Tighter security for flights to the USA

PeteDoff

OK I get the "switch it on to show us the battery powers it up" in case the battery actually holds something nasty rather that a power cell.
Has anyone seen anything about spare batteries (or have I missed it), if for instance you had a spare phone battery would you have to swap them and demonstrate with both? What about a battery bank?
I'm always more than happy to co-operate with security but they are being very slow in making the system clear.

peachyprice

Voyager2002 wrote: »

So if I don't have a mobile at all, would I be in the same position as someone without a passport?

Any advice on the best kind of charged mobile 'phone to buy in order to show to security?

You are joking right?

The OP you quoted was badly worded, you won't be turned away if you don't have a mobile at all, you'll be turned away if you have a mobile that isn't charged.

alyth

Whilst i totally understand the reasons for doing the extra checks, it's still ambiguous at the moment. My situation is slightly different, I'm flying back from china to Scotland so it doesn't involve the us, but I've got four mobile phones, two laptops, a kindle and an iPad. It's bad enough carrying all that without having to ensure they are powered up, especially as some have Chinese power cables and some UK. I'm also doing an overnight at the airport before a morning flight, so the chances of every single one of these items retaining power before by the time I get to Dubai, let alone the UK is slim.

Of course I won't have, for example, the phones switched on, but can you imagine the fuss and confusion of people trying to switch things on, find the power cables, etc. travelling is difficult at the best of times. There's also the fact that two of my mobiles are Chinese models therefore are not maybe, I don't know, familiar to customs. It's could apply to people who are transiting through London, not just me.

I'm all for extra security don't get me wrong, I'm not a great flyer and not looking forward to the trek home. At the moment it, as far as I can see, applies to US flights but rules change hourly so who knows what may apply in different countries.

mehak_327

alyth wrote: »

Whilst i totally understand the reasons for doing the extra checks, it's still ambiguous at the moment. My situation is slightly different, I'm flying back from china to Scotland so it doesn't involve the us, but I've got four mobile phones, two laptops, a kindle and an iPad. It's bad enough carrying all that without having to ensure they are powered up, especially as some have Chinese power cables and some UK. I'm also doing an overnight at the airport before a morning flight, so the chances of every single one of these items retaining power before by the time I get to Dubai, let alone the UK is slim.

Of course I won't have, for example, the phones switched on, but can you imagine the fuss and confusion of people trying to switch things on, find the power cables, etc. travelling is difficult at the best of times. There's also the fact that two of my mobiles are Chinese models therefore are not maybe, I don't know, familiar to customs. It's could apply to people who are transiting through London, not just me.

I'm all for extra security don't get me wrong, I'm not a great flyer and not looking forward to the trek home. At the moment it, as far as I can see, applies to US flights but rules change hourly so who knows what may apply in different countries.

You could chuck three phones, both laptops and either a kindle and ipad into your hold luggage leaving you with a phone and either kindle or ipad for your flight. The restriction is around devices in carry on luggage. Doesn't apply to hold luggage.

alyth

mehak_327 wrote: »

You could chuck three phones, both laptops and either a kindle and ipad into your hold luggage leaving you with a phone and either kindle or ipad for your flight. The restriction is around devices in carry on luggage. Doesn't apply to hold luggage.

For sure I can do that and I probably will put some of the electronics in my hold luggage. However, and it's never happen yet in any of my travels, I don't want to tempt fate in my bags being lost. I was more making the point that people travel with a lot of electronic items these days, I guess if you travel with kids it must be worse with game devices. I know it only applies to mobiles at the moment, as far as I can make out. My other point is that I only randomly came across this this morning when I got Internet access and was checking the BBC site.

worldtraveller

ALL passengers flying INTO OR OUT of the UK have been advised to ensure electronic devices in hand luggage are sufficiently charged to be turned on.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said there could be checks "on some routes into or out of the UK" but did not disclose which routes were involved.

The advice was already being applied on some flights from the UK to the US.

BBC News

A Department for Transport spokesperson said:

The UK government keeps aviation security under constant review in conjunction with international partners and the aviation industry.

On 2 July we announced we were stepping up some of our aviation security measures. In line with the US advice, passengers on some routes into and out of the UK may now also be required to show that electronic devices in their hand luggage are powered up or face not being allowed to bring the device onto the aircraft. Passengers flying into or out of the UK are therefore advised to make sure electronic devices being carried in their hand luggage are charged before they travel.

For obvious reason we will not be commenting in detail on the routes affected. We will work with the aviation industry to minimise disruption as far as possible.

The UK has some of the most robust aviation security measures in the world and we will continue to take all the steps necessary to ensure that public safety is maintained.

DfT - Aviation Security Update

Not a surprise I suppose!

photome

alyth wrote: »

For sure I can do that and I probably will put some of the electronics in my hold luggage. However, and it's never happen yet in any of my travels, I don't want to tempt fate in my bags being lost. I was more making the point that people travel with a lot of electronic items these days, I guess if you travel with kids it must be worse with game devices. I know it only applies to mobiles at the moment, as far as I can make out. My other point is that I only randomly came across this this morning when I got Internet access and was checking the BBC site.

How would you expect to find out.

It has to be the passangers responsibilty to check on latest security issues before travel doesnt it.