likely Homeland Security wants to be able to search the contents of the laptops - easier to do this when they're checked.
You got the prize. Everyone here is trying to attribute a safety reason. This is HS bringing down their budget.
Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
201–210 of 488 posts
Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
#202What 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 had a colleague fly through Amman last night. They had him remove 100% of everything from his briefcase and checked everything for bomb residue. If I had to guess, the US has intelligence that someone is going to bring a bomb (or some other weapon) on board a plane using a Laptop Form factor. I'm also guessing that the type of damage one can do with a device in the Cabin is greater than that can be done in the luggage hold (which is why the Laptop can be checked, but not brought through carry on.)
Though, I'm open to the alternative theory that having people place their laptops in checked luggage gives them greater opportunity to do targeted surveillance without their target being aware.
Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
#203Earlier quoted context omitted.
You're right, it's just the EU. I fixed my comment. The point is their technology is terrible and they are easy to defeat, as has been proven many many times. They are security theater and they were only put in place because the guy in charge of what scanners were allowed at US airports happened to have a financial interest in the company that made the millimeter wave scanner.
> They are security theater and they were only put in place because the guy in charge of what scanners were allowed at US airports happened to have a financial interest in the company that made the millimeter wave scanner. Yup. I have been to many airports in Africa and SE Asia that have only a metal detector, manned by someone who barely cares enough to stand there, and no one has successfully committed an act of te…
> I'm mildly convinced other countries don't have this because the beverage industry can sell more water/soda you're forced to throw it away when you go through security.
That makes sense, Japanese airports have distinctly non-airport prices for food and drinks even past security.
Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
#204Can anyone think of an attack this would prevent? Anything a pad (or even a laptop) could do could be done by a phone, at least hackingwise or whatever. So something with the physical aspect. A jammer of some sort? A way to intentionally explode batteries in a harmful way?
It's not about preventing attacks.
But our new fun game should be putting usb nuke sticks in a small, conspicuous envelope in our luggage, maybe with a few crips hundred dollar bills.
Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
#205Earlier quoted context omitted.
[duplicate comment, admins merged two stories]
>Plus, can confirm that the ME airlines are highly competitive Very, they are subsidized by their governments. http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2015/03/airline-subs...
Guess the US government should do the same. You either play by the rules of the game, or don't play altogether.
Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
#206I've seen it quite a few times. Someone answers their cell phone mid-flight - BOOM! Down goes the plane, steep descent, passengers screaming, masks drop from the ceiling, until that phone call ends and the plane straightens up. Blanket ban on electronics is the only way to stop this happening. One time I was flying and someone had forgotten to turn off their phone until the plane was in the air and it interfered with…
I'm not sure if you're joking or not... Regardless, the ban does not affect cell phones.
Joking for sure. When I flew domestic in China people were using their phones the whole time.
Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
#207I 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.
Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
#208This makes almost zero sense, and it's likely that there will be zero explanation as to why any of this is necessary. If there's a threat this only introduces a minor inconvenience to those looking to carry out an attack. Is getting a connecting flight in some country like Germany going to be hard?
This is probably a first step towards a ban on all flights for that exact reason.
Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
#209I 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…
(Minor note: I think you mean "from cabins but not from checked baggage")
Re: Most Electronics Being Banned on Certain US-Bound Flights
#210I 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.
Cell phones are excluded from the ban, according to the article.