Originally Posted by
MSY-MSP
I know that restrictions are coming on electronics. I hope that they do a reasonable approach. Not that i would like it, I would tolerate and could probably live with a one phone, one laptop/tablet restriction per/pax restriction.
IMO this is not reasonable in this day and age. If I am travelling internationally, I have and need to have two phones. I also have a laptop and a Kindle.
This entire "ban/limit everything" approach is misguided. Why did I go through the hoops of being vetted as a trusted traveler -- which means they trust me enough to believe I don't have plastic explosive taped to my body and can simply walk through the metal detector -- but I can't be trusted enough to carry a laptop?
Why all laptops and not just large ones (how much explosive could you possibly fit in a thin and light laptop and still have it turn on, much less an e-ink Kindle or an iPad)? Will this ban include noise-cancelling earbuds? What about "electronics" that have no battery, like hard drives, flash drives, a Roku, etc? What about my 1 inch long Fitbit or my one inch squre iPod nano? What about my watch, for that matter? (Does anyone have a watch without some kind of battery in it?) How small do the items have to get before this is just insanely stupid?
Why just international flights or flights from Europe? Won't the terrorists just switch their plans to domestic flights?
Then again, these are the same geniuses who decided that a sealed bottle of water is a risk to the plane. And they cheerfully allow me to carry on four 3-ounce bottles of shampoo, but one 12 ounce bottle is a threat to the republic. (But I can carry an empty 12 ounce bottle.)
The entire way of approaching and handling these "threats" is just unbelievably stupid, and it will have millions if not billions of dollars in consequences if they enact it. I know the phrase "if whatever, then the terrorists win" is a cliche, but geez. They really have won if we cave and change our practices to this extent.
Flying is already like spending hours in a minimum security prison. Imagine how great it will be with no IFE (since the airlines have been removing it at an amazing clip in favor of "bring your own device" and wifi), no PEDs, and a bunch of kids from 4-10 who have been brought up with these things as babysitters with absolutely nothing to do. Oh, and when you arrive, any electronics you absolutely had to bring in your checked bag will be broken or stolen.
Awesome. What a bunch of idiots.