Cameras must be put in checked luggage on international flights

[ahsanford]

Just reading this now, but it would appear for some international slights, camera gear, laptops, etc. can't be brought into an airline cabin as a carry-on any longer. Gear would have to be put into checked bags:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-airlines-electronics-idUSKBN16R2JN

https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/20/us-authorities-ban-electronics-larger-than-a-phone-from-flights-from-13-countries/

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/electronics-banned-us-bound-flights-46261625

I'm sure we'll hear about this on the news soon as this just dropped, but FYI if you are traveling.

- A

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Laptops, Cameras, what about tablets? I don't think that the rules are actually revealed yet, so we are hearing rumors and leaks. They are likely correct unless the rules change.

Apparently, checked luggage gets a very thorough x-ray, as well as dog sniffing for explosives or drugs. This may spell the end for taking laptops and DSLR's on vacation, because too many seem to disappear from checked luggage.

US airlines are not affected, and the ban is for flights to the US from specific countries. So, you can take it with you onboard when going from the US to one of those countries, but coming back it needs to be checked. The rules seem to be convoluted and unclear.

 

[East Wind Photography]

Great! No way to contain a lithium ion battery fire down in the luggage compartment. Sounds like a really big safety issue to me.

 

[ahsanford]

Laptops, Cameras, what about tablets? I don't think that the rules are actually revealed yet, so we are hearing rumors and leaks. They are likely correct unless the rules change.

Apparently, checked luggage gets a very thorough x-ray, as well as dog sniffing for explosives or drugs. This may spell the end for taking laptops and DSLR's on vacation, because too many seem to disappear from checked luggage.

US airlines are not affected, and the ban is for flights to the US from specific countries. So, you can take it with you onboard when going from the US to one of those countries, but coming back it needs to be checked. The rules seem to be convoluted and unclear.

Yep, this looks to be part and parcel with the US travel ban -- only African / Middle Eastern originating flights seem to be under the microscope from what I've read.

Apparently, we've rolled out yet another piece of zero-notice policy has cause some confusion :. I'm hearing on TV we'll get an announcement tomorrow. Stay tuned.

- A

 

[Don Haines]

It is as if they are trying to discourage tourists and business travellers.....

If I had to check my camera and laptop into the cargo hold to go visit a place, I would find somewhere else to visit.

 

[Loswr]

Great! No way to contain a lithium ion battery fire down in the luggage compartment. Sounds like a really big safety issue to me.

That would only be an issue for spare LiIon batteries. It's currently fine to have in checked luggage a device with a lithium battery installed.

But still, I'm glad my international trips this year include only destinations in Europe.

 

[takesome1]

According to BBC

The nine airlines affected are:
Royal Jordanian
Egypt Air
Turkish Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines
Kuwait Airways
Royal Air Maroc
Qatar Airways
Emirates
Etihad Airways

The countries:
Morocco
Turkey
Egypt
Jordan
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Qatar
United Arab Emirates


The reason:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said extremists were seeking "innovative methods" to bring down jets.
Bombs could be hidden in laptops, tablets, cameras, DVD players and electronic games, it said.

 

[kirispupis]

Also note that this is only on direct flights from (essentially Muslim) countries to the US. It does not apply to flights from the US to those countries, nor does it apply if you have a connection somewhere else - such as Europe.

However, it does apply to cameras. I'm not sure if it applies to lenses (hope not) that have electronics inside.

Of course, the whole thing is BS. The toughest security I've ever had to go through was in Dubai and other sane countries have no such restrictions. On the positive side, some of these flights may go on sale soon... Dubai in particular is one of our favorite places to travel.

 

[ahsanford]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this effectively eliminates the (American) enthusiast photographer from going to visit these places now, correct?

I mean, if pros have work, they'll find a way. They'll rent gear on site or go through the trouble of checking gear in pelican cases or something.

But a vacationer with a carry-on full of gear it hosed by this, are they not? For someone who's already booked to go, I suppose they could ship in advance (ouch), rent on site (painful) or buy some hard cases just to make the trip work (ouch).

+1 to Neuro. Glad I'm not headed to any of those places this year...

- A

 

[ahsanford]

Of course, the whole thing is BS. The toughest security I've ever had to go through was in Dubai and other sane countries have no such restrictions. On the positive side, some of these flights may go on sale soon... Dubai in particular is one of our favorite places to travel.

Curious to see how the US administration sells this. As islamophobic travel policies are being shot down in court here, I'm wondering the technical grounds with which the administration is justifying this. They could legitimately argue some countries lack the proper screening to find some of these items in bags, but how that list is solely those countries is beyond me.

Ugh, from CNN: "The U.S. is especially concerned about the 10 airports in question, the official said, because of screening issues and the possibility of terrorists infiltrating authorized airport personnel."

That's a terrifying thought, of course, but a lot more is in danger than carry ons if that should ever come to pass.

- A

 

[BeenThere]

Pack a point & shoot camera and fly safe. Not that many affected flights currently, but the ban could spread to more flights if hard intel finds evidence of camera bombs being manufactured. Rent locally and bring home the memory card if it's important to you.

 

[LDS]

buy some hard cases just to make the trip work (ouch).

Depends on what the TSA thinks of your locked down hard cases, when they arrive.

If you use TSA locks, it's useless, the keys are now in the "public domain" - any thief will have a copy.

 

[privatebydesign]

According to BBC

The nine airlines affected are:
Royal Jordanian
Egypt Air
Turkish Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines
Kuwait Airways
Royal Air Maroc
Qatar Airways
Emirates
Etihad Airways

The countries:
Morocco
Turkey
Egypt
Jordan
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Qatar
United Arab Emirates


The reason:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said extremists were seeking "innovative methods" to bring down jets.
Bombs could be hidden in laptops, tablets, cameras, DVD players and electronic games, it said.

It is a bull---- ban built on all the other bull---- bans, just politicized nonsense. I have personally flown 5 of the airlines and whilst I wouldn't vouch for some (Egypt Air) to include Jordan is farcical, they have the strictest boarding searches that involve multiple people I have seen short of El Al. Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad Airways are all top notch airlines that put the likes of AA, Delta etc to shame.

Meanwhile you can breeze through US security with almost anything! http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/investigation-breaches-us-airports-allowed-weapons-through-n367851

 

[LDS]

Ugh, from CNN: "The U.S. is especially concerned about the 10 airports in question, the official said, because of screening issues and the possibility of terrorists infiltrating authorized airport personnel."

Given they can't screen thieves or other criminals (i.e. drugs trafficking) in authorized airport personnel worldwide (and even in some flying crews), that ban should extend worldwide as well, including US airports.

When you also pay pennies to such workers, to maximize revenues, it's also difficult to get better ones.

 

[ahsanford]

Trump is starting a big fire with pretty much anything he touches.

It will probably get thrown out of court again.

One would think, but targeting the airport rather than the passengers gives the US administration a little cover here. It implies they could play the 'we have late-breaking intel' card, there's a safety infrastructure issue at play, etc.

Further, since people are not directly targeted here, this sort of ruling isn't going to unleash the American civil rights legal forces like the two prior attempted bans did. The various airports and airlines that frequent them have the most to lose here, and I'm going to wager they have less legal clout than the ACLUs and various rights/liberties groups out there.

I'm not down with this one bit, of course, but don't say the Borg isn't learning here. If a ban on religion won't work, band entire countries from coming here. If banning entire countries won't work, ban certain airports in those countries, etc.

- A

 

[takesome1]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this effectively eliminates the (American) enthusiast photographer from going to visit these places now, correct?

You are wrong.
It only eliminates your ability to carry on your lap top and camera. You can still buy a hard side pelican and send your equipment through regular baggage.

 

[Loswr]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this effectively eliminates the (American) enthusiast photographer from going to visit these places now, correct?

I mean, if pros have work, they'll find a way. They'll rent gear on site or go through the trouble of checking gear in pelican cases or something.

But a vacationer with a carry-on full of gear it hosed by this, are they not? For someone who's already booked to go, I suppose they could ship in advance (ouch), rent on site (painful) or buy some hard cases just to make the trip work (ouch).

+1 to Neuro. Glad I'm not headed to any of those places this year...

- A

The issue for an American tourist is when returning, not on the outbound leg. So if I were planning to visit one of the restricted countries, I would go. As I've mentioned, I use rather robust hard-sided luggage for travel anyway, so I wouldn't be worried about damage during transit. Sure, theft is a possibility (the Peli luggage has built-in TSA-approved locks), but that's why the gear is insured. So, carry on the gear for the outbound leg, take your pictures, bring the memory cards on your person for the return leg where the gear has to be checked. Your photos from the trip aren't at risk, and in the unlikely event that your checked gear is stolen/damaged en route home, insurance will pay to replace it.

Incidentally, on a trip to China several years ago, I did just that – carried on my gear for the outbound trip, took the memory cards home in my carry on but checked the gear in a hard-sided case (in that case, a loaded Flipside 400 AW packed inside a Storm im2500) for the trip home. No security restrictions back then, but I wanted to reduce the amount of hand luggage we had to juggle since we had one daughter on the outbound leg and two daughters on the return trip.

 

[ahsanford]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this effectively eliminates the (American) enthusiast photographer from going to visit these places now, correct?

You are wrong.
I only eliminates your ability to carry on your lap top and camera. You can still buy a hard side pelican and send your equipment through regular baggage.

Exactly my point. Between the risk of theft (i.e. a Pelican case screams something of value is inside) and the cost/inconvenience of going this route (might need to buy the case, extra cost of checking another bag, etc.) would probably deter many vacationers from ever going there in the first place. They'd just go to another destination that does allow cameras in carry-ons, right?

I defer to the big gear folks, sports folks, birders, safari vets, etc. that are accustomed to checking gear. It may be no big deal at all, but as a guy who can get all his gear into a carry-on, I carry it on 100% of the time.

- A

 

[takesome1]

According to BBC

The nine airlines affected are:
Royal Jordanian
Egypt Air
Turkish Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines
Kuwait Airways
Royal Air Maroc
Qatar Airways
Emirates
Etihad Airways

The countries:
Morocco
Turkey
Egypt
Jordan
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Qatar
United Arab Emirates


The reason:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said extremists were seeking "innovative methods" to bring down jets.
Bombs could be hidden in laptops, tablets, cameras, DVD players and electronic games, it said.

It is a bull---- ban built on all the other bull---- bans, just politicized nonsense. I have personally flown 5 of the airlines and whilst I wouldn't vouch for some (Egypt Air) to include Jordan is farcical, they have the strictest boarding searches that involve multiple people I have seen short of El Al. Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad Airways are all top notch airlines that put the likes of AA, Delta etc to shame.

Meanwhile you can breeze through US security with almost anything! http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/investigation-breaches-us-airports-allowed-weapons-through-n367851

My take is that it is directed more at location, not at the particular airlines or airports themselves. Decide for yourself if that is political.

I wish your second comment "you can breeze through US security with almost anything!" was true.
Sadly the TSA has a high turn over rate and sometimes competence is lacking. No doubt they will protect us from old ladies in wheel chairs and old men with replacement hips. Other than that they are an embarrassment to the US.

 

[Mikehit]

Yes, this will turn out to be a major PITA for some people. But I have several times looked at the security measures around laptops (you have to turn them on to prove they work etc) and thought it is not beyond the wit of the simplest of bomb makers to convert a large device like the ones mentioned so they appear to work and the rest of the innards are packed with unsavoury goods. Heck, I would be amazed if drug smugglers have not been doing this for years.
Then again, a bit of plastic explosive the size (and appearance) of a credit card is probably enough to depressurise an aircraft.

All a bit depressing, but few Americans (and a dwindling number of British) have no idea of what it was like in Britain during the occasional IRA bombing campaigns and still life went on.