Electronic devices ban Europe to the US [merged threads]
#331
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,880
Well things are going to get interesting here. The ban is coming it is just a matter of when. The issue that i am hearing is that the US wants just a cell phone allowed and nothing else every thing else in the hold. The EU has apparently informed the US that they are not going to allow the loading of the other devices in the cargo hold, and will remove those items from checked luggage. And what we have now is a stand off.
#332
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Cupertino, CA - AA:PLT 2MM; Marriott:Plt; Hilton:Slv
Posts: 561
Ugh, not looking forward to this. So many issues...not being able to work on the plane, not having IFE, small children that can't be entertained for 12 hours (mine included...), having to check bags again...
Luckily for me I only head overseas a few times a year, but if I get caught up in this, my solution will be this. Have my overseas office have a loaner laptop waiting, put all my stuff on an SSD / USB and just use the loaner there. I hate to leave my ipad at home (tablets confiscation is just stupid), but I guess I'll be renting Apple store movies on my tiny iphone from now on to stay "carry on only".
Let's just completely shut down all air travel...that would mitigate the risk, eh?
Luckily for me I only head overseas a few times a year, but if I get caught up in this, my solution will be this. Have my overseas office have a loaner laptop waiting, put all my stuff on an SSD / USB and just use the loaner there. I hate to leave my ipad at home (tablets confiscation is just stupid), but I guess I'll be renting Apple store movies on my tiny iphone from now on to stay "carry on only".
Let's just completely shut down all air travel...that would mitigate the risk, eh?
#333
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,410
In any case, add me to the list of people who is prohibited from being separated from my laptop and associated data while in transit due to both our contractual commitments to customers as well as relevant laws around the PII we deal with. We have people in EMEA right now, with direct flights back to the US.
1. When you go to dinner you don't leave your laptop in your hotel room?
2. When you go to the gym, you carry your laptop from station to station?
3. When you go to the pool you have the laptop on the deck near your hands?
4. If you are single you take your laptop with you to other people's rooms if you have a meaningful encounter, which means you had the laptop with you in the bar when you met the person?
#334
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brighton England
Programs: AA Plat, various hotels
Posts: 1,220
With the electronics ban and the reported tightening of ESTA, it really does seem the USA does not want people to visit.
I have 2 holidays booked to the USA this year, but wont be coming next year if these things come to fruition
I have 2 holidays booked to the USA this year, but wont be coming next year if these things come to fruition
#335
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
#336
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SNA, LAX
Posts: 418
This entire "ban/limit everything" approach is misguided. Why did I go through the hoops of being vetted as a trusted traveler -- which means they trust me enough to believe I don't have plastic explosive taped to my body and can simply walk through the metal detector -- but I can't be trusted enough to carry a laptop?
Why all laptops and not just large ones (how much explosive could you possibly fit in a thin and light laptop and still have it turn on, much less an e-ink Kindle or an iPad)? Will this ban include noise-cancelling earbuds? What about "electronics" that have no battery, like hard drives, flash drives, a Roku, etc? What about my 1 inch long Fitbit or my one inch squre iPod nano? What about my watch, for that matter? (Does anyone have a watch without some kind of battery in it?) How small do the items have to get before this is just insanely stupid?
Why just international flights or flights from Europe? Won't the terrorists just switch their plans to domestic flights?
Then again, these are the same geniuses who decided that a sealed bottle of water is a risk to the plane. And they cheerfully allow me to carry on four 3-ounce bottles of shampoo, but one 12 ounce bottle is a threat to the republic. (But I can carry an empty 12 ounce bottle.)
The entire way of approaching and handling these "threats" is just unbelievably stupid, and it will have millions if not billions of dollars in consequences if they enact it. I know the phrase "if whatever, then the terrorists win" is a cliche, but geez. They really have won if we cave and change our practices to this extent.
Flying is already like spending hours in a minimum security prison. Imagine how great it will be with no IFE (since the airlines have been removing it at an amazing clip in favor of "bring your own device" and wifi), no PEDs, and a bunch of kids from 4-10 who have been brought up with these things as babysitters with absolutely nothing to do. Oh, and when you arrive, any electronics you absolutely had to bring in your checked bag will be broken or stolen.
Awesome. What a bunch of idiots.
#337
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1
ABC News // Permission to use
Hey SFO 1K - Reaching out for permission for ABC News to use for all platforms and partners with credit to you. You can reach me at [email protected]
#338
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: United MileagePlus Gold
Posts: 58
Well things are going to get interesting here. The ban is coming it is just a matter of when. The issue that i am hearing is that the US wants just a cell phone allowed and nothing else every thing else in the hold. The EU has apparently informed the US that they are not going to allow the loading of the other devices in the cargo hold, and will remove those items from checked luggage. And what we have now is a stand off.
Should be extremely interesting to watch. My guess is that the administration will try to stick to their position but will have to cave as soon as it starts to actually impact flights.
#339
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,625
If this goes into effect, their choices will be to cancel flights and find alternate routes back, or to violate a few laws and contractual agreements. If the ban eventually extends to domestic flights, I'm not entirely sure how we'll continue to operate based on the standards our clients expect (and that those laws demand).
#340
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
That is my plan. YUL, YYZ, and YOW are only about an hour away from most big airports in the US northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. There is absolutely no way I am surrendering my laptop to an uncertain fate at Thiefrow, or to sticky-fingered TSAers on the US end. The airlines and security services have not earned that kind of trust.
#341
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
#342
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,237
There were apparently a few days after the 'liquid' episode when some pax were forced to check almost everything - IIRC, they were only allowed to board with wallets and tickets in a baggie.
So we've proved we can survive it. What the long term impact is, only time will tell. I think it's particularly alarming that there have been reports that TSA is even talking about prohibiting medical devices like CPAPs and breast pumps.
I still think this is all a build-up for some expensive new piece of equipment someone connected to TSA/DHS is ready to roll-out.
So we've proved we can survive it. What the long term impact is, only time will tell. I think it's particularly alarming that there have been reports that TSA is even talking about prohibiting medical devices like CPAPs and breast pumps.
I still think this is all a build-up for some expensive new piece of equipment someone connected to TSA/DHS is ready to roll-out.
#343
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,103
#344
Join Date: May 2017
Location: SEA
Posts: 355
Genuine question to those who have these restrictions.
1. When you go to dinner you don't leave your laptop in your hotel room?
2. When you go to the gym, you carry your laptop from station to station?
3. When you go to the pool you have the laptop on the deck near your hands?
4. If you are single you take your laptop with you to other people's rooms if you have a meaningful encounter, which means you had the laptop with you in the bar when you met the person?
1. When you go to dinner you don't leave your laptop in your hotel room?
2. When you go to the gym, you carry your laptop from station to station?
3. When you go to the pool you have the laptop on the deck near your hands?
4. If you are single you take your laptop with you to other people's rooms if you have a meaningful encounter, which means you had the laptop with you in the bar when you met the person?
#345
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: United MileagePlus Gold
Posts: 58
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. No big deal. It's ridiculous to impose a one size fits all policy when we can fairly easily separate passengers into discrete groups and apply sensible rules to each group.
I hope that's the outcome here. 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 hope that's the outcome here. 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.