New US & UK Laptop/Tablet ban on up to 8 countries

[esseeeayeenn]

Re: Electronics ban

Cameras are on the banned list.

https://www.emirates.com/english/help/faq/4090646/electronics-ban

Thanks.
Absurd.
The battery space in cameras is small, comparable to a mobile phone.
Yet they allow power banks.
Inconsistent with the stated reasons for the measure.
Consistent with speculation about other, commerical motivations.

 

[opusman]

Re: Electronics ban

Cameras are on the banned list.

https://www.emirates.com/english/help/faq/4090646/electronics-ban

Cameras are banned to the USA, but not the UK (for added confusion).

 

[serfty]

.
The battery space in cameras is small, comparable to a mobile phone.
Yet they allow power banks.

its volume of the device ... If the power bank is above a certain dimension then it is banned.

 

[JessicaTam]

An interesting stat in the Emirates link

Our historical data shows that on Emirates’ US flights, 90% of passengers using our onboard mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity services do so via their smart phones. Only 6% connect via their laptops, and 4% via their tablets.

I expect there would be a bit of difference between devices connected, and devices used.

 

[Simo]

I would not be happy about have to put my MBP in my checked luggage...

Trying to get Miss 8 to give up here Ipad for a flight would even be worse...

I do understand that it is not all flights but I wonder if the ban will extend...

 

[mushez]

Wonder if this affects the 5th Freedom Emirates flights ie. EK205?

EK205 & EK209 are not effected - as listed in the link to EK press release listed above. Going to the USA on EK205 or EK209 will be the way I would aim for anyway.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

its volume of the device ... If the power bank is above a certain dimension then it is banned.

You're completely missing the point.
The rationale for the ban is the concept of a battery bomb.
So the relevant criteria is the size of the battery.
If they are using some other criteria that only proves my point.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Re: Electronics ban

Does anyone have any thoughts on if the ban is likely to be increased to include all flights not just those from middle eastern countries to U.K. Or USA. Our trip to Europe is six weeks away and a big part of travel is photography with DSLR camera and being able to read books on kindle.

Probably not at the moment, but this depends upon intelligence received AND the interpretation of it by different countries - we've already seen some differences in the way the intel was interpreted by the US and the UK.

If (God/Allah forbid) such a bomb was successful - or even discovered onboard - then I suspect the ban would become worldwide.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Electronics ban

I'm a bit amazed by this threads overtone. Woe is us, the sky is falling, Trump's an idiot (well, definite possibility admitted), the authorities know nothing, batteries will explode, etc, etc.

I was of the impression that these measures were in direct response from "credible" intel. UK even stated they were privy to the same intel as the US and after reading all the posts in this thread, I can't recall anyone stating the intel is false. Without getting into a "Iraq had no WMD's so intel can't be trusted" debate, I tend to think that due to the worlds mongrels who think mass murder is a simple political/ideology statement, all of us do have to pay a price. So what if we can't have a laptop to keep up with the latest saga of Desperate Housewives, or some equally riveting drivel. For me, air travel is all about safety over entertainment value. For those that "need" to work on the trip, rubbish. You need to manage your workload better and for those that argue the gear will be damaged or stolen in transit, then invest in more robust cases and ensure your gear is covered by your insurance policy. The world is full of lunatics I'm afraid and if I have to pay a price, I'd prefer that price be paid by loss of entertainment rather than loss of life.

The upside of course, may be that airlines might stop ripping out IFE and start seriously considering upgrading IFE to a hybrid model with computing/wifi facilities for those who "need" to be tapping away furiously at a keyboard. I find these measures infuriating, but not so much because of the measures themselves, but because they're deemed to be needed in the first place!

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Re: Electronics ban

I'm a bit amazed by this threads overtone. Woe is us, the sky is falling, Trump's an idiot (well, definite possibility admitted), the authorities know nothing, batteries will explode, etc, etc.

I was of the impression that these measures were in direct response from "credible" intel. UK even stated they were privy to the same intel as the US and after reading all the posts in this thread, I can't recall anyone stating the intel is false. Without getting into a "Iraq had no WMD's so intel can't be trusted" debate, I tend to think that due to the worlds mongrels who think mass murder is a simple political/ideology statement, all of us do have to pay a price. So what if we can't have a laptop to keep up with the latest saga of Desperate Housewives, or some equally riveting drivel. For me, air travel is all about safety over entertainment value. For those that "need" to work on the trip, rubbish. You need to manage your workload better and for those that argue the gear will be damaged or stolen in transit, then invest in more robust cases and ensure your gear is covered by your insurance policy. The world is full of lunatics I'm afraid and if I have to pay a price, I'd prefer that price be paid by loss of entertainment rather than loss of life.

The upside of course, may be that airlines might stop ripping out IFE and start seriously considering upgrading IFE to a hybrid model with computing/wifi facilities for those who "need" to be tapping away furiously at a keyboard. I find these measures infuriating, but not so much because of the measures themselves, but because they're deemed to be needed in the first place!

None of us is in a position to test the intel directly. I don't think any of us has our own intelligence agency.
However another test for "truth" is internal logical consistency. These measures and the associated statements don't pass that test.
So if the threat is real, this is a pretty poor, patchy response, and I'm even more afraid.

 

[JessicaTam]

You're completely missing the point.
The rationale for the ban is the concept of a battery bomb.
So the relevant criteria is the size of the battery.
If they are using some other criteria that only proves my point.

My interpretation of the restriction was it was the total volume of the device. It could be gutted and filled with nefarious contents, which being electronic in nature may be missed when scanning hand luggage. So cameras are big enough for their total volume to be dangerous, yet battery banks not so.

Not based on any specific intel - just my thoughts.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

My interpretation of the restriction was it was the total volume of the device. It could be gutted and filled with nefarious contents, which being electronic in nature may be missed when scanning hand luggage. So cameras are big enough for their total volume to be dangerous, yet battery banks not so.

Not based on any specific intel - just my thoughts.

That sort of threat isn't new and wouldn't require a ban. A device which had been gutted and repacked with explosives would look different on scanners.
It also wouldn't be capable of powering up and behaving like the original device.
Hence the "power on" tests which had already been introduced.
The published reason for this new measure was that terrorists had developed a bomb which could masquerade as a battery.

 

[defurax]

Re: Electronics ban

For those that "need" to work on the trip, rubbish. You need to manage your workload better

This is hilarious. I don't remember anyone saying that they "need" to work. We all have different kind of jobs, I don't "need" to go to work every day, but I work whenever I want and it happens that I really enjoy working on some projects in the plane. It's my thinking time if you want. Can I go back to paper and pen? Sure I can. I know that many AFFer use their travel time for relaxation and it's great, but work is not a chore for everyone.

As for managing the worload better, each to their own. Some people will be last minute all their life and be quite successful. On my last flight from LHR I worked on my laptop maybe 3 hours out of 20. The guy next to me was programming something in "R" and worked maybe 12 hours. I don't know if he manages his time badly, but he looked like he enjoyed whatever he was coding.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Electronics ban

I don't remember anyone saying that they "need" to work. We all have different kind of jobs, I don't "need" to go to work every day, but I work whenever I want

Then, my comment obviously wasn't directed at you. You fall into the same category as the rest of us, you would like to use your laptop, but it's not a necessity.

 

[Himeno]

Re: Electronics ban

I'm a bit amazed by this threads overtone. Woe is us, the sky is falling, Trump's an idiot (well, definite possibility admitted), the authorities know nothing, batteries will explode, etc, etc.

I was of the impression that these measures were in direct response from "credible" intel. UK even stated they were privy to the same intel as the US and after reading all the posts in this thread, I can't recall anyone stating the intel is false. Without getting into a "Iraq had no WMD's so intel can't be trusted" debate, I tend to think that due to the worlds mongrels who think mass murder is a simple political/ideology statement, all of us do have to pay a price. So what if we can't have a laptop to keep up with the latest saga of Desperate Housewives, or some equally riveting drivel. For me, air travel is all about safety over entertainment value. For those that "need" to work on the trip, rubbish. You need to manage your workload better and for those that argue the gear will be damaged or stolen in transit, then invest in more robust cases and ensure your gear is covered by your insurance policy. The world is full of lunatics I'm afraid and if I have to pay a price, I'd prefer that price be paid by loss of entertainment rather than loss of life.

The upside of course, may be that airlines might stop ripping out IFE and start seriously considering upgrading IFE to a hybrid model with computing/wifi facilities for those who "need" to be tapping away furiously at a keyboard. I find these measures infuriating, but not so much because of the measures themselves, but because they're deemed to be needed in the first place!

The issue is that even if they do have reliable, credible intel, there is still no need to ban anything. There were already screening methods in place to clear devices without having to ban them.
Further, forcing such devices into cargo holds increases the safety risk from battery fires and increases the risk of theft/damage.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Electronics ban

The issue is that even if they do have reliable, credible intel, there is still no need to ban anything. There were already screening methods in place to clear devices without having to ban them.
Further, forcing such devices into cargo holds increases the safety risk from battery fires and increases the risk of theft/damage.

No need to convince me ... write to those who have the authority and convince them. You should have no trouble as they clearly know nothing and they'll likely appreciate your in depth knowledge and wisdom.

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: Electronics ban

[mod hat]
Play nice people. This is frustrating for everyone.
[/mod hat]

 

[juddles]

Re: Electronics ban

I agree totally with what I perceive to be part of swanning_it's view: we have here as usual a full stadium of armchair warriors that feel that the "authorities" are "stupid", yet they have absolutely no credentials for that viewpoint except for their own personal type of "common sense".

Seriously, if they were as spot on with their knowledge as they seem to think they are, they could make a hell of a lot of money, AND keep us flyers safe, if they actively got involved in the fight against terrorism.

Not saying any authority is perfect, of course they aren't! Or succesful terrorism attempts would disappear. But they are trying.

I think that if any of our usual armchair warriors were given a voice, involvement in that fight, they would be deeply embarrassed.

 

[opusman]

Re: Electronics ban

Armchair warriors who think for themselves vs the sheep who believe everything they're told. Pass the popcorn!

 

[juddles]

Re: Electronics ban

Armchair warriors who think for themselves vs the sheep who believe everything they're told. Pass the popcorn!

LOL

Yes, each "side" will never surrender in this one. Armchair warriors who think so much by themselves they have uneducated opinions on everything, and on the other side those labelled "sheep" because they don't argue against something the "guvment" imposes.