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| Electronics ban: How will new US and UK rules affect me? | Electronics ban: How will new US and UK rules affect me? |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| The United States and United Kingdom have announced that laptops, e-readers and almost any other electronic device that is not a phone will be banned from cabin luggage on some flights. | The United States and United Kingdom have announced that laptops, e-readers and almost any other electronic device that is not a phone will be banned from cabin luggage on some flights. |
| The US rule only applies to 10 airports, but one of those is the world's busiest international airport - Dubai International. | The US rule only applies to 10 airports, but one of those is the world's busiest international airport - Dubai International. |
| The UK ban does not include Dubai, and only has six countries on the list. | The UK ban does not include Dubai, and only has six countries on the list. |
| Which items are affected? | Which items are affected? |
| The US rule is broad and wide-ranging, affecting almost anything that is not a phone. | The US rule is broad and wide-ranging, affecting almost anything that is not a phone. |
| It says: "Electronic devices larger than a cell phone/smart phone will not be allowed to be carried onboard the aircraft in carry-on luggage or other accessible property." | It says: "Electronic devices larger than a cell phone/smart phone will not be allowed to be carried onboard the aircraft in carry-on luggage or other accessible property." |
| Anything larger will have to go in checked luggage in the hold. | Anything larger will have to go in checked luggage in the hold. |
| But the advice does not define that size with any measurements, saying simply that "the approximate size of a commonly available smartphone is considered to be a guideline for passengers". | But the advice does not define that size with any measurements, saying simply that "the approximate size of a commonly available smartphone is considered to be a guideline for passengers". |
| The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) gave a list of examples, but said it was not exhaustive: | The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) gave a list of examples, but said it was not exhaustive: |
| For US-bound passengers, it is not clear if the vague sizing could cause problems with interpretation, especially when it comes to larger phones or so-called "phablets" such as the iPhone 7 Plus. | For US-bound passengers, it is not clear if the vague sizing could cause problems with interpretation, especially when it comes to larger phones or so-called "phablets" such as the iPhone 7 Plus. |
| In an accompanying document, the DHS said "their size is well understood by most passengers who fly internationally". | In an accompanying document, the DHS said "their size is well understood by most passengers who fly internationally". |
| The examples specifically mention both portable media players and game systems. | The examples specifically mention both portable media players and game systems. |
| But "necessary medical devices" will be allowed on board flights - after a security check. | But "necessary medical devices" will be allowed on board flights - after a security check. |
| The UK has offered clearer parameters: nothing bigger than 16cm (6.3ins) long, 9.3cm (3.6ins) wide or 1.5cm (0.6ins) deep will be allowed into the cabin - which means mobiles like the larger iPhone Plus will still be allowed. | The UK has offered clearer parameters: nothing bigger than 16cm (6.3ins) long, 9.3cm (3.6ins) wide or 1.5cm (0.6ins) deep will be allowed into the cabin - which means mobiles like the larger iPhone Plus will still be allowed. |
| Parents dread flight ban for laptops | Parents dread flight ban for laptops |
| Which airports are affected? | Which airports are affected? |
| The new rules apply to 10 airports if you are flying to the US: | The new rules apply to 10 airports if you are flying to the US: |
| The DHS said it had chosen the airports "based on the current threat picture" but did not provide any more details. It said it might add more airports in future. | The DHS said it had chosen the airports "based on the current threat picture" but did not provide any more details. It said it might add more airports in future. |
| There is also no time limit on the rules - they will stay in place "until the threat changes". | There is also no time limit on the rules - they will stay in place "until the threat changes". |
| The rule change also requires no additional Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, US authorities said - any increased security cost will be borne by the affected airports. | The rule change also requires no additional Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, US authorities said - any increased security cost will be borne by the affected airports. |
| For UK-bound travellers, it affects all flights coming from: | For UK-bound travellers, it affects all flights coming from: |
| This means it affects 14 airlines including British Airways, EasyJet and Monarch. | This means it affects 14 airlines including British Airways, EasyJet and Monarch. |
| What about connecting flights? | What about connecting flights? |
| If you are on a business trip from Asia to the US, it is likely that a Middle Eastern airport like Dubai could be part of your itinerary. | If you are on a business trip from Asia to the US, it is likely that a Middle Eastern airport like Dubai could be part of your itinerary. |
| But the document detailing the enhanced security refers to "last point of departure airports" - so if you change planes at one of the affected airports for the last leg of your trip, the rules still apply. | But the document detailing the enhanced security refers to "last point of departure airports" - so if you change planes at one of the affected airports for the last leg of your trip, the rules still apply. |
| So, for example, going from Dubai to New York - a 14-hour flight - will leave you without a laptop or other device, no matter where you started your journey from. | So, for example, going from Dubai to New York - a 14-hour flight - will leave you without a laptop or other device, no matter where you started your journey from. |
| "TSA recommends passengers transferring at one of the 10 affected airports place any large personal electronic devices in their checked bags upon check-in at their originating airport," the official advice says. | "TSA recommends passengers transferring at one of the 10 affected airports place any large personal electronic devices in their checked bags upon check-in at their originating airport," the official advice says. |
| What's the logic behind the ban? | What's the logic behind the ban? |
| In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said it was basing its decisions on "evaluated intelligence". | In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said it was basing its decisions on "evaluated intelligence". |
| It said terrorists "continue to target commercial aviation" and are trying to find "innovative methods" to make such attacks - including hiding explosives in consumer electronics. | It said terrorists "continue to target commercial aviation" and are trying to find "innovative methods" to make such attacks - including hiding explosives in consumer electronics. |
| "We note that disseminated propaganda from various terrorist groups is encouraging attacks on aviation, to include tactics to circumvent aviation security." | "We note that disseminated propaganda from various terrorist groups is encouraging attacks on aviation, to include tactics to circumvent aviation security." |
| "We have reason to be concerned," the agency said - but did not address any specific threat. | "We have reason to be concerned," the agency said - but did not address any specific threat. |
| Instead, they cited three examples of attacks that caused concern: the 2015 downing of an aircraft in Egypt, the attempt to down an airliner in Somalia in 2016, and the 2016 armed attacks against airports in Brussels and Istanbul. | Instead, they cited three examples of attacks that caused concern: the 2015 downing of an aircraft in Egypt, the attempt to down an airliner in Somalia in 2016, and the 2016 armed attacks against airports in Brussels and Istanbul. |
| Some of the banned devices may not be much larger than a mobile phone, adding to the confusion. Homeland Security said they were allowing phones simply because the new rules aim "to balance risk with impacts to the travelling public". | Some of the banned devices may not be much larger than a mobile phone, adding to the confusion. Homeland Security said they were allowing phones simply because the new rules aim "to balance risk with impacts to the travelling public". |
| Jim Termini, whose company Redline specialises in airport security, said that laptops could be modified to allow small devices to be hidden inside - as had happened in Somalia. | Jim Termini, whose company Redline specialises in airport security, said that laptops could be modified to allow small devices to be hidden inside - as had happened in Somalia. |
| "The device functioned prematurely and the guy carrying it was ejected from the plane rather violently. But it did demonstrate that this method of operation in concealing an improvised explosive device within a large electrical device is a valid way of attempting to smuggle a threat item onboard an aircraft." | "The device functioned prematurely and the guy carrying it was ejected from the plane rather violently. But it did demonstrate that this method of operation in concealing an improvised explosive device within a large electrical device is a valid way of attempting to smuggle a threat item onboard an aircraft." |
| Mr Termini added that laptops could be adapted to create space where the battery is housed in order to allow an explosive device to be placed inside. "If a device is opened and turned on, you can prove functionality while it is still a valid IED (improvised explosive device), and the problem with these devices is that they are incredibly difficult to identify with X-ray technology". | Mr Termini added that laptops could be adapted to create space where the battery is housed in order to allow an explosive device to be placed inside. "If a device is opened and turned on, you can prove functionality while it is still a valid IED (improvised explosive device), and the problem with these devices is that they are incredibly difficult to identify with X-ray technology". |
| But what is the difference between being in the cabin, or in the hold? Philip Baum, editor of Aviation Security International, told the BBC: "Inside the cabin, the terrorist, or duped passenger, can at least be guaranteed a seat next to the fuselage - as on Daallo Airlines last year - improving the chances of destroying the aircraft." | But what is the difference between being in the cabin, or in the hold? Philip Baum, editor of Aviation Security International, told the BBC: "Inside the cabin, the terrorist, or duped passenger, can at least be guaranteed a seat next to the fuselage - as on Daallo Airlines last year - improving the chances of destroying the aircraft." |
| Can an airline or airport refuse? | Can an airline or airport refuse? |
| No. As part of the legal agreements that allow commercial airlines to enter US airspace, they must abide by TSA security rules. | No. As part of the legal agreements that allow commercial airlines to enter US airspace, they must abide by TSA security rules. |
| The UK government also says that direct flights can only "continue to operate to the UK subject to these new measures being in place". | The UK government also says that direct flights can only "continue to operate to the UK subject to these new measures being in place". |
| The DHS points out that the new rules will apply to a very small proportion of travellers - just 10 of the 250 or so airports which fly to the US. | The DHS points out that the new rules will apply to a very small proportion of travellers - just 10 of the 250 or so airports which fly to the US. |
| Meanwhile, the UK says "decisions to make changes to our aviation security regime are never taken lightly" and it will work to "minimise any disruption these new measures may cause". | Meanwhile, the UK says "decisions to make changes to our aviation security regime are never taken lightly" and it will work to "minimise any disruption these new measures may cause". |
| "A small percentage of flights to the United States will be affected, and the exact number of flights will vary on a day to day basis," it said. | "A small percentage of flights to the United States will be affected, and the exact number of flights will vary on a day to day basis," it said. |
| Do you use a laptop or other electronic device to work while flying? How will this ban affect you? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | |
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