The whole problem of checking laptops, e-books etc could be easily solved by bringing along a couple of paperback books.

Thanks for the heads-up, melodyesch. I'm flying Delta out of CDG in about a week and a half. I haven't flown out of CDG directly in a couple of years. I would feel fine with arriving two hours before out of AMS (no checked bags) but maybe I'll plan for three hours at CDG. Too bad - as I recall, there's almost nothing to do, few food options etc. at CDG unless something has changed! AMS is much better.

I'll consider checking one of my bags this time, though.

he whole problem of checking laptops, e-books etc could be easily solved by bringing along a couple of paperback books.

Maybe not for parents bringing them for kids to be entertained for hours with movies and games. Just sayin'

Or for those who must take laptops for work assignments.

>>>Also, I assume a bomb in the luggage compartment is just as capable of bringing down a plane as one in the passenger compartment. Can someone please please explain the logic of all this?<<<

I saw something about the checked luggage scanners having ability to scan for things the carryon scanners don't.

We are headed to Paris Thursday. As I understand it, right now, we can take laptops on board. We'll be in Paris for 2 weeks. If the rule goes into effect while we are gone, I'm thinking about sending my laptop back via Fedex. Does anyone see a problem with that plan?

frenchaucoeur, that was the other thing I wondered about. If they could blow up the plane with a laptop, does it matter if it is in the cabin or in the checked luggage area? The only thing I could come up with is maybe the laptop needs to be powered on. Anybody know? Otherwise, it's is just a new way to torture travelers.

It's not clear to me whether the first part of this story at security was just Delta/Air France employees or everybody flying out of that particular terminal and the people checking the carryons were doing it as airport employees or as Delta/Air France employees.

Let me also say this. Too many people, not necessarily just on international flights out of CDG refuse to check what they carry on which are clearly over the size and weight limits for a variety of reasons that probably have a degree of validity but still clog up the overheads for what their original purpose was. Charges for checked luggage, long waits to retrieve luggage, theft of course are all valid reasons to wish not to check luggage but at the same time if they are just enforcing published rules, I have no problems with it. I check bags which might marginally be able to be placed in the overhead for convenience of not having to cart it around.

As far as laptops being checked, it's all part of the world we live in today. And it most assuredly will lead to an explosion of thefts no matter where they occur. Don't know the answer. Maybe we should all just go back to sailing across the pond as a more relaxing way to get from A to B, eh.

"fuzzbucket on May 15, 17 at 12:34am
The whole problem of checking laptops, e-books etc could be easily solved by bringing along a couple of paperback books."

That is not going to solve the whole problem as there are many travelers who need their laptops for purposes other than reading books and being entertained. If I were only away on a one week overseas vacation, then being without my laptop would be doable although I would not be able to check online to see if any of my flights or accommodations had changed.

I only started traveling with my laptop during my Winter 2014, 6-week overseas vacation. Before that, I would either walk to or take public transportation to internet cafes. But, most of those have closed in the places where I travel and if one can take care all of one's online business on a small, cell phone screen, then more power to them. I can not see those screens very well.

As for internet cafes, try finding an internet cafe in Copenhagen, for example. In Summer 2014, my Danish friends and I tried. I didn't have my laptop with me that summer. Also, the internet cafe, that I used regularly, for years in Bangkok, closed as I looked for it in Winter 2014/2015. It's good that I had my laptop with me.

Due to the system these days being set up to basically be electronic-device dependent, to get a lot o things done, then many people are electronic-device dependent. It's a bit difficult to do online banking, from the other side of the world, and without one's own electronic device as who wants to do such on a public electronic device? And it's possibly just a matter of time when there will be serious talk of cell phones also being banned from carry-on bags and the cell phone users will go livid.

As for theft of items in checked bags, this is not anything new, but will only get worse. A year or two ago, there was a news report that LAX is the #1 theft site. I'm in L.A. and fly out of LAX. But, there is plenty of theft going on around the country and I'm sure around the world and now they want laptops checked? That's like dangling a chunk of meat in front of a hungry lion.

http://articles.latimes.com/2014/mar...theft-20140328

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crim...icle-1.1737407

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/top-20...ry?id=17537887

Happy Travels!

<<Also, I assume a bomb in the luggage compartment is just as capable of bringing down a plane as one in the passenger compartment. Can someone please please explain the logic of all this?>>

okay, I'll try.
First, the screening machines used for checked luggage can detect a lot more things than the ones used for carryon luggage, they are more sensitive.

Second, it is a lot more difficult to create a bomb that goes off on its own at the right time. IN your carryon, you can set it off when you want. Creating a bomb that goes off at a certain time or due to a certain barometric pressure requires a lot more sophisticated bomb-making abilities. For example, if you presume the goal of terrorist is to blow up an entire plan inflight with all the passengers loaded, a bomb that accidentally goes off when being handled by a baggage handler due to not being constructed well enough isn't going to have the same promotional impact for the terrorists.

I don't get the issue about direct flights either except that just means less people will have access to the luggage, of course, the fewer flight segments there are. I don't get the employee issue or how anyone off the street has access to your luggage when it is being transferred between flights.

<<The whole problem of checking laptops, e-books etc could be easily solved by bringing along a couple of paperback books>>

We never use our laptop on board and have no other devices.

We use the laptop extensively to check train schedules, research local restaurants and activities while on the ground at our destination, check e-mail, keep in touch with people at home (we don't travel with a cell phone), and download photos during our trips.

We carry it on board to prevent damage and theft...by baggage handlers. I don't see how flying direct is less risky - personally, I've never worried about anyone making off with my luggage at baggage claim. I'm standing right there.

I'd no more put my laptop into my checked luggage than I'd put my expensive camera or prescription medications in there.

We're leaving for threes weeks in Europe later this week, so we're a bit worried about the enforcement of this policy mid-trip.

Sure, we used to manage with paper books - guides and books to read, along with expensive, infrequent phone calls, etc.
Now, however, my IPad is like a lifeline. I stay in touch with family and pet sitters. When a pet was sick, even when I was on a ship, the Vet and I discussed its care by email. Very last minute, having a change of itinerary while on a trip, I was able to look on Fodors for a recommendation and within minutes, book a tour and guide that was recommended. I can research on the fly, trains, planes, buses, etc and book them. It is so much easier to work with apartment owners, etc for lodging. I pull up self guided walking tours and images. I pull up maps and directions and photo them, so great having that instantly when you need it. Could I manage without? Sure, but it would be a lot more stressful to lose the contacts and ease of doing things.

"I'd no more put my laptop into my checked luggage than I'd put my expensive camera or prescription medications in there.

We're leaving for threes weeks in Europe later this week, so we're a bit worried about the enforcement of this policy mid-trip."

I agree and I am also concerned about the possible enforcement of the policy mid-trip as I'll also be in Europe. But, I got an e-mail from Best Buy today that my new, Asus ChromeBook is in the mail system. So, I'll need to get it and figure it out fast before I leave. My beloved MacBook Air will be staying at home, not that I would want to lose the $202. Asus ChromeBook to theft if I have to check it in for whatever reason, but it's a LOT less expensive than losing my MacBook Air. Plus, important info is on my MacBook Air. Now, I'll depart with a "clean" ChromeBook.

Happy Travels!

Flying out of CDG this morning. Arrived at 6:50 for a 10:45 flight and was eating breakfast at Fauchon by 7:20. Terminal 2A was empty. Other than the walk from RER, the longest part was the "interview" with AA staff before security. Security was < 10 people in line. Now I have 3 hours to kill.

Thank you for this great update!

eating breakfast at Fauchon by 7:20. Terminal 2A

. I wish there was a Fauchon in Terminal 1.

For those thinking about changing to a Chromebook, I have been traveling with a Chromebook for the last several trips irrespective of the checked luggage angle because they are light, boots up very fast, malware proof without antivirus,and have very long battery life . However, it is important to have a firm grasp of:

1. What it can do when online.
2. What it cannot do when offline.

All the Chromebooks come with INTERNAL storage. Some units also come with a slot for an SD card. The INTERNAL storage is a mirror image of what is on the Google Drive. You "can" have the content of INTERNAL storage in Google doc, sheets format, available even if offline by enabling "make it available offline" option. However this is NOT automatic. You cannot access non-google content stored in INTERNAL drive/google drive offline. You can DOWNLOAD to DOWNLOAD folder in INTERNAL storage for .pdf files etc. The major gotcha is that when offline, you CANNOT create new document even if google doc, sheets, etc. you can EDIT existing doc.

The SD card contents behave differently. You "cannot" store google doc,sheet. If you try it, it merely makes a link to google documents in My Drive area. You can store, create, and edit NON google documents such as .doc, etc on SD.

Because this offline/online, INTERNAL/SD card contents are not necessarily intuitive. if you want to access files when in airplane mode, do thorough testing at home with Chromebook in offline mode to make sure what you intend to do can be accomplished when offline. The newer Chromebooks can access google play store to use Android Apps. Not all apps can be used, but this feature vastly expands the app capability. A big gotcha is that the Android apps and Chromebooks share only the DOWNLOAD folder. They cannot communicate using any other folders.

I've find a Chromebook too limiting for travel. If I want those limitations, I'd rather just have a tablet with a bluetooth keyboard.

Our experience yesterday Monday 22 May --

we got there at about 8:15 am for an 11 am flight to US.

For whatever reason, mu husband was able to check in via kiosk, so we had to wait online to have bags ticketed and taken.

The initial lines to get through immigration and border control were crazy long. People were panicking as they hadn't allowed enough time. Many people were cutting ahead because they weren't going to make flights. The airport personnel just shrugged when asked for help.

They were pulling people off the line to measure and weigh carry on items. They weighed EVERYTHING a person had - carry on bag, personal item etc. Some people seemed to have no clue that there were limits. What I saw as people tried their best to cram their bag into the sizer!!

It was a random check, triggered I guess by observation of the size/quantity of carry on.


Then onto the train to get to M gates.

Then security, some confusion as to what to wear, take off, leave in or out.

We made it to gate with a bit of time to spare, but there was no time to shop for duty free; only a bathroom stop.

Seriously, don't even think about less than 3 hours. Maybe 4 if you want to shop or do VAT refund.

I flew out of CDG yesterday May 23rd but to another Schengen country from Terminal 1. This one was fast. I arrived at CDG Terminal 1 from downtown Paris at 8:23am and I was done with the security check and sitting at the boarding area at 8:49am.

There were multiple passport checks.

Friday, May 26. Original flight: Delta CDG-SEA, leaving at 10:10.

7:20 Arrive at airport via hotel shuttle bus

Ask at Air France desk where Delta check-in is.

Get to Delta reservation desk: need to change my flight via SEA because it is now departing 5 hours late. Luckily, agent is able to re-route via SLC and get me into PDX about the same time as original.

Security interview with Delta (no line).

Delta check-in desk: get seat assignments for new flight. (Aisles - whew!). Agent puts "Carry-on bag" tag on my little suitcase.

Immigration: about 10 minutes

Shuttle train to M gates (2 stops)

Security screening: about 15 minutes (including the officer removing all the contents from my camera bag including laptop, tablet, etc. and confiscating my little phillips screw driver.

Walk through gaudy duty free shops, noting the Starbucks and Costa coffee.

8:20: at gate.

--

So, not too bad considering I had to change my flight! No one said a word about needing to check my carry-on bag.

I will say the Air France check-in line was very long - glad I didn't have to wait in it!