prof

Yes, you won't have any problems with those.

Confus

The ban still applies on BA so you have to check in electronics, but there's also a security check on entering IST airport where they ask them to be turned on. What happens if they can't - either because they're not charged or if they're broken? Is there a possibility of secondary screening/swabbing/escorting to check-in or are they simply confiscated?

Worcester

I Ve been told that you have the option to check them in the hold.

tmac100

I fly into IST on TK flight and have a carry-on and a tablet. I was going to go to the transfer desk yo get my BA boarding pass. BA call centers cannot give me "for sure" answer if I can check in my carry on and tablet at the transfer desk.

Otherwise I need to go thru IST passport control and spend $60 on a tourist visa.

Surely I can get a "for sure" answer from somebody who knows

fruitcage

Welcome to FT! I think the first check on entering the airport is nothing to do with the specific restrictions for BA or any other airline. It's a basic security check to be allowed into the checkin area. If you can't turn an item on, it won't be allowed in, but I don't think anyone will confiscate it. You could always charge it up for 10 min if you can find a power socket?

Worcester

I have asked the BA security team at the secondary screening and they tell me they will hate check any electronics, so as long as you have a bag to put them in you should be fine. I have seen them put them on the bus to the aircraft so you should hopefully avoid the notoriously light fingered IST baggage handlers.

criso

I was there a couple of weeks ago and no one asked me to switch any devices on as I went through to check in.

tmac100

Thanks for this info. Not sure what a "hate check" is, but probably a typo - for late check perhaps. Yes, I can put the tablet into a lockable bag or even into my lockable carry-on that can then be checked in...

By the way, were you speaking with the BA security team at secondary screening in LHR or in IST? No one in IST was able to give me a "for sure" answer and the BA call center was useless..

Thank you for this info ^

BA6501

Gate check.

fruitcage

Interesting... on 30 October they were insisting on all electronic items being powered up before being allowed into the terminal - much to the annoyance of BA passengers like me who had carefully put all laptops tablets and kindles into their checked luggage.

Confus

Thanks for the welcome
Sadly mine is the 'broken' rather than the uncharged And it's the 'won't be allowed in' that you mention that scares me. I have zero problem checking it in straight away (after all, on BA it'll have to be at some point anyway), but it's not getting past the initial entrance check that I'm scared of. Any tips? I don't want to 'hide' it as they're bound to find it and that'll look worse, but equally don't want to lose it as my plan is to get it fixed back in the UK - or miss my flight if they simply send me away.

corporate-wage-slave

Let me also welcome you to Flyertalk and to the BA forum Confus, it's good to see you here and I hope you will continue to be active.

I was once asked to do this to a totally flat PC and explained I'd need a power socket, and there wasn't a spare one in the vicinity. The agent switched it on, and there was a brief flash of the power light, which seemed to be good enough for his purposes. I wonder if it would be easier / cheaper to get the repair done in Turkey. But I certainly wouldn't hide it in the scan, they will find it, so I would put it openly visible.

Worcester

Sorry meant Gate check.

It was the security team and whom I assume is the station manager at IST.

Worcester

To be clear as long as you have it in the hold baggage for the flight it should be okay. Security is quite random at Turkish airports and I get asked to switch on devices on entering the airport about 50% of the time. If you explain it's broken ("Benin cumputer kapat") you should be fine.

hfly

Worcester, "My computer closed"??? Try "Benim bilgisayar bozuk"

A few things:

1) Having flown in and out of IST frequently for three decades, I have never known ISt to be a notorious place for light fingered baggae handlers. While I am not saying that nothing has ever been stolen at IST, it does not have such a widespread reputation, nor has it ever had one.

2) While 6 months ago they were for 2-3 months regularly asking people to turn on their computers at the terminal entrance check, this is a rarity these days, and I say this as someone who has flown out 8 times in October thusfar.

3) In relation to the above, if your computer is dead, there is always a socket somewhere they will take you to to get enough juice to turn it on. As stated above, any such check is an airport thing and is totally different than any checks that BA conducts.

4.