Originally Posted by
saltydog75
Well said, whitearrow. The sensible approach is to focus on who's flying, not what they're carrying with them. 99.99% of travelers can be easily identified as not a threat. All we need to do is come up with some sort of combined EU/US vetting system akin to Global Entry to identify those trusted travelers. Let them take all of their electronics on board. Anyone who we can't be sure about, let them check their electronics, ship them, not travel, etc. Or, maybe there's some sort of more intensive screening process. Everyone who's known and trusted go over there. Everyone else, come over here and go through this intensive screening process.
That would be ideal. And for the folks who are going to have to check their electronics because they aren't trusted travelers:
1. Allow the passengers to use a hard-sided case like a Pelican case for their checked electronics, and allow a REAL lock to be put on that case after the contents have undergone the necessary preflight inspections (this is the procedure we currently follow for checked firearms on US domestic flights). No wussy TSA-Approved locks that anyone and their brother can open!
2. Modify to the CoC so that loss or damage of high-value items that now must be placed in checked baggage is fully covered.
People would be a lot less upset by this new policy if they knew light-fingered baggage handlers wouldn't be able to open their case and steal their goods, their electronics would be packaged in a truly protective case, and they would be fairly compensated in the event of any loss or damage.
If the EU refuses to play by these rules, maybe it'll force the US to negotiate down to some sort of trusted traveler system that will both keep everyone secure while keeping air travel reasonably pleasant and productive.
I'm certainly rooting for that outcome!