So this new band on large electronics ...

Sure looks that way to me, Jim, but maybe I've missed something.

The travel ban is for flights from those countries on their airlines. Not on US airlines. It is for bringing electronics on board, iPads, phones, laptops, so they have to go in checked luggage. But only on those nation's airlines specified.

seems silly to me. Would not a bomb exploding in the cargo hold also bring down a plane?

Just trying to keep you safe.

yes Roberto ...Morocco is on the list

next will be the size of your phone allowed ...

It's a stratagem devised to fend off Emirates' and other ME airlines' competition to US carriers.

It has nothing to do with terrorism, it is simply part of the plan to bring back jobs to America, by inconveniencing and scaring passengers using competitor airlines.

Make America Fret Again!

This ban will solve nothing, and create more problems in an already difficult travel environment.

Although we don't know the reasons for this somewhat unusual ban on larger electronics in carry-on, it would seem to be only minimally effective. AFAIK, this does not apply to direct flights returning to the U.S. from Europe (or other places), but rather only on flights from the African and Arab countries listed. Would it not be possible for an evil-doer to simply fly to Europe or other place not affected by this, and then book a direct flight to the U.S. on another airline? What am I missing here?

*"Would not a bomb exploding in the cargo hold also bring down a plane?

Yes, perhaps. Some airlines place luggage in "hardened" cargo containers, which might contain the effects of a laptop-sized device.

If this is in response to the Somalia airline incident on 2 February 2016, the authorities certainly took their time in implementing new security protocols.

Yes, Roberto, I also think that the ban tries to damage Emirates and generally all airlines based in the Persian Gulf, that are at present the best performing in the world. This will turn against Americans. If you clip the wings to Emirates, who will be going to buy all these new Boeing planes?

From what I heard...cell phones are allowed in the cabin. I'm worried about all the checked laptops possibly causing fires in the cargo hold. Lithium batteries stuffed inside a suitcase,...not a good idea. Our flight home from Italy in 3 weeks originates in Dubai (Emirates Air). I'm worried...

Phones are allowed.

All flights originating in one of the included cities is affected. So if your flight starts in Dubai, chances are you will have to check your electronics.

You can take your iPhones on or anything the same size...iPads will have to be checked. We are flying back to the states aboard Emirates Airlines in May and just got a message from them. Going over aboard Emirates to Dubai we can take our iPads aboard in the cabin .....the restrictions only apply to the return trip. You CAN have your cell phone on you returning.

"I'm worried about all the checked laptops possibly causing fires in the cargo hold. Lithium batteries stuffed inside a suitcase,...not a good idea."

Just to clarify, Lithium Ion batteries installed in the equipment they're designed to power are allowed in checked luggage. The ban on Li-Ion batteries in checked luggage applies to loose batteries which are not adequately packaged to prevent short circuits. Even in carry-on luggage, I make it a practice to cover the contacts of spare Li-Ion batteries with black electrical tape.

This chart provides clarification of the rules....

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/hazmat/passenger_info/media/Airline_passengers_and_batteries.pdf

These are the U.S. regulations but I'm assuming they apply to all airlines. Normal size smartphones and medical devices are exempt under this current ban. There's no information on whether "phablets" are considered normal size phones.

This is what happens when a loose Li-Ion battery short circuits against coins in a pocket, demonstrating the phenomenon called "Thermal Runaway".....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzkhPwbTev4

There will be substantial delays for Muslim airlines, especially Muslim airlines that tend to have large Muslim airplanes in their fleet (like Emirates, the largest operators of Airbus380, a competitor of US made Boeing). That will have economic costs which will affect competitiveness of thus far very competitive and successful Muslim airlines which have gained substantial market share from Christian airlines.

To be suspicious of people's real intentions is evil. But it's often spot on! (Giulio Andreotti)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2017/03/21/new-electronic-travel-ban-is-trade-protectionism-for-legacy-carriers/#2655ea981203

Here's what the BBC had to say about the UK version of this ban: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39343971.

I'll take this seriously when Israel implements this ban. Turkish Air has 5-6 flights daily from Istanbul. Jordanian Air has regular flights here from Amman, and there are also scheduled flights from Cairo.

To be clear, it's not 50 flights a day to the U.S. that are affected. It's potentially all the flights of all the airlines that are affected. For instance, if you're flying from the U.S. on Turkish Air to a European city, you'll fly through Istanbul on your way home and Turkish will have to do some kind of check on those passengers at the airport their flight begins - Paris, Rome, Budapest, Warsaw . . .

So Turkish Air here in Israel will have to ensure that all its passengers connecting in Istanbul to the U.S. conform to the new rule.

When they said, "larger electronics will include cameras, which will have to be checked", the first thought to come into my mind was, "We're Rick Steves-style travelers, we don't check luggage!"

I imagine thefts will go up in the baggage department

I guess it comes down to us to determine our priorities and weigh the options. What's more important, flying on one of the affected airlines to the US? or being able to carry our electronics on board and therefore going carry-on only? If those are the only options, and they will be if we're flying from one of the affected origins, it's going to be up to us. Not a happy situation, especially for carry-on only fliers like myself, but one I don't think we're going to have a whole lot of control over. Also, if it really is a matter of safety and anti-terrorism and not an economic or political one, then all airlines may eventually follow suit and we'll be up the proverbial creek.

sad for the business traveler who gets work done on these banned airports and airlines. Emirates? One of the most highly rated carriers there are

It's sad for business travelers flying those airlines from those countries.
It's a boost for airlines that carry business travelers to those same destinations but stopping in a hub in Europe first. I guess Emirates will have to stop in Vancouver BC, before coming to SFO.

Jim,

Supposedly, Emirates is going to begin a gate check, allowing travelers to use their electronics up until boarding.

Perhaps other airlines will follow.