RealHJ

Easy solution. Global Entry, Nexus, and other pre-cleared low-risk pax can carry laptop aboard. Others can apply for laptop carry-on license (e.g. frequent business travelers who can demonstrate bona fide employment at a real employer qualify). It really impacts business, not leisure, travelers the most, so that is where it should be addressed. Sure, far from perfect, but better than a total ban...though probably neither the airlines nor other countries airport security will want to deal with who gets to bring a laptop aboard or no, so US may need to export TSA or other workers to all foreign airport US bound gates. Either way, this carries a real cost.

Actually, would make the most sense to do everywhere what is done now in Canada: US border clearance is done at origin airport prior to departure, not upon arrival. That would go a long way to making for a truly more secure experience, as far as real credible potential threats are the reason behind this. And then US CBP can be the laptop police.

InsUW2

Just wondering but are not Electronics restricted as part of lost baggage claimed stolen from your luggage? So if you check them you can't get compensated if lost or damaged?


Right from the Intl CoC http://content.delta.com/content/dam...riage_intl.pdf

Precious or other highly valuable items, including without limitation cash, cash equivalents, securities, negotiable instruments, irreplaceable documents, jewelry, silverware, precious metals, works of art, computers, electronic equipment, photographic equipment, and any other items that cannot be easily
replaced if lost or damaged may not be transported in checked baggage.

artemis

Oh, leisure travelers are also badly impacted by this, as the ban also includes tablets such as iPads and Kindles as well as all digital cameras. Plenty of leisure travelers count on being able to take those items with the on their trips, and in particular a smartphone is NOT an adequate substitute for a good camera.

Hachima

If that is the case then I suspect DSLR cameras may fall into that same category?

artemis

As things stand now, yes. So if you are forced to check your DSLR and your laptop and they are stolen, unless your homeowner's policy covers the loss you will be out of luck. (Right now most travel insurance policies also exclude from coverage theft of valuable items from checked bags.)

artemis

Yes. The lenses (which might contain electronic components as well) may also not be allowed on board. Even most point-and-shoot digital cameras are going to be too big to fit the size guidelines.

javabytes

Continuing to expand our border into other countries is the last thing this country should do.

flyerCO

Guess what airport bans electronic on flights from? AUH. That's right, an airport with preclearance, meaning upon arrival they're domestic cleared to get on other flights without additional screening.

flyerCO

Every effected airline covers lose/damage now that required. Even before the change there was some doubt on the legality of the restrictions under Warsaw Convention/Montreal Protocol.

traveller42

For occasional long haul business travel, take a USB stick with you, buy a new laptop when you arrive and give it to charity before you leave. A cheap new laptop these days doesn't cost that much compared to the cost of the flight.

Either that or go via Canada or Mexico assuming this is security theatre and they aren't bullied into following the US.

InsUW2

Most insurance policies exclude from theft "that results from a voluntary parting with title or possession of any property by the insured or others to whom the insured has entrusted the property."

flyerCO

However this wouldn't be a voluntary parting. You are involuntarily required to part with possession by law. Plus without seeing the whole section I don't believe it is implying what you're saying. Otherwise homeowners policies wouldn't be recommended as the goto for lost/stolen luggage.

Duke787

What a joke. I've been in Europe the past week and the security at every airport has been better than the TSA jokers. I mean in at ATH, they actually made us take out our laptops / iPads / kindles and turn them on to prove they were real. When was the last time the TSA made half that effort.

Depending on how quickly this goes into effect, might impact my travel home, will see how Delta implements in that case.

My guess is there is more danger long-term from all the lithium-ion batteries in the hold than the threat. This will kill the economy and seriously hurt productivity on those long daytime flights from Europe to the US.

Guess the carriers that invested in seatback AVOD will greatly benefit over those who were (or already have) gone to the streaming IFE model.

Air Canada might be seeing a lot more business ex-Europe if Canada doesn't follow suit. If you have to connect anyway in the US might as well connect through Canada if there's an AC flight to your final destination (certainly an option for me going to/from RDU).

bookeew

Can't echo this enough. Friends of the administration who are involved/invested in security screening could make a good chunk of money this way.

sabbasolo

Personally, I would react by moving to night flights for long-haul. Of course that is not always an option. Crazy when the "theatre" takes over reality, but if a TV star can become President - why not?