Worldwide Travel - Anticipate possible restrictions banning large electronic items from passenger cabins on flights from Europe to US

Worldwide Travel: Anticipate possible restrictions banning large electronic items from passenger cabins on flights from Europe to US

  OVERVIEW

   Last Updated: 11 May 2017 20:02 (GMT)

Members planning to take flights between Europe and the US should closely monitor developments and prepare for new regulations on electronic devices that may be issued shortly by US authorities. US and European security officials are meeting airline officials on 11 May to discuss a new directive that could require travellers from some European airports to check in electronic devices larger than a smartphone before boarding US-bound flights. Specific details, including what devices and which airports would be affected, are so far unavailable. However, members should follow all security directives and anticipate possible security delays at affected airports if such regulations are implemented.

  ADVICE

• Comply with all security directives from airport authorities. Use only Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-approved measures to secure valuable electronics in checked luggage.
• Monitor the Department of Homeland Security website for up-to-date information on changes to regulations on US-bound flights.
• Consult the relevant airport or airline directly for more information on new security screening processes prior to setting out for a US-bound flight from or transiting through an affected airport.
• As a general cyber-security precaution, travellers should be aware of sensitive data on any devices, including laptops. Consider transferring such information prior to travel to a cloud or shared drive which can be accessed securely, or to a separate storage device such as an external hard drive or memory stick which can be taken into the aeroplane's cabin.
• If travelling to the US and UK from countries in the Middle East and North Africa affected by previous electronics restrictions, anticipate possible security delays at pre-departure screening. All travellers departing from these airports, regardless of their final destination, should arrive earlier than usual to account for delays caused by screening of US and UK-bound passengers.

  MORE DETAIL

Although the authorities have yet to confirm the specifics of any upcoming regulations, guidelines are likely to be similar to those of an earlier ban which continues to prohibit all electronic devices larger than a mobile phone – including laptops, tablets, cameras and e-readers – from the passenger cabin and carry-on luggage on direct flights to the US from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE.

The UK has instituted a similar, though narrower, ban that only prohibits phones, laptops and tablets larger than 6.2in x 3.6in x 0.6in (16cm x 9.3cm x 1.5cm) on flights from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Turkey.

Such devices are permitted in checked luggage. Mobile phones and medical devices are excluded from the earlier bans, subject to additional screening. These bans have been proactively implemented in response to the perceived capabilities and intent of some militant extremist groups, rather than in response to a specific threat. For this reason it is likely that such measures will remain a long-term airline security procedure.