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New UK Flight Rules Cause Problems for Traveling with Laptops

by , 11:35 AM EDT, August 10th, 2006

Airline travelers in the United Kingdom are facing stricter security requirements in the wake of a thwarted terrorist attack. New requirements prohibit carryon luggage of any kind, which means that PowerBooks, MacBooks, any any other laptop have to be checked as luggage.

Devices like iPods may be prohibited, too. The U.K Department of Transport is advising travelers that only the barest essentials, including wallets and passports, are being allowed on planes - and those items must be carried on in clear plastic bags.

The BBC reports that 21 people were arrested in association with a plot to blow up three U.S. airplanes en-route to the United States. As a result, both the U.S and the U.K. are prohibiting any liquids, lotions, toothpaste, and any other substance with a similar consistency from being carried onto airplanes.

The U.K.'s decision to go a step further by prohibiting carry on luggage, however, will be a big problem for people that travel with their computer or iPod since those items can't go in the passenger cabin any more. Checked luggage may be subjected to rougher handling than laptop owners are comfortable with, and relinquishing control of a computer with proprietary information on it can violate some companies' information security policies.

The carry on policy in the United States, although still very restrictive, at least allows for electronic devices like laptops and MP3 players in the passenger cabin.

The Transportation Security Administration in the United States is offering guidelines for air travelers on its Web site. The Department of Transport in the United Kingdom Web site includes its guidelines, too.

Both the U.K and the U.S. are saying that new security measures are likely to be temporary, but aren't offering any time frame for a possible policy change.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Edison Carter Posts: 228 Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Thu Aug 10, 2006 1:46 pm Subject: Well I don't like it, but

My Ibooks and iPod have been real handy while flying, but I understand the risks. Bummer, back to watching airline offered movies or reading.


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Close Name:Badger Posts: 1 Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:19 pm Subject: Hard on Businesses

My former employer did not allow you to be separated from your laptop, phone, or PDA while travelling unless it was in a safe. Before they issued the equipment you took four hours of instructor led training with two follow up courses through out the year. Any infraction resulted in immediate dismissal and possible criminal charges.

This policy would put a huge bite in business for them since their sales force is 65% of the company and is constantly travelling.


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Close Name:iGrouch Posts: 660 Joined: 18 Oct 2001
Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:15 pm Subject:

Quote
Edison Carter wrote:
My Ibooks and iPod have been real handy while flying, but I understand the risks. Bummer, back to watching airline offered movies or reading.


Even books had to be checked in, not allowed on as hand luggage. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it.


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Close Name:mike3k Posts: 61 Joined: 31 Dec 2001
Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:26 pm Subject: A real pain

I wish I drove to WWDC. Returning home this weekend is going to be really annoying.


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Close Name:Edison Carter Posts: 228 Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:58 pm Subject: Books

Quote
iGrouch wrote:
Quote
Edison Carter wrote:
My Ibooks and iPod have been real handy while flying, but I understand the risks. Bummer, back to watching airline offered movies or reading.


Even books had to be checked in, not allowed on as hand luggage. I guess you can't have your cake and eat it.


Thanks for the clarification. I didn't see books mentioned specifically on the TSA or UK TSA web sites so I assumed that they were okay. Sure you could hollow one out, an old trick.


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Close Name:Rainy Day Posts: 607 Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:19 pm Subject: One more reason

One more reason not to fly.


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Close Name:Bosco Posts: 1002 Joined: 03 Jun 2002
Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:42 pm Subject: One more reason.

One more reason to kill all the terrorist bastards, preferably in their homes rather than ours.

Oh BTW, terrorists planned to use flash bulbs from disposable cameras to ignite their Gatorade. Sounds complicated to me when they could make a huge mess with Mentos and a 2 Liter of Diet Coke.


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Close Name:LaurieF -   TMO Forum Mod Posts: 3547 Joined: 15 Jun 2001
Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:19 pm Subject: Re: A real pain

Quote
mike3k wrote:
I wish I drove to WWDC. Returning home this weekend is going to be really annoying.


But if you live in Florida, it shouldn't affect you greatly - unless it has been introduced into domestic US flights. Or has that happened already?

My understanding is that the cabin baggage restriction only pertains to flights leaving the UK.


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Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 3149 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Thu Aug 10, 2006 11:24 pm Subject:

The "fluids" restriction is states-wide. The electronics and hand luggage restriction isn't.


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Close Name:macjim Posts: 35 Joined: 23 May 2004
Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:42 pm Subject: iPod publicity..

The Guardian of 11 August reports "When the jets were in midair over American cities, they planned to combine the explosives and detonate them using an electric charge from an iPod, the security services believe." Sometimes brand recognition goes a bit too far to be welcome..

link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,1842272,00.html


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Close Name:sem68-19 Posts: 84 Joined: 27 May 2003
Sat Aug 12, 2006 4:56 am Subject: iPod can also save a life...

[quote="macjim"]The Guardian of 11 August reports "When the jets were in midair over American cities, they planned to combine the explosives and detonate them using an electric charge from an iPod, the security services believe." Sometimes brand recognition goes a bit too far to be welcome.

Hi,

they just forget too easily stories like this:)
http://remoraantarez.blogspot.com/2005/07/ipod-saves-terror-victims-hearing.html

Reality, or urban legend maybe, it still makes a good counter-publicity... and I keep it always in mind, anyway!

ciao:sem


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