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Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights

bloomberg.com

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

#331

Post by foldr »

DrJokepu wrote: post #323
andygambles wrote: post #268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wipe devices before packing. Arrive in country then restore backup remotely.

This is bad advice I'm afraid. If you're an alien seeking admission to the United States it's your responsibility to prove that you don't have immigrant intent, not the CBP's responsibility that you do. By showing up at the border with a wiped device you will make it a lot easier for the CBP to build a case against you and put you on the next plane heading back.

Not sure why this is being downvoted. Entering with a wiped device would be viewed as suspicious, rightly or wrongly.

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

#332

Post by foldr »

joshontheweb wrote: post #247
et-al wrote: post #217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an anecdote, I've flown United and Turkish across the Atlantic and it's a world of difference. In 2016 , the United airplane I was in still did not have a seatback screen and they expected all 200+ passengers to connect to the wifi to try to get in-flight entertainment. Of course no one got on. So all of us were left craning our necks trying to catch a glimpse of whatever was on the CRT in the aisle. Meanwhile, Tu…

I'll never fly United again. I had a similar experience for 14 hours. It isn't just the in flight entertainment. In my experience their staff are rude and borderline incompetent. There must be a poor culture in the company as a whole. My wife just flew with them and went nearly 10 hours without a meal while she was flying with our two year old. Edit: spelling

My favorite United moment, immediately following a hard landing. Flight attendant (loud enough for a lot of people to hear): "That was the worst landing all year. They really should teach these guys to land the planes before they let them fly them."

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

#333

Post by wowsig »

GuiA wrote: post #207
KirinDave wrote: post #199

I see many people here trying to puzzle out why electronics are under a partial ban from cabins but not from checked baggage . It's a good question, since if there is a fire or explosion hazard on a plane the last place you want it is wrapped in a wad of flammable cloth and synthetics, even if it is oxygen starved. The only motivation I can imagine is: They want these devices in checked luggage because checked luggag…

This. And also people not having devices on their person means they can't quickly text friends/family if they get detained/mistreated/etc. It seems like we're getting closer and closer to being in a situation where people who can should avoid going to the US at all, and make their reasoning known. Ie, refuse to give talks, attend conferences, etc. in the US.

The report said that cellphones are allowed. Agree with the avoiding US part. I'm currently reading a book on the state of physics under the third reich and the parallels on the state looking inwardly are chilling.

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

#334

Post by GordonS »

wapz wrote: post #139
ocschwar wrote: post #131

What utter bullshit. If they allow phones at all, then the threat cannot be an issue of a passenger sending a command out of one of these. The threat has to be the device itself. Now, a standard issue iPad is no threat, so we're talking about a customized device made to look like on. Except, if terrorists are going to the trouble to do this, they can just as easily put whatever bad thing they want to put into the cas…

I agree with you completely. Banning the devices is really not going to do anything but piss off customers (maybe make a few feel safer).

> maybe make a few feel safer

Or maybe make even more feel yet more in fear of terrorists. Which the cynic in me thinks might be the point

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

#335

Post by suvelx »

jedberg wrote: post #165
jacquesm wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bollocks. That's one thing the millimeter scan will pick up just fine.

Millimeter scans only happen in US airports -- they're banned in ~Europe~ the EU and not really used anywhere else. Also you're very wrong. You can defeat a millimeter scan just by placing the contraband between your palms while your hands are clasped above your head.

They're used heavily in Australia too. And I always get picked up by them.

I think the person at the monitor wants to look at my weiner.

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

#336

Post by chatmasta »

kogepathic wrote: post #251
linkregister wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, the threat model of those countries doesn't include terrorist hijackings. You will surely experience a thorough screening in Israel or Frankfurt. Every major U.S. airport I've been to in the past 5 years has had ample bottle filling stations.

> You will surely experience a thorough screening in Israel or Frankfurt. I think Israel is special, because they use behavioural profiling on you as well. I've been through Frankfurt on an inter-EU flight, and we were put into the priority lane because things were quiet. The priority lane only had (has?) a metal detector, no body scanner. So if the body scanners were really about security, why would they have a lane…

Frankfurt and Barcelona are both in the Schengen zone. Just like you can drive from Austria to Hungary without a passport, you can fly from Germany to Spain without one. It's only on the edge of the zone that they check your passport.

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

#337

Post by boomboomsubban »

diminoten wrote: post #81

...I feel like no one here read the article. Based on these comments, one might think that A) this had never happened before (it has), or B) it was permanent (it's a 96 hour ban).

The article says indefinite, though it's been updated since you posted.

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

#338

Post by andrioni »

diminoten wrote: post #81

...I feel like no one here read the article. Based on these comments, one might think that A) this had never happened before (it has), or B) it was permanent (it's a 96 hour ban).

The linked article (at least right now, AP via Bloomberg) actually says the ban is indefinite.

>The ban was indefinite, said the official.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-20/some-elec...

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

#339

Post by kwhitefoot »

AstralStorm wrote: post #277
abandonliberty wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I'm going to start putting a USB nuke stick in my luggage in an envelope. Just for fun. Maybe I'll label the envelope something nonsensical like "12-16" just to make sure people know it's useless. I love the idea but I can't help but think that even with a completely airtight reason to be traveling with that item (e.g. you're a security researcher) you would be accused of terrorism. Somehow.

Well they cannot yet force you to divulge encryption keys, right? And your nuke device might be worthless if they install a firmware exploit that will work later.

> Well they cannot yet force you to divulge encryption keys, right?

They might not be able to force you but it seems that they can lock you up indefinitely for contempt of court in the US and for they definitely can give you five years in the UK because it is a specific offence there under RIPA.

See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13919115 and https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6248902.

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

#340

Post by joshgel »

PietdeVries wrote: post #276
virtuabhi wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For now. According to the article.

interestingly, you see airlines moving away from in-flight entertainment screens in the seat in front of you, in favor of BYOD. A logical move: let the clients bring their equipment (they bring it anyway) so you don't have to (install, maintain, spend fuel on, etc.). Now with airlines actually removing in flight entertainment, flying from the Middle East to New York can be quite a long trip: no laptop to watch a movi…

Maybe people will have to read books?!
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