Laptop Ban May Expand to Flights Coming to U.S. From Europe

[2010mini]

And there are plenty of muslims working on airports, at least in Europe.

And that means what exactly?!??

 

[0388631]

Maybe for some but not for most of my colleagues if we needed to use expensive software that needs licences. but even that increases costs & makes transatlantic more expensive/less attractive.....

Depending on your vendors, you can pay for a VLK, instead of per station licenses. It'll cost more, but it removes any headache.

Though I can understand some software simply not being available in a mobile unit or a VLK. One of the vendors we work with is Oracle. Expensive licensing, not mobile friendly. I understand your frustration. I truly do. There's also LexisNexis, who are anal about the source/requesting IP.

 

[gnasher729]

This has ZERO to do with bombs.
Its all about money. Business / first class passengers will choose an (american) airline that does allow them to work on their laptop while on the plane. This is simply a way of forcing high profit passengers off non-american airlines.

Obviously terrorists can't afford a business / first class ticket, right?

 

[matthijst]

Waiting for US to ban everything on planes.

Only naked passengers allowed.

No food, no drinks, no legroom, hell no seats as somebody might something something.

Of course this would never happen.
God forbid someone sees a NiPPLE.

 

[Tonewheel]

So, will baggae handlers receive a crash course in how not to throw, destroy and mutilate luggage?

 

[Lone Deranger]

At least you will be safe /s

On [overbooked] American airlines no one is safe.

 

[matthijst]

So, will baggae handlers receive a crash course in how not to throw, destroy and mutilate luggage?

Nah, they just have an extra target for the end of the day.
Now they can also bet on how many laptops they will break. Not just suitcase shells

 

[0388631]

And I own lots of them. All electronic... and stored on my iPad. I still prefer physical books but when traveling long-term I can easily go through 2 novels a week. Try carrying those with you for a few years and you'll see the value of switching to eBooks.

I did, most of my life until I was one of the first to get a Kindle. What the heck is your point? I own close to a thousand books on shelves and in storage, and several hundred in e-format. It hasn't stopped from carrying around a regular book or two. I still buy hardbacks.

 

[Moccasin]

Depending on your vendors, you can pay for a VLK, instead of per station licenses. It'll cost more, but it removes any headache.

Though I can understand some software simply not being available in a mobile unit or a VLK. One of the vendors we work with is Oracle. Expensive licensing, not mobile friendly. I understand your frustration. I truly do. There's also LexisNexis, who are anal about the source/requesting IP.

All of our software is on a software server. We cannot install unless the machine is configured properly. With Office 365 there is some basic work we can do but not much. The whole IT philosophy would need to change & licence costs would go up.

 

[applepuree]

This is just stupid. Even as a tourist I take my laptop when i fly for various reasons. Thankfully there are so many other places I can visit that I can just blacklist the USA.

 

[0388631]

All of our software is on a software server. We cannot install unless the machine is configured properly. With Office 365 there is some basic work we can do but not much. The whole IT philosophy would need to change & licence costs would go up.

Would using a VM and company VPN violate your licensing agreement? Or rather even connecting to a workstation at HQ through the guest?

 

[ReneR]

Greeeeaaat... so if it is no big deal to check all these lithium ion battery containing devices then why do they have HUGE posters saying you cannot check lithium ion batteries?!

Also: maybe time to move on from LiIon batteries to one of the many science papers advertising revolutionary break-thrues?

 

[larrylaffer]

Being overcautious is better than not being cautious enough, like most European countries have been. Look at what has happened in France. All it takes are a few maniacs to kill a large number of people. I don't think the people who have died in France would share your sentiment. Obviously, the French were not careful enough.

I'm rolling my eyes so hard it's giving me a headache.

Also, it's worth noting that the incidents you mention involve neither a laptop nor a flight. What do you wanna do, ban trucks?

 

[ReneR]

This is going to really impact on transatlantic business travel. Few companies are going to be prepared to have laptops holding their data (encrypted or not) leave their employees' sight.

If business travel drops significantly, that then affects the whole pricing model for airlines as that's where they make their money. Emirates have already reduced flights to the US after the ban has been in place for only 2 months.

Yeah, and secret data (financial, program code etc.) or not - how often is luggage lost?

Arrive in the US and have no laptop anymore?

No wonder fewer people want to vote for this politicians anymore, … :-/

 

[gnasher729]

You don't seem to understand the issue. There was evidence recently uncovered that terrorists (im guessing isis but I'm not certain on that) were going to hide bombs inside laptops. No one is worried about the laptop batteries exploding due to manufacturer defect. They are worried about actual bombs.

There's also the possibilities that a really, really clever terrorist just spread the rumour.

 

[lederermc]

Looking forward to twiddling my thumbs with nothing to do but forcefully watch advertisements on a blurry screen 5 inches from my face, during my next 12 hour flight.

For a small fee Unitied Airlines will beat you unconscious for the last 10 hours of those long flights.

 

[gnasher729]

So, will baggae handlers receive a crash course in how not to throw, destroy and mutilate luggage?

Absolutely. A crash course.

 

[Moccasin]

Would using a VM and company VPN violate your licensing agreement? Or rather even connecting to a workstation at HQ through the guest?

Problem would be getting compatible VM system on a laptop & the software download would take ages unless on Ethernet. It's doable I'm sure - just makes travel more expensive & uneconomic. If that extrapolates to other companies & 10-20% of business travel falls away, that screws bottom line of airlines.....

 

[A.Goldberg]

I was just joking about the only airport security who effectively do their jobs are the cops that push the cars along in the arrivals gate. God forbid your car is parked for more than 10 seconds picking someone up.

 

[peterh988]

Looking forward to twiddling my thumbs with nothing to do but forcefully watch advertisements on a blurry screen 5 inches from my face, during my next 12 hour flight.

I'm sure the airline will have some safe laptops you can rent at extortionate prices on board.

 

[sputnikv]

What about Microsoft Surface Pro and similar devices?

If laptops and tablets are considered for this ban, then the surface which is a hybrid would most certainly be as well

 

[icymountain]

I wondered that too, but apparently I think the argument goes that if something in the hold blew, the way it's designed is that it would blow outwards and the plane (and passengers) would be more likely to survive the experience. Which is why I find it odd, like if that is the reasoning they sound like they are playing the odds a little too much.

If this happens in the hold, the blast will cause an explosive decompression, just as if it was inside the cabin. The hold is part of the pressurized space. I see no way around that.

There were a number of planes suffering explosive decompressions, some fatal to all onboard, others not. And a few resulting in a plane landing with a huge hole in the fuselage and a few less passengers or crew members onboard.

In other words, not pretty. And the fact, that it is in the hold changes nothing to this. So, this rumored ban is yet another stupid proposal.

 

[statik13]

More than likely the norm will be to conduct business outside of the US where it's not a complete ordeal to get things done. Our foreign counterparts will say "well, if this meeting is important to you, then YOU get on the plane and come HERE."

Sounds like a great business plan... for Canadian airlines. Going to the US? Just hop a no hassle flight to Montreal or Toronto first, and then head to your final destination.

 

[AsherN]

I'm sure the airline will have some safe laptops you can rent at extortionate prices on board.

They already do. A lot more airlines are removing the in-seat screens and use on-board WiFi to stream to your device. Which is now in the hold...

 

[truthertech]

Invest in more bomb sniffing dogs and throw out the remainder of TSA. This is just getting ridiculous.

Not such a keen insight to only focus on bombs. What short memories Americans have. Let's see, the 9/11 attackers who didn't have any bombs or explosives, but used other weapons to kill thousands of Americans, let's not worry about stopping similar attackers so a minority of travelers won't have to put up with the RUMORED inconvenience of a having to do without a laptop for a few hours????