Live data from Hacker News

Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

bloomberg.com

21–30 of 488 posts

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#22

You look at this and say to yourself, "this doesn't make any sense! i don't get how allowing cell phones and 'medical devices' (nebulous term) into carry ons, but demanding that laptops go into checked baggage is keeping us safe!" And you're right! It isn't. But then you realize that the special interests that came up with this policy were paid LARGE SUMS OF MONEY to impress Trump and all of his supporters and career…

Spare (laptop) batteries are not allowed as checked luggage [1] (presumably the danger of a shorted battery causing a hull fire or explosion).

Why would a laptop go into checked when an equivalently sized battery not be allowed?

Further discrepancies that show we don't have a rational executive branch.

[1] https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/as...

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#23

This is... crazy. I can't even recall the last time I travelled with checked luggage of any kind, and make a point of not letting my laptop/etc out of arm's reach while traveling. I guess this does make it easier to search/bug devices, though.

This is actually one of the few credible attacks a hijacker could perform, and reducing the size of the batteries (assuming most cellphones don't have 72Whr 6-cell batteries) is a practical method to prevent such an attack in the cabin. However, it doesn't seem to rule out the exact same thing happening in the cargo hold with a timer. It's less stupid than water restrictions.

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#26
post #2

I have no idea what the point of this is.

I guess it's a shoutout to Trump's core supporters that he's still committed to doing "The Right Thing" by putting those brown people in their proper places.

(Totally not picked because they're muslim, I swear, wink wink.)

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#27
post #2

I have no idea what the point of this is.

Easier to root and search a machine checked in?

TSA always fucks up my repack. I've had nicely-packed arts totally destroyed because of how they chuck shit back into my bag after they finish pawing through it.

Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

#28
post #19
post #2

I have no idea what the point of this is.

Distracts from today's testimony by Comey.

Almost no one outside the tech or business communities will really care about this (beyond individuals annoyed with not having iTunes on a 14 hour flight). I don't think it's attention fodder (nor do I think it's a valid means of protecting flights). Not sure what this is.
Post reply on HN