Electronic devices ban Europe to the US [merged threads]
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2000
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It's reasonable if there is a legitimate threat to do 100% PED explosive screening. Not advocating this - however a larger smartphone could be as much of a threat as a small tablet. The inconsistency to still allow phones is theater. Either it's a threat or isn't. If it's threat banning charges little - the evil intention folks will move on to something else.
Waiting for someone to scream profiling again...
Waiting for someone to scream profiling again...
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
It's reasonable if there is a legitimate threat to do 100% PED explosive screening. Not advocating this - however a larger smartphone could be as much of a threat as a small tablet. The inconsistency to still allow phones is theater. Either it's a threat or isn't. If it's threat banning charges little - the evil intention folks will move on to something else.
Waiting for someone to scream profiling again...
Waiting for someone to scream profiling again...
Might as well ban all electronics, and abolish the airport scanners.
#20
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 825
None of this makes any sense.
#21
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Yes agree that lack of subject matter experts so advising govt asks getting listened to is a huge problem. This seems exec agency folks feeling out the issues without real world validation.
#22
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 825
I could actually see this one backfiring if it goes through, though, precisely because Europe is a dream trip destination for a lot of people. The average person might not understand why anyone would fly to/through the Middle East or why business travelers need their laptops available during a flight, but being told their Kindle and their DSLR will have to go into checked baggage on their return from their dream vacation (and that the airlines won't compensate them for any damage or theft should it happen), that's not going to go over well.
#23
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
With many airlines providing inflight entertainment via passenger devices using onboard wifi, how is that going to work if the device is in the checked bag? Those airlines will have to go back to showing movies on a screen or seat back entertainment system.
What about all the children who cannot watch a movie or play games on their iPads during very long TATL or TPAC flights? I see utter chaos ahead if this goes into effect.
What about all the children who cannot watch a movie or play games on their iPads during very long TATL or TPAC flights? I see utter chaos ahead if this goes into effect.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,526
Airport scanners detect anomalies not explosives.
#25
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 674
Assuming it is true, I am sure Canada and Mexico will be happy about the extra travelers coming their way. The taxes/fees for the flights and potential overnight layovers at airport hotels for connections into the US would surely be appreciated.
Might be time to reach out to your US3's support desk to straighten up their spine once this story develops.
Might be time to reach out to your US3's support desk to straighten up their spine once this story develops.
Any US airline that decided to remove in flight entertainment because "everybody has a tablet and laptop" is going to regret their idiotic decision.
#27
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#28
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ONT/FRA
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Posts: 878
If there truly is a credible threat to air travel from ubiquitous electronic devices, and that threat cannot be easily detected with current technology or screening methods, then it is time to ban air travel.
#29
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,110
Why screen when a ban is so much less work?
#30
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Kansas City, MO
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 3,648
If all the laptops, tablets, and cameras are now in the checked baggage, isn't that screening going to slow way down? Do those scanners even check for explosives?
Is it done manually or via some sort of machine? Will each piece of checked luggage with one of these devices in it have to be pulled out, opened, and manually checked for explosives?
Is it done manually or via some sort of machine? Will each piece of checked luggage with one of these devices in it have to be pulled out, opened, and manually checked for explosives?