Amid fears that terrorists might try smuggling explosives on to airplanes, the Trump administration ordered nine airlines to ban most types of electronic devices from the cabins of US-bound flights. The UK followed suit with similar restrictions, also based on fears of terrorism.
With the exception of smartphones, such items as laptops and tablets must now be placed in checked luggage.
This is bound to cause anxiety for frequent travelers, especially those flying on business – many of whom use their laptops during flights to get work done. For now, the best travelers can do is know what the restrictions entail so they can plan accordingly and avoid added stress at the airport.
To that end, we’ve broken down the basics of what is happening and how best to prepare.
When it takes effect
Affected airlines were notified of the new restrictions at 3 am ET Tuesday, and were given four days to comply. Enforcement of the new rules will begin Friday. Some UK airlines have already rolled out the restrictions. Airlines that refuse to comply face having their permission to fly to the US revoked.
Affected countries and airlines
Who must check their larger devices? If your destination is the US, you’re affected if flying from:
- Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Cairo, Egypt
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Doha, Qatar
- Kuwait City
- Amman, Jordan
- Casablanca, Morocco
UK-bound travelers are affected if they’re flying in from:
- Egypt
- Lebanon
- Turkey
- Jordan
- Tunisia
- Saudi Arabia
Flights to the UK from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are omitted from the restrictions.
Affected airlines
The affected airlines with direct flights to the US are:
- EgyptAir
- Emirates Airline
- Etihad Airways
- Kuwait Airways
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- Royal Jordanian Airlines
- Saudi Arabian Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
The UK restrictions affect:
- British Airways
- EasyJet
- Jet2.com
- Monarch
- Thomas Cook
- Thomson
- Turkish Airlines
- Pegasus Airways
- Atlas-Global Airlines
- Middle East Airlines
- Egyptair
- Royal Jordanian
- Tunis Air
- Saudia
Banned devices
Though smartphones will still be allowed in the cabin, electronic devices bigger than that must be checked, including laptops, cameras, gaming devices, e-readers and tablets. Passengers who require medical devices at all times will be allowed to bring them in the cabin after a security screening.
At the airport
For those affected, a big point of anxiety is probably based on what happens at the airport. CNN noted that airlines are scrambling to sort out how they’ll implement the rules. Our suggestion: if you’re flying from Friday onward, get to the airport an hour earlier than you normally would.
Put laptops, tablets and other banned devices in the luggage you plan to check in ahead of time. Otherwise, you could be forced to give up your device at the security checkpoint.
Choose another airline
The directions above apply to those using the affected airlines. Which brings us to more advice: try to book travel on an airline that’s not on the list for restrictions, said Deepak Jain, global travel manager at Sophos. He added:
To be honest, I won’t advise anyone to put a laptop in checked baggage.
If alternative airline schedules don’t fit your needs and you have no choice but to check your devices, Jain has the following advice:
Of course, all this is cold comfort to those used to bringing these devices into the cabin. It would certainly cause heartburn for frequent travelers like some of us at Naked Security.
We wish everyone safe travels and the patience to get through what we hope be a temporary arrangement.
MrGutts
Next in the news, Airlines quietly quadruple in flight entertainment costs from the following countries…..
Bacchanalia
Better still, avoid visiting the USA or the UK
Ross Smith
What about the issue of leaving Lithium batteries connected ?
Wikkid
I find it highly unlikely that terrorists will be that stupid that they won’t just choose an airline that doesn’t have the restrictions…! I mean come on….
The logic of this is about as sound as taking away my nail clippers at the security checkpoint but then giving me a metal knife and fork to eat my meal with… 🙄
Bryan
wait… there’s still an airline that serves meals?!
TonyG
Be warned also that airlines operating small planes will often insist on putting hand baggage in the hold without prior warning. They did this to my wife and threw it out onto the concrete at the other end and smashed a touchscreen laptop. They are refusing to pay up on the basis that she should not have had a fragile item in checked baggage – despite the fact that it was not checked baggage.
They also broke security rules (confirmed to me by the CAA). This is because what you are allowed in terms of batteries in the hold or in the cabin are different and they did not check to see if the hand baggage they were now putting in the hold contained items not allowed in the hold.