With travel options opening up around the world, many folks can’t wait to get out of town.

But air travel can be a drag. Whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure, you’ve probably decided to bring your laptop along. You can be productive. You can be entertained.

Whatever the situation, here’s some helpful advice for bringing a laptop onto a flight with minimum hassle.

Before You Leave

Back up all your essential data before leaving home. If you think you’ll need some of this while on your trip, put your backup onto a secure cloud location. This way, you can access the data from another computer should you run into problems with your laptop. Ideally, you’ll want to have a backup also stored on physical media and secured someplace safe at home as well.

The time you spend backing up before you leave will mean less time spent trying to recover lost data while away from home.

If you’re traveling with particularly sensitive data, it might be more discrete to move that data to a secure cloud location and not keep it on your laptop’s hard drive.

Packing Your Laptop

Never pack your laptop inside checked baggage. Between rushed baggage handlers, conveyor belts, and unsecured cargo holds, your computer could easily become damaged due to rough handling.

Place your laptop in a padded, carry-on bag. If you can find a checkpoint-friendly case, all the better. These bags have a section just for laptop computers so they can go through a scanner without metal or plastic parts obscuring the TSA’s view. Keep other items in clear ziplock bags that can be removed and replaced easily as the only thing you want in the bag while it’s being scanned is your laptop and its power cords.

At the Security Checkpoint

If using a regular carry-on bag, remove your laptop for screening. Turn the computer off and place it in a bin by itself. Stay with the bin until it is about to go through the scanner. If you’re using more than one bin, put your laptop in the last so you will have already gone through the detector by the time your laptop arrives on the other side.

If you really want to optimize your security scan process, put shoes in the first bin so you can get those back on first. Then send through your sundries, followed by any suitcases, and your laptop bag last.

When On the Plane

Avoid putting your laptop in the overhead compartment. Because it’s a shared stowing space, items get pushed and knocked around a lot, and there is a chance your bag could fall out if someone isn’t paying enough attention when opening the compartment.

Best to keep your laptop, in its case, stowed beneath the seat in front of you.

Power outlets and WiFi are available on most flights these days, although you may have to pay a fee. Note that in-flight WiFi will likely not be available until the plan has reached 10,000 feet. If you’re planning to watch a video or play music, be polite and use headphones.

Speaking of polite… make sure you aren’t viewing any inappropriate material. Airlines frown on that.

Common Sense Security

While in the air or in the airport, never transmit sensitive financial data over WiFi. Get your banking done before leaving home.

As for the laptop itself, they’re among the most popular items stolen in airports. Don’t leave it unattended. When in the case, keep the strap over your shoulder to discourage someone looking to make a quick grab.

Not Flying? Same Advice

Personally, I’m not a big fan of flying. I’ll do it, and sometimes I don’t get a say when the family is making travel plans. If I had my way, I’d be taking a train or a bus.

Guess what?

Pretty much the same advice applies.

Many modern trains have power outlets and WiFi. Those stations with security checkpoints tend to follow the same routines as you’d find in an airport. Many of the risks are the same.

Worth the Risk?

That’s up to you.

I like to have my laptop with me when I travel. It gives me something to do when I’m not sleeping or staring numbly out the window. I can do work. I can indulge in some entertainment. I can write.

I’m fortunate enough to own two laptops. I usually travel with the cheaper one.

My wife brings her tablet. It has a small keyboard so she can write if she wishes. Usually, she’ll listen to music or play games. The same goes for the boy.

As for traveling with a laptop, common-sense advice will go a long way toward you making it a hassle-free experience.

Just remember to turn off the porn, please.