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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how people will work on planes?

214 replies

KenAdams · 21/03/2017 17:59

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?

OP posts:
Newtssuitcase · 22/03/2017 07:52

I'm not saying I think the measures are secure. I don't think they go far enough and there are all sorts of ways to get around them such as handovers in departure lounges.

Newtssuitcase · 22/03/2017 07:53

Lost the UK list specifies countries not airlines and so BA is affected for example.

amberdillyduck · 22/03/2017 07:56

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.

Maybe they rescan at the gate? I travel in the middle east and asia a bit. In some airports some airlines rescan hand luggage with their own staff at the gate. They are basically saying that they don't trust the airport.

Purplepicnic · 22/03/2017 07:57

"home" airlines are not subject to this ban so it doesn't even make sense from a security POV in my eyes.

I mean this is the nicest possible way but it is safe to assume that they know more than you do, they haven't told us everything and they have a reason. I agree with you that it seemsnot to make sense, however I have to assume they know what they're doing.

LostQueen · 22/03/2017 07:59

My understanding is that its to do with the fact that those particular airlines don't have flights which originate at those airports (the US list has specified particular airports rather than the countries whereas the UK list specifies countries) I see. Thanks for clarifying that. I wonder what the implications are of flying from Doha to Atlanta for example. If you book that flight through American Airlines, it's actually operated by Qatar Airways.

LostQueen · 22/03/2017 08:01

I mean this is the nicest possible way but it is safe to assume that they know more than you do, they haven't told us everything and they have a reason. I agree with you that it seemsnot to make sense, however I have to assume they know what they're doing. Of course they know more than I do but they have put this information out there that is going to raise a lot of questions, especially if you're directly affected by it as I am.

unicornsIlovethem · 22/03/2017 08:03

I don't dispute there is a terror threat. What is bizarre is the difference in approach between the uk and us to what is presumably the same information.

It does seem to appear as though the US is using the terror threat to boost its national airlines.

spinassienne · 22/03/2017 08:06

It was certainly a hypothesis for a whole that the missing Malaysian plane was brought down by a lithium battery fire in the hold.

LostQueen · 22/03/2017 08:06

I don't dispute there is a terror threat. What is bizarre is the difference in approach between the uk and us to what is presumably the same information. Yet another question I have. I'd be very surprised to see the UK ricking the boat with Qatar though.

Hoppinggreen · 22/03/2017 08:07

I expect that this is due to specific intelligence and the choice of certain airlines is probably down to the fact that the British government is not convinced about their security.

Newtssuitcase · 22/03/2017 08:11

I don't think it's bizarre that there is a difference. The UK approach is more wide reaching in some respects - all flights (including UK operators) from the listed countries, but narrower in other respects - doesn't include some countries on the US list. The UK has obviously determined that there is a high risk to all flights originating in the countries on the UK list but that the risk is lower from the excluded countries.

The US has focussed on specific airports where it must have intelligence leading it to believe there is a particularly high risk. It excludes US flights which don't originate at that particular airport.

Its simply a different approach to what is clearly a known and very serious risk.

Canada look like they're about to follow suit and will probably have a slightly different approach again...

MrsHathaway · 22/03/2017 08:17

It suggests credible evidence that terrorists have infiltrated the airports.

You have to go through certain checks to be able to work airside, more stringent checks than for landside. Let's just say that some airports are better at this than others.

BarbarianMum · 22/03/2017 08:19

That would make sense if all carriers using these airports were affected. But they're not.

HerOtherHalf · 22/03/2017 08:20

Personally, if I was flying one of the impacted routes, I think I'd be more concerned that there appears to be strong intelligence of imminent planned attacks than not having my laptop for a few hours.

RedSandYellowSand · 22/03/2017 08:21

The US may only have named specific airports, but of the three countries i am familiar with in the list, they have actually covered the whole country.
So, UK states Saudi. US states Jeddah and Ryiadh airports. But those are they only 2 airports in Saudi which serve the UK or US directly. Damman and Medina you would need to transfer. So different wording, same effect.
Same with UAE and Qatar. All international airports which might fly to the US are listed. So the whole country is actually listed.

SuburbanRhonda · 22/03/2017 08:22

I am about to take a 13 hour flight in a weeks' time and would really rather have electronics with me. But I will simply have to cope without.

You know some people travel for business as well as pleasure, right? And expect to be able to work both on the plane and when they get to their destination? Hmm

Stripeymug · 22/03/2017 08:24

I travel on business and happily accept this restriction. If I cant use my laptop I can still use my smart phone or tablet (in flight mode unless there is wifi) to clear emails and draft some etc.

Newtssuitcase · 22/03/2017 08:24

I am about to take a 13 hour flight in a weeks' time and would really rather have electronics with me. But I will simply have to cope without.

You know some people travel for business as well as pleasure, right? And expect to be able to work both on the plane and when they get to their destination? hmm

Erm, yes, I'm not an idiot. My flight is a business flight.

Keep going with your silly argument though. You might persuade me that I should be thinking "fucking government trying to save my life when I could be drafting a document, how dare they"

...or maybe not.

Andrewofgg · 22/03/2017 08:26

A lot of passengers will be delighted to have an excuse not to work, or at least to confine themselves to paperwork. The others will have to bloody well manage.

SuburbanRhonda · 22/03/2017 08:26

A bit early in the morning for swearing and insults, surely?

RedSandYellowSand · 22/03/2017 08:27

And Yes, HerOtherHalf whatever route I fly, i set off from a country on the list. Flying home isn't filling me with joy for that reason. I cannot go direct from here, but often transit in airports on the US list (but not the UK list). I wonder how long til the rest of Europe brings in the ban? There have been big attacks in France, Belgium and Germany in the past year. And there are several big hub airports round there....

Loosing (theft or damage) electronics on top of that would not make for a good trip home Sad

Newtssuitcase · 22/03/2017 08:29

A bit early in the morning for swearing and insults, surely?

I think there are numerous people who've used the phrase "fucking government" before 8.30 in the morning before.

SuburbanRhonda · 22/03/2017 08:32

On this thread, just you.

Newtssuitcase · 22/03/2017 08:36

me and my potty mouth

Sorry Government I didn't mean to use the word fucking before 9am.

fatowl · 22/03/2017 08:38

I'm surprised Malaysia isn't on that list. Their long haul security is rubbish. I usually fly Emirates via Dubai and when boarding in KL Emirates do their own security at the gate which is far better than the airport screening just after immigration.
I recently flew Malaysian to Heathrow and it was like boarding a domestic flight. I think the airport security were actually asleep looking at the screens.