Electronic devices ban Europe to the US [merged threads]
#586
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There are about 24,000 commercial flights a day. https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/
If implemented for domestic flights, it's likely many people will choose to drive rather than fly, increasing auto deaths, but no one seems to care about that. Similarly, no one seems to care about the risks of attacks on airport security lines. There are many ways to decrease deaths that are much cheaper than increasing airplane security.
If implemented for domestic flights, it's likely many people will choose to drive rather than fly, increasing auto deaths, but no one seems to care about that. Similarly, no one seems to care about the risks of attacks on airport security lines. There are many ways to decrease deaths that are much cheaper than increasing airplane security.
#587
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Seattle, Wash. USA
Posts: 1,531
I have been surprised for many years that we haven't seen an attack on an airport security line yet (at least in the US...the only such attack I know of was the Istanbul attack, and it was one of the deadlier terror attacks outside of places like Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years). I won't list them here but there are some airports that I'm familiar with where the security setup is basically a deathtrap if a team of attackers were to start shooting. In some cases you could have the people disperse into the terminal but in others you've got effective dead ends because of the way the airport transport system is designed. Of course, this also goes for any sort of security-related bottleneck. FWIW I remember this first coming to mind on a trip something like nine or ten years ago when I observed a massive crowd at an airport over Thanksgiving weekend.
#590
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#591
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 580
Hammer meet nail....
Yep. The risk exists. It is not urgent. That is exactly why you are seeing what is occurring. However, from what i have heard and read, they will be there in the next say 6-12 months. So getting ahead of that curve makes sense. Force them to plan again. Not that we like the end result, but that is the way the world will work for the forseeable future.
Yep. The risk exists. It is not urgent. That is exactly why you are seeing what is occurring. However, from what i have heard and read, they will be there in the next say 6-12 months. So getting ahead of that curve makes sense. Force them to plan again. Not that we like the end result, but that is the way the world will work for the forseeable future.
1. Is the risk that exists greater than the risk of a fire/explosion/other issue coming about from electronic devices with lithium batteries being placed in checked luggage?
2. Would putting the electronic devices in the hold actually mitigate this risk, or does this just make people think that something was done although it would not have any real effect? I noticed that in a thread regarding the current electronics ban for other countries, you mentioned "Of course we all know that the ban is theater anyway." Do you believe the same about any proposed ban of laptops from Europe?
3. Regarding "force them to plan again"--my concern is that they may plan again and find a different way, then passengers will have to give something else up, etc. and that this cycle could go on indefinitely. It is a cat and mouse game. The problem with searching for the individual threat means that new threats may always continue to emerge, and each time, people will lose more freedoms that makes things more miserable. If this is the case, than it seems that the terrorists are winning.
Last edited by guflyer; May 14, 2017 at 7:35 pm
#593
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,710
Not doubting you in the least but I cannot believe this is proposed (actually the sad thing is I actually can). I usually carry 4 to 6 debit/credit cards. At least two debit on two different networks (e.g., Mastercard and Visa) plus a few credit cards. Some I keep separate from my wallet in case it is stolen. I seriously cannot believe we have come to the point where credit cards are considered a threat to planes..... I really hope this is just a negotiating tactic.
#594
Join Date: Jan 2014
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At airports that don't, you'd effectively have to implement the ban at the gate...and of course, that raises the complication of carrying electronics through if you don't have to re-clear security. To be fair, a solution akin to what exists at SIN would deal with this (where everyone has to re-clear security before boarding)...but boy, would it be a pain to do that at every airport (and it would make timekeeping and connections a total nightmare).
I suspect you're realistically looking at an all-or-nothing approach on the ban: For example, are you really going to try and set up a re-screening station between Concourses D and E at ATL (and of course, what do you do with any cases where for operational reasons you get stuck with an international flight leaving from D)? Or take IAD...how in the world would you split screening between domestic and international outbound flights? Maybe you could split the checkpoints and route pax through a different screening site based on their flight, but then the "workaround" for a would-be attacker is simply to book a similarly-timed domestic flight on another airline and pass through security on that BP.
#595
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Not doubting you in the least but I cannot believe this is proposed (actually the sad thing is I actually can). I usually carry 4 to 6 debit/credit cards. At least two debit on two different networks (e.g., Mastercard and Visa) plus a few credit cards. Some I keep separate from my wallet in case it is stolen. I seriously cannot believe we have come to the point where credit cards are considered a threat to planes..... I really hope this is just a negotiating tactic.
#596
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
Not doubting you in the least but I cannot believe this is proposed (actually the sad thing is I actually can). I usually carry 4 to 6 debit/credit cards. At least two debit on two different networks (e.g., Mastercard and Visa) plus a few credit cards. Some I keep separate from my wallet in case it is stolen. I seriously cannot believe we have come to the point where credit cards are considered a threat to planes..... I really hope this is just a negotiating tactic.
#597
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,710
But of course you are right the DHS doesn't care because they aren't held responsible for traffic deaths so say 400 additional traffic deaths is fine because it is not their problem. 400 additional deaths to "terrorism" on the other hand is their problem.
#598
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#600
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 28,113
Not doubting you in the least but I cannot believe this is proposed (actually the sad thing is I actually can). I usually carry 4 to 6 debit/credit cards. At least two debit on two different networks (e.g., Mastercard and Visa) plus a few credit cards. Some I keep separate from my wallet in case it is stolen. I seriously cannot believe we have come to the point where credit cards are considered a threat to planes..... I really hope this is just a negotiating tactic.