Electronics Screening

[zanzibar138]

Just a heads up for everyone. I've heard that they've started screening electronic devices (I believe at this stage it's random) on all US bound flights. Anything that doesn't turn on will be confiscated.

Better make sure I remember to charge my iPod before I go!

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Never mind - this new process doesn't apply to Australia/New Zealand at the moment.

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I'm not sure now whether it does or not! Might just have to wait and see!

 

[BecBennett]

Seriously? That's bizarre!

 

[zanzibar138]

I'm guessing it's something to do with electronics and bombs As long as everything's charged enough to turn on and show that it's what it claims to be, I wouldn't think it will affect anyone too much.

 

[BecBennett]

I just find it silly. A couple of years ago I took my laptop on holidays with me, and while there it developed an over heating problem which stopped it from turning on, when I got it home I cleaned out the fan and got it working perfectly again. If this rule had been around back then they could have taken it off me for no reason.

 

[zanzibar138]

That's the only thing that worries me about it. Or if I forget to charge something (often I take my iPod just in case, and don't really bother to charge it unless I plan to use it the next day or whatever). As far as I know, it will only affect your flight into the US, so if anything breaks while you're away, you shouldn't have any problems getting it back to Australia.

 

[Tashinwdw]

better write that down on the 'to do list' make sure everything is fully charged before we leave and on flights around the US make sure the kids dont use up all the power while waiting in airports.......

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I heard that extra screening procedures were happening, but I didn't realise this was what they were talking about.

If they need to check IT devices fine, but they need to give people a proper chance to prove they're working before they take them. We're not talking about a cheap $4 bottle of shampoo here, but something potentially worth up to thousands of dollars. I hope they are advising people to take chargers in their carry-on just incase.

 

[zanzibar138]

It would be better if they could at least give you the chance to plug things into their chargers to make sure that it's just a flat battery. Confiscating items that could be worth hundreds or even thousands of $$ (thinking high end laptops and cameras here) just because the battery is flat doesn't seem very fair.

I'm thinking this will be part of the security screening process though, so as long as you're past that point you shouldn't have to worry about the kids using up all the battery (assuming I'm right of course, which is quite a big assumption ).

There might be some more information about it in DH's frequent flyer forum. I'll update with any further details if I hear any.

 

[zanzibar138]

I hope they are advising people to take chargers in their carry-on just incase.

And perhaps adjusting carry-on limits - if I had to have the charger for every one of my devices on my person, I would need an extra carry-on bag Let's see... on this trip I'll have:

* 2 cameras
* Laptop
* iPod
* Possibly a phone
* Garmin (running watch)
* GPS device
* FitBit

Plus DH will have his:

* Phone
* iPod
* iPad
* Garmin

That's a lot of cords! And I imagine larger families would have even more!

 

[PrincessInOz]

At this stage, I believe that this new screening check applies to flights heading to the US from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/08/us/new-tsa-rules-for-electronics-on-flights-bound-for-us.html



It'll be interesting to find out if the new screening check expands out to flights from Australia to the US.

 

[zanzibar138]

At this stage, I believe that this new screening check applies to flights heading to the US from Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/08/us/new-tsa-rules-for-electronics-on-flights-bound-for-us.html



It'll be interesting to find out if the new screening check expands out to flights from Australia to the US.

Thanks PIO - always the voice of reason

The FB posts that I saw did not mention any of these points! I guess I should have read the fine print.

For anyone who can't be bothered to read the article, there are three main points. First, the new process only applies for flights from selected airports in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as PIO pointed out. The process only applies to mobile phones for the time being, as the US received a tip-off about a possible terrorist plot to conceal explosives in phone casings. Also, passengers will be given the opportunity to plug their phone into a charger if it is not working due to a flat battery.

So it sounds like we have nothing to worry about

Sorry to cause concern

 

[PrincessInOz]

Still worth following to see if it spreads beyond that Europe sector.

 

[ssour]

I can't imagine this helps the length of security lines!

 

[BecBennett]

I can't imagine this helps the length of security lines!

Also, you should probably keep it in mind if you've got a roundabout flight with stop overs in any of these areas.

 

[Tashinwdw]

Thanks PIO - always the voice of reason

The FB posts that I saw did not mention any of these points! I guess I should have read the fine print.

For anyone who can't be bothered to read the article, there are three main points. First, the new process only applies for flights from selected airports in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as PIO pointed out. The process only applies to mobile phones for the time being, as the US received a tip-off about a possible terrorist plot to conceal explosives in phone casings. Also, passengers will be given the opportunity to plug their phone into a charger if it is not working due to a flat battery.

So it sounds like we have nothing to worry about

Sorry to cause concern

for keeping us updated

 

[zanzibar138]

Flight Centre Australia just posted this status update on FB:

**Important notice for travellers**
Is a trip to the UK or US on the cards? Please be aware of changes to airport security for travellers heading to and from these countries. 1) Items powered by lithium batteries – such as those found in mobile phones, tablets and laptops – must be carried in hand luggage, not checked baggage. 2) All devices must be able to be turned on at security, or risk having the device confiscated or the passenger denied boarding.
We want to ensure you have a smooth transition through airport security, so please ensure all devices are adequately charged and that you take care to manage the life of the battery while in transit and on arrival where the same airport security rules will apply. There are facilities to charge items at airports should you get stuck.
These are recent changes to airport security, so some delays may occur as a result.

Surely they wouldn't bother to post it if it didn't affect Australians? Although it is Flight Centre so anything's possible Now I don't know whether it will affect us or not.

I guess there's no harm in being prepared. I will once again be making an effort to ensure that all my devices are charged, and that they and their associated chargers are all packed in my carry-on luggage.

 

[PrincessInOz]

It sure doesn't hurt to be prepared.

 

[JennyN]

They were doing this when we visited Kennedy Space Centre in Florida back in 2003. No big deal, so it takes a bit longer, I think the security is worth it.

 

[zanzibar138]

No big deal, so it takes a bit longer, I think the security is worth it.

I agree. I'd rather be slightly inconvenienced than blown up!

 

[BecBennett]

Really? I think it's crazy and over the top. What's wrong with the explosive tests that they were already doing? What's wrong with the scans they do to see what's inside of everything?

Clearly people shouldn't be allowed to take dangerous items on planes, but a phone that doesn't work is not dangerous. Why can't the airline hold the non working item until you disembark? That way you don't get anything confiscated, but you don't have access to it to "set off a bomb" during flight