Laptop - tablet ban?

Multiple credible reports are saying that it's going to be announced tomorrow. Oy, what headaches.

I'm going in September and am worried about the very expensive camera I just bought for the trip. :/

Yes, tomorrow we will know how this ends.

Yes, this will be a challenge. Note that by all reports it will be flights FROM Europe. That means you can fly over there as normal but will need to comply with whatever ban on the way home.

This probably won't effect my trip that starts in 2 weeks because I'm flying to and from Canada and I don't think they are implimenting the ban now. However, in the future I might need to look into insurance for my camera - travel insurance covers up to $1000 but I'd need to clarify details. I might also look into buying extra padding or even a small, hardsided suitcase at my final destination to check on the way home. This would protect my camera more than my softsided backpack.

I am in Italy now and will fly out from Bologna May 27, so would affect me. But I am if anything more concerned about all those lithium batteries in the baggage hold of the plane danger of batteries catching fire. Maybe the terrorists plan all along!

And more concerned about the personal data in my tablet. ..what a bonus for baggage handlers to harvest my personal data.
Lost or theft of my devices is a comparatively minor concern for me.

Yes, this will be a challenge. Note that by all reports it will be flights FROM Europe. That means you can fly over there as normal but will need to comply with whatever ban on the way home.

But some European bodies might insist on the same restrictions on flights to Europe. The UK for example doesn't place any trust any other countries' airport security and if there is a general threat they may also respond in a similar manner, as they did over certain Middle East countries.

I am now reading that the ban has been delayed for a week or so, but all indications remain that the ban is coming soon, very soon. What I am reading is that the airlines will have about 96 hours to implement the ban once it is announced.

If I were in your shoes, I would make plans for how to deal with your electronics if the ban takes effect. Hopefully, the airlines will work out some way to gate check electronics, similar to what Emirates and Turkish are currently doing. Also, several airline industry groups are encouraging Homeland Security to exempt travelers with Global Entry or similar trusted traveler status. At the same time, I would start planning for the worst now. Your choices are:

• Leave the iPads at home. (Can you live with an iPhone instead of an iPad, or can you rent and iPad once you arrive in Europe?)
• Ship the iPads home at the end of your trip.
• Check the iPads as luggage.

None of these choices are appealing.

All,

If this happens, there's always UPS, FedEx, and DHL to ship your electronics home. (I was in Germany when the previous carry-on restrictions took place 10 years ago...)

While I don't think electronics would be stolen from your luggage at the departure end, I don't trust the luggage monkeys on the USA side...

In fact, I think I'll open a UPS Store, PRE-SECURITY, at Rome FCO...

From what I see, it looks like we can all take our laptops and ipads to and from Europe.

From what I see, it looks like we can all take our laptops and ipads
to and from Europe.

I am not so sure. Homeland Security is saying that the ban is "likely," and airlines and European airports are actively preparing for it. In addition, the head of Homeland Security is now saying that electronics may be banned in both directions.

I am assuming that by the time I take my next trip in September, the ban will be in place. The laptop part doesn't bother me; I can live without my laptop on a trip. It's the cameras that worry me.

I wonder how long it will take before the Laptop / Camera bans are applied to domestic flights as well? The same threats exist here.

And now the folks who make the scanners say they can make devices sensitive enough to make the ban unnecessary. We shall see.