Air travel restrictions

[shalym]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Given the choice between trusting the judgement of the people whose job is it to assess intelligence about threats to aviation, and listening to the opinion of people on random Internet forums....

What about the judgement of the FAA, which believes that there is a large threat from putting all of these devices in the cargo hold?
http://www.thedailybeast.com/article...ts-from-europe

However, this move is increasing fears in the aviation industry that as well as guarding against bombs this ban could actually endanger flights. Laptops and tablets denied access to the cabin and added to checked baggage means that devices with a history of lithium-ion battery fires could set off a deadly conflagration in a cargo hold — where no one can put out the fires.

The FAA recorded 33 incidents in 2016 of personal electronic devices carried into cabins by passengers causing fire emergencies during flights, according to an FAA document reviewed by The Daily Beast. Of these, three were in laptops and two in tablets.
....

The FAA stressed that the 33 incidents are only ones that they are aware of. “This should not be considered as a complete listing of all such incidents…nor do they include all investigative and enforcement actions taken,” the documented stated.

Tests carried in 2015 by the FAA’s Fire Safety Branch have shown that halon gas is ineffective against fires originating in the kind of lithium-ion batteries used in laptops and tablets.

Even more to the point, these tests have revealed that the quantity of halon gas used in the automatic fire suppression systems of airplane cargo holds had no effect on a fire that begins as what is called a thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery. Panels in the cargo hold designed to contain a fire were actually blown out in the tests, creating an explosion that would destroy an airplane.

So I would assume that the next step is banning all electronics on all flights all together. Not in the cabin or in the cargo hold.

Shari

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by shalym

What about the judgement of the FAA, which believes that there is a large threat from putting all of these devices in the cargo hold?

As you say, that's their call to make. There's no point in trying to second-guess them.

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Then there is the BOOK, a unique device for reading. A BOOK is user friendly (unless dipped in ketchup) and batteries never need to be charged. I saw a BOOK yesterday in the airport.

One book? In my last flight to Toronto (8 hours) I read Three books. Do I have to break my back again carrying around a lot of weight?

Enviado desde mi MI 5 mediante Tapatalk

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

One book? In my last flight to Toronto (8 hours) I read Three books. Do I have to break my back again carrying around a lot of weight?

Enviado desde mi MI 5 mediante Tapatalk

Well, at least you won't have the weight of your laptop weighing you down!

Shari

[Terisa de morgan]

Originally Posted by shalym

Well, at least you won't have the weight of your laptop weighing you down!

Shari

I don't carry laptop without a wheel bag

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Given the choice between trusting the judgement of the people whose job is it to assess intelligence about threats to aviation, and listening to the opinion of people on random Internet forums....

People on random internet forums it is then

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HarryT

What did you do before you had an ereader?

I've only flown a few times before I had an ereader
The first time, I was 17 then and with a large group of people (going to the US as an exchange student). I doubt I thought a lot about reading at that point, being the first time in an airplane, going to do something very exciting/scary and being with a large group of people.

The second time I went to Halifax to meet a penfriend, but you didn't have to be at the airport 3 hours ahead of time then, at least I don't remember having to wait very long both at Schiphol or at Halifax.

The third time was to Aruba, where my parents lived at that time, same story, no long waiting times outside the plane (and the trip back home was pure luxury as I had 3 seats for myself )

And since that time I've had an electronic reader. As I said, the time in the plane itself isn't so bad (you generally have some entertainment on board, or, if you're lucky, you can enjoy the view outside, or even sleep), but the waiting time between handing over your suitcase and actually boarding the plane is the worst part. That time simply goes 3 times as slow! Unless you have something to entertain you with. In my case, considering I'm not an experienced air traveller (I've flown 7 times in my entire life), I'm generally a bit nervous, and am not able to keep my thoughts with a novel, so I prefer to play some games on my tablet or read some light material, like magazines, which I also have on my tablet.

[tdonline]

Having hours to get thru a book on the e-reader made flying bearable. If they really are going to ban e-readers along with laptops and tablets, then I'm just going to have to look into pharmacy to make flying tolerable. The east coast of the US to the east coast of Australia is 20-24 hours each way for crying out loud. And no, a book isn't going to work as I can no longer read most dead tree books. If they don't take away our phones, I guess it'll be a bit of reading on that and then audio books the rest of the way.

For those of us who only do carry-on, does that mean we now have to check a bag? Or will the banned electronics be bagged and checked separately?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by tdonline

For those of us who only do carry-on, does that mean we now have to check a bag? Or will the banned electronics be bagged and checked separately?

Your choice. Leave it at home or check it. They won't do it for you.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by tdonline

If they really are going to ban e-readers along with laptops and tablets, then I'm just going to have to look into pharmacy to make flying tolerable.

Too bad herbal brownies aren't legal

[Apache]

Originally Posted by tdonline

Having hours to get thru a book on the e-reader made flying bearable. If they really are going to ban e-readers along with laptops and tablets, then I'm just going to have to look into pharmacy to make flying tolerable. The east coast of the US to the east coast of Australia is 20-24 hours each way for crying out loud. And no, a book isn't going to work as I can no longer read most dead tree books. If they don't take away our phones, I guess it'll be a bit of reading on that and then audio books the rest of the way.

For those of us who only do carry-on, does that mean we now have to check a bag? Or will the banned electronics be bagged and checked separately?

Originally Posted by HarryT

Your choice. Leave it at home or check it. They won't do it for you.

Most airports will make get out of line and go back to arrivals to check items not allowed. I have been in two airports that had a mailing area inside security. You could box, pay postage and mail your package directly from security. It was a few years ago that I used these facilities and I do not remember which airports offered this. One was a pocket knife I forgot to leave home. I mailed it home and it was waiting for me when I returned home. I could just as easily mailed it to my travel destination.
Apache

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Apache

Most airports will make get out of line and go back to arrivals to check items not allowed. I have been in two airports that had a mailing area inside security. You could box, pay postage and mail your package directly from security. It was a few years ago that I used these facilities and I do not remember which airports offered this. One was a pocket knife I forgot to leave home. I mailed it home and it was waiting for me when I returned home. I could just as easily mailed it to my travel destination.
Apache

...you were in possession of an evil pocket knife?

A long time ago in my flying days, I always traveled with a Swiss Army knife in my pocket and a Leatherman on my belt.

The good ole days when passengers weren't treated like criminals.

[cromag]

As long as they don't take my payment, show me to my seat, and then beat me up and throw me off the plane, I'm cool.

[Apache]

Don't take your pet if you fly United.
Speaking of flying United, does anyone remember this T Shirt?

Apache

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Given the choice between trusting the judgement of the people whose job is it to assess intelligence about threats to aviation, and listening to the opinion of people on random Internet forums....

Or you could listen to security experts like Bruce Schneier who argue that most of the things like removing shoes, not being able to carry liquids on planes, and presumably not being able to carry electronics on planes are security theater that only makes people think that something is being done about terrorism, and in reality does nothing to make you safer. BTW, the real reason why the TSA makes people take off shoes: to decrease the number of false positives when going through metal detection.

There have already been bombs placed in checked in luggage. There has never been a liquid bomb. What ever happened to the rule that you had to turn on your electronic devices? If I didn't already have non-refundable tickets for a summer trip to Europe, I'd be looking at flying in to Canada, and changing planes there to get back in the US. Quite frankly, if any terrorists are really planning to blow up aircraft flying to the US, they'll just start somewhere other than where this restriction is enforced.

I don't really believe it, but some conspiracy theorists are already positing that the real reason for requiring electronics to be checked in is to allow national security agencies to surreptitiously copy the hard drives of people they're watching. And, if one's device goes missing, is it because it was stolen by a security agency or an airport worker?