized bag like the TSA said.....and I carried more than 2 carry-on bags on one flight.... Nobody said anything to me at security or boarding. I've also found that it's easier to stow bags under the seat in front of you than in the overhead compartment in many cases. (if they'll fit) You loose a little toe room, but these days everyone has carry on and on some flights, the overhead bins get full.

Also different airports are stricter than others.

Obviously NYC is strict. LAX and Chicago were not too bad. Dublin and London felt like I was walking through git mo.

 

[blackdogdeek]

This is the description of the Personal Item on their website:

Personal item
The maximum dimensions for your personal item, such as a shoulder bag, backpack, laptop bag or other small item, are 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm).

If I remember my geometry correctly, your laptop should be able to fit in a bag of such size.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Also different airports are stricter than others.

Obviously NYC is strict. LAX and Chicago were not too bad. Dublin and London felt like I was walking through git mo.

After 9/11 I flew up to Maine for a weekend. I ended up buying a hat when I was up there that looks like this: http://www.essentialapparel.com/min...-hat-en.html?gclid=CL-Z-42x0sECFeRj7Aod6CkAiQ

I didn't have room in my bag for it so I decided to wear it through security... I got flagged for "Extra screening" at every checkpoint. I learned on that trip that security people aren't picking people at random, they're only looking for who's different.