To wonder how people will work on planes?

[KenAdams]

The new rules about no laptops in the cabin seem very restrictive for people who are travelling on business.

AIBU to think it's too restrictive? Surely a laptop bomb anywhere on the plane will cause significant damage?

"Meh"

"It's for security"

"Get used to it"

Threads like this make me wonder just how much freedom we might casually sacrifice in the name of security.

I fly through Dubai on the way from Asia to Europe, it's a massive travel hub. I also don't feel safe stowing my laptop and phone in my checked baggage.

In the news a guy said he felt people are much more willing to give up their personal rights i.e. Being searched than give up their technology. There's going to be a huge stink about this.

So, hang on if you fly Emirates or six other airlines you have to put everything in the hold but if you fly an American Airline like AA from the same airport you can take your laptop on the flight with you!

It make no sense.

Only last week US airlines were complaining about the fact some airlines in the far east had a competitive edge due to Govt subsides ,a week later we have this rubbish. You know, this is not about security.

Bit of a tangent, but I don't get the fatal blow to Qantas comment. If you fly on Qantas from Sydney to London via Dubai, then you can take your laptop, is that right? If you fly to the US from Sydney, you'd go Dallas or JFK via LA and you can still take your laptop?

Qantas hasn't announced (or possibly even worked out) what the UK ban means for the semi-direct flights to Heathrow that go via Dubai very briefly. I can't imagine there would be time to unload all bags, let people put their iPads away, then reload in that short window on the ground.

A 24-hr flight is going to be very, very long without the continuous stream of Peppa Pig for my 2yo.

Night, Qantas flights are code share with Emirates and stop in Dubai. So it's quite possible these flights will be affected.

The US directive includes advice to put all devices in hold luggage if you are on a connecting flight that arrives in the US having traveled through any of the affected airports. It also affects different airports than the UK ban. So the US thinks that airport security in Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and Morocco is inadequate, but the UK thinks it's fine. The UK is more worried about countries rather than airports and adds Lebanon and Tunisia instead.

I see that security experts are puzzled by this move as all hand luggage is screened anyway, explosions in the hold are equally problematic and the case cited involved a laptop given to the bomber after he went through security (oh and it's not about hacking - who hacks with a camera?).

there seems to be a strong suspicion that that is really a form of protectionism for US airlines, while also allowing Trump's crew to enact a further anti-Muslim action under the name of security.

He sees this as a nearly fatal kick in the teeth to Qantas.

Not likely. Qantas has been doing exceptionally well over the last 18-24 months. This won't be the thing to impact it negatively.

In the UK, as far as I know, the law is that everyone is presumed innocent until proved guilty by a court, that means that no-one flying to the UK is guilty of anything; so why "punish" them by stopping them using their lap-top?

This analogy is flawed. You could apply this to any potential crime. People are presumed innocent until proven guilty, so that means no one is committing murder? Having an unregistered gun is illegal, so that means no one has an unregistered gun? That means we shouldn't have gun control laws?

It's better to be proactive rather than reactive. Planes have undergone massive changes in terms of security since 9/11, but, arguably, those things should have been done as preventative measures rather than as reactive measures.

This is a good thing.

Not likely. Qantas has been doing exceptionally well over the last 18-24 months. This won't be the thing to impact it negatively.

Well quite. And Dubai isn't on the UK list so qantas will be fine. You'd be mad to go Qantas-Dubai-USA instead of the other way around the world, which would skip the Middle East.

*mad to go Australia - Dubai - USA. Oops.

Ok. So i set of from a country on the UK list (SA). Transit through Doha, not on the UK list.
What are my chances of taking a tablet for the kids?? Not fussed about on the plane, but more 4 hrs at Doha!!! And it not getting lifted or smashed from baggage handling!!

It's ridiculous. That it only effects some airlines and some routes shows it's got absolutely nothing to do with safety or terrorism. Security in many of the affected airports is better than that of many airports in the US, and it's certainly better than when you're flying domestically, which given many terrorists are home grown should be the prime concern if this is actually an issue.

It's incredible what nonsense people will just accept when you say it's for safety reasons.

Won't terrorists just target other flights not directly from these countries?

Surely if the threat is there it should be dull flights? This seems very strange to me

My major confusion re the US ban is that US airlines are exempt from it. I genuinely need somebody to explain this to me. Are we saying that a terrorists are not capable of booking flights on US airlines if they have intentions to blow up a plane? The whole thing is incredibly bizarre to me.

Just what strategies do the airlines have in place for all the damaged and stolen laptops etc that are now going to eventuate from this?

I'm always amazed that my suitcase full of clothes makes it out safely considering the way baggage is handled during the unloading/loading, let alone breakable things like laptops.

Security "experts" are kidding themselves if they think this is going to stop terrorists.

This has nothing to do with a threat and everything to do with the fact that these companies have been becoming more and more popular and taking money away from American carriers and British Airways. It's bullshit. But what can you expect from Trump?

It only applies to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. Don't think too many people will be travelling to these countries in business.

Wtf?

Be a good time to be an airport bookshop owner.
I don't really understand why terrorists would be more likely to bomb an Egypt air flight. If I was an IS terrorist I'd be doing Brit/us domestic flights as they did on 9/11.
Is it just that Govt doesn't trust the security arrangements at middle eastern airports?

It only applies to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. Don't think too many people will be travelling to these countries in business

Seriously? A family member works for a huge, multinational engineering consultancy. He (and his colleagues) fly to nearly all of those places on a very regular basis.

My major confusion re the US ban is that US airlines are exempt from it. I genuinely need somebody to explain this to me

Because no American airline has have any direct flights from the airports in question.

Given that the UK have followed and Canada are said to be considering it, I would imagine that there is specific intelligence suggesting a threat.

My husband frequently travels to Saudi Arabia on business. Yes he will just have to manage but being able to write emails/ work in documents saves considerable time when you travel so often and for so long.

For those that think that not many people travel to Turkey it is ANZAC Day next month. Approximately 10000 Australians and New Zealanders travel to Turkey for the event. You think it is not going to affect them?
In addition, there are a lot of expats who live in ME countries due to work and travel back and forth. This is going to create a very large headache.

Paw. Fairly sure American Airlines codeshare with Etihad direct to the US from the UAE. So some people book with AA. Some with Etihad. All on one plane. Some with electronics, some not?! That's going to be fun!!!!

These extremists fuckers are not going to beat us, not now and not in the future. 'it's the dodgy airport security that is the problem, can't trust the Muslim ground staff I would think is the case'