topic Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice in Off-Topic

News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 13:57:37 GMT

Headline : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice.

"Heathrow Airport has told passengers to ensure all electronic devices carried as hand baggage are charged before travel if they are flying to the US."

Read more here ;

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28193654
Source ; BBC news.

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 14:19:41 GMT

Hopefully all problems with this new procedure are ironed out before I head to Vegas again next year!

So...I hope they are willing to wait 10 minutes while my phone powers up haha! And what about Kindles, iPads, tablets, laptops, external hard drives, external CD drives, mice, keyboards, etc...all of which are capable of holding explosives!

I understand why they are doing this but the practicality of it and the delays its going to cause don't appear to have been considered.

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 14:24:24 GMT

My son recently travelled to Las Vegas and Las Angeles.

He only took his phone.

On the News this morning they were using a wand scanner on laptops etc.

Thing is if it does not power up I wonder whst they would do with the gadget. Can't see them saying plug it in and let's see. I can see the rising line of people with some tutting !

Better being safe than deal with the ramifications of what could happen I submit. 😞

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

jonsie — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 14:29:19 GMT

A terrible sign off the times but sometimes I do worry that the terrorists are one step ahead of all the measures being put in place. There is already heightened security at most airports now and in my mind I'm quite happy to go along with this to ensure passenger safety.

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 14:42:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Thing is if it does not power up I wonder whst they would do with the gadget. Can't see them saying plug it in and let's see. I can see the rising line of people with some tutting !

Exactly! Although I think it might rise above tutting when people start missing their flights, which is almost guaranteed with the introduction of these measures.

Are they going to confiscate anything that doesn't power on? What happens if your phone battery has died whilst travelling?

I have to agree with Jonsie though, it had crossed my mind that this is probably already being circumvented by criminals/terrorists.

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Cleoriff — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 15:59:21 GMT

I heard on BBC news this afternoon that these devices have to power up 'To prove there is a working battery'

One airport security spokesman did say, if they do not power up, they will not be allowed on the plane....

So...on the last day of your holiday I would imagine you are going to need a charger for every device (NOT one for all of them) and plenty of power sockets

And to think...usually on the last day of my holiday all I used to worry about was packing my case and if it is going to be under the weight limit

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

aldaweb — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:04:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Thing is if it does not power up I wonder whst they would do with the gadget. Can't see them saying plug it in and let's see. I can see the rising line of people with some tutting !

Better being safe than deal with the ramifications of what could happen I submit. 😞

The report I heard was that items that didn't power up were being allowed to be posted home, where they would of course be subject to the carriage rules of Royal Mail.

Prohibited goods – items you can't send through the post. | Royal ... Lithium ion/polymer/metal/alloy batteries are allowed when sent with or contained in/connected to an electronic device, but are subject to packaging, volume and ...

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:13:19 GMT

I really would have thought putting the item in storage at the Airport until one returns back off the trip would have been a better solution, depending if one was returning to the same airport etc.

From the link

"British Airways has said that its customers face being made to rebook if they are found in possession of an uncharged device."

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Cleoriff — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:17:20 GMT

On tonights news British Airways have gone one step further.

They have stated that "If the devices we check do not power up, the owner of said devices may be refused access to their flight"

Looks like it will be a long frustrating holiday period for many people...:smileysad:

I am not being dismissive about any type of security issue. All I hope is the training for security staff is comprehensive and standardised across the board. Over the past few years I have used many airlines from various airports. Security measures being implemented are open to many different interpretations!

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 18:37:38 GMT

Personally I would rather they secured the flight so if charging your phone or tablet etc before flying is what it takes them so be it.

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 19:54:25 GMT

As usual I am a little behind the times (but only about 50 years or so) Could someone please tell me what is the actual problem as regards the state of charge of electronic devices? If I arrive at the departure terminal with a mobile phone from which the battery has been removed (for example it had started to display the Samsung battery problem) - will that mean I cannot take my phone on board? Are terrorists now able to smuggle explosives inside a phone battery, or a battery compartment? Is it not in fact more dangerous to allow a working phone on board as these can be used to trigger explosive devices remotely (or so I am told)? So which is the greater threat - A working phone with charged battery, or a phone that cannot be turned on?

Gerry

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 19:58:01 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

More here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2682478/Airports-facing-chaos-US-declares-wont-allow-uncharged-cellphones-laptops-flights-bound-America.html

Seems it appears theirs a threat a gadget can be stripped back and filled with explosives.

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Cleoriff — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 19:59:40 GMT

Good point @Anonymous . I have no answer to that conundrum (nor, I fear, have security staff)

All I hope is, when these new rules are devised, that every airport follows the same guidelines...

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Cleoriff — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 20:05:05 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Seems it appears theirs a threat a gadget can be stripped back and filled with explosives.

This isn't a new threat though, it could have happened ages ago.

Along with storing explosive materials in the heels of boots and liquids...

I am sure that now this news is everywhere, these terrorists are looking for another way to cause mayhem

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 20:07:17 GMT

They've kind if succeeded already in causing mayhem and hysteria.

I truly hope it stays at that.

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:05:29 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:

All I hope is, when these new rules are devised, that every airport follows the same guidelines...

Hi @Cleoriff - hope all well with you and yours. I am not being contrary in disagreeing with you - but in my view it would be poor security policy if they all followed the same guidelines. There has to be a degree of "the unexpected" in any procedures designed to "trip up" those who would perpetrate such such evil acts.

Gerry

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Cleoriff — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:29:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Cleoriff wrote:

All I hope is, when these new rules are devised, that every airport follows the same guidelines...
Hi @Cleoriff - hope all well with you and yours. I am not being contrary in disagreeing with you - but in my view it would be poor security policy if they all followed the same guidelines. There has to be a degree of "the unexpected" in any procedures designed to "trip up" those who would perpetrate such such evil acts.

Gerry

I agree with that to some extent @Anonymous I certainly wasn't inferring that security staff should not go above and beyond if suspicions were raised.

I was really referring to the basic standard guidelines that ALL should be working to.

I have travelled from some airports who were not rigorous about the 'no fluid policy'. Some make every passenger remove boots, whilst others do not give a damn. Others have very strict policies about lighters in hand luggage, others let them through with no problem

I just think if they are unable to get the standard policies right...then there is bound to be mayhem if they are attempting to implement stronger security measures...

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 22:07:53 GMT

@Cleoriff It certainly is a huge headache however it is done - and an awesome responsibility on those who have to implement policies that they know cause lots of irritation.

Gerry

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

jonsie — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 22:08:31 GMT

Whilst all this is hot news and no airline or airport has issued strict guidelines, in time it will become second nature, just as every other new safety protocol has been implemented and adapted to.

The big problems will be mass confusion and long delays in the interim period. I would think it will be a couple of months before passengers are fully educated as to what exactly is expected of them. In the coming weeks there will be some frustration and there will always be the people who think they are an exception to the rules but given time, regular travellers will all be aware and accept the change just as we did after the tragedy that was 9/11 and all subsequent threats against the civilised world.

As someone who takes 2 phones, a laptop, a tablet and a Kindle whenever I travel, I will adapt as necessary.

Re: News : Heathrow issues must-be-charged gadget advice

Cleoriff — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 22:39:07 GMT

@jonsie wrote:

As someone who takes 2 phones, a laptop, a tablet and a Kindle whenever I travel, I will adapt as necessary.

So will I @jonsie as I wait patiently in the security line behind the 100's of summer holidaymakers who have yet to adapt (or think they are exempt)