Here’s the thing: most airlines officially say "no" to laptops in checked bags if they contain lithium-ion batteries. The FAA and IATA are paranoid (rightfully so) about these little powerhouses catching fire in the cargo hold. If a laptop battery ignites 30,000 feet down there, nobody is around to put it out with a fire extinguisher.
However, the rule isn’t a total ban on the device itself. If you remove the battery—which you can’t in modern MacBooks or ultrabooks, sorry—you could technically check it. But since 99% of laptops have built-in, non-removable batteries, checked baggage is a hard “no” from the rulebook. Airlines will often fine you or confiscate the device if they find it during screening.
