As for Hacking LAWS in the US apply to citizens here is a link  (link below) to a page that lists the laws by state for Computer Hacking and Unauthorized Access. With you not being a citizen of the US I would tread careful as anything can get your detain and sent home. it might be best to reframe from mid-air pen testing as I am sure the other members of the plane probably did not sign a consent form for your to look around there PC's. Now I could be getting your post totally wrong but from what I could make of it it sounded like you wanted to know the hacking laws as you planed an trying a few things on the plane and maybe later on the ground in Florida.

Computer Hacking and Unauthorized Access Laws http://www.ncsl.org/programs/lis/cip/hacklaw.htm

Hope this helps and sorry if I got the wrong idea from your post.

Brian

On a side note, installing said tools on work computers in the US.. can of course result in consequences... but that is due to company policies and not local laws.  Though, as you said it was a holiday that does not apply I'm sure.

RoleReversal,

 I was not trying to put you off as a bad guy and I figured I must of not understood your post since I would not expect some to say  they planed on hacking across the pond to the states. Have fun in Florida as i just got back from there on business. I would say not to have crazy wall paper or stickers all over your laptop to pin you out as a hacker since homeland security just loves to pick out people for advanced screening.

Cheers m8,

Brian

nope, not nazi ban hacktool germany YET...

Kev,

thanks for the advice. I'll edit the splash screens before I fly to be on the safe side.

Do you know how far the airport security can/will go with regard to checking a laptop? I've no problem with booting up to prove it's not going to explode but I'm not sure I fancy an airport 'examination' becuase the security guards get confused when they don't see a Windows flag.