thursdaysd

Not only theft and damage to worry about. Whole new opportunity for customs to read your email.

Would be interested to see what happens if they extend this to smart phones....

PegS

Don't most carriers clearly state that they're not responsible for valuables in checked luggage? So who's going to be liable now for expensive items that get "lost" if travelers are being forced to check expensive electronics?

Kristina

I'm seriously unhappy about this.
I'd be fine during the flight without my electronics, but it's the checking of them that bothers me. I would still want to be able to bring my tablet and my camera on my trip which means checking them (and a bag, which I don't typically do) on the way home.
First, there's the risk of theft and damage. Then there's the risk of fire with all those Lithium Ion batteries in the hold.
And really, isn't this just Security Theater? If there's a bomb in a laptop in the hold, couldn't it be detonated via a cell phone in the cabin? Or a timer? And why should we think the screening of items going into the hold will be any better than carry on items?
Is Homeland Security really saying that the passenger screening at LHR or CDG is any worse than JFK or LAX?
Finally, whose responsibility is it if something gets damaged? And what about baggage fees for checked bags which would not otherwise be checked?

indyhiker

My last travel insurance policy covered $1000 in baggage and personal effects. I have no idea, without doing some digging, how they value personal effects (replacement cost, fair market value, etc). So, while I don't think the policy differentiates between "valuable" and "nonvaluable," it's quite possible that the insurer would only pay the FMV of, say, a camera or laptop versus what it would cost to actually replace it. Some credit cards offer additional coverage if you use the card to purchase the plane tickets. Homeowner's insurance is also an option, although the deductible and risk of increased rates make it a less than attractive option. Certainly, if I was forced to stowe electronics, there's no way I'd fly without an insurance policy and I'd make sure I understand how and what it covered.

But even with adequate insurance, making claims, arguing with an insurer, and waiting for coverage determinations or a check to be cut is no fun, especially if you're out something as vital as a laptop you use for business.

thursdaysd

And the possibility of theft makes securing the data against identity theft yet another issue with this. I get bored on boats, but that repositioning cruise is looking better all the time.

Christina

nothing, as I don't carry any of those things to Europe. I travel to travel lightly, I don't see a need for a laptop in Europe. Now I don't own a smartphone but if I did, I probably would take that. I do take a tablet when traveling in the US, but I downsize more when going to Europe, I don't really need it, it's just for idle entertainment in the room to read newspapers or something. I can read my email on it, but it wouldn't matter much if I didn't and most hotels I stay in has a guest computer, anyway.

I can understand this is a problem for work people, but otherwise, there isn't any reason people need these for entertainment. I guess people haven't heard of books or magazines. Not to mention, you can always bring your Ipod or whatever music MP3 player you have. On top of that, I personally have never been on a flight to/from Europe that did not have a personal entertainment system. I don't really enjoy movies on those bitty screens anyway and don't understand why so many people even like watching movies on laptops, etc. But this may be shocking to some, but back in the day, those didn't exist and somehow we managed to fly and just read books and listen to music.

thursdaysd

Of course I have heard of books. I own a rather large number of them. They weigh a lot and take up a lot of room. I travel for months at a time, being able to read ebooks on my iPad makes a big difference. It is true I could read on my phone, but I prefer a bigger screen. I also blog my trips, and post in-process TRs here. No way am I going to do that on a phone.

ekscrunchy

I'd wrap my checked luggage in plastic at the departing airport if I had valuables inside..

But I'd try not to worry about this until the rules are changed.

I'm leaving soon for a destination where I will have no internet connections for 10 days or so...should be good practice. I've traveled with a smart phone only in the last two years; before that I took no phone. Only used online maps for the past few years.

historytraveler

About traveling with books, I do so all the time as I'm not a fan of ebooks etc. I usually take two books. Always take paperback and never anything that's even close to being considered a tome. I presently have a half dozen books I haven't read yet and will take the smaller two with me when I travel in June. When finished with them, I leave in my room or give away. I don't buy souvenirs; I buy books but at the end of my trip unless I run out of reading material before then. They really don't take up much room, will fit in backpack or into those odd spaces in luggage. I do travel with iPad and phone but have no problem putting iPad in checked bag. I use a 22" carry on, but I always check it as I hate dealing with it if I don't have to.

I traveled for years without electronics so I know it can be done. Before they became seemingly essential items, I remember sending faxes from my hotel to Mr. History and thinking that was really a clever means of communicating. I agree that business travelers will be adversely affected but surely the rest of us can cope.

bvlenci

I don't understand why you can't back up your photos if your tablet or laptop is in the hold. Do you mean you'd leave it at home? If that's the issue, you can back up your photos to your phone, or to the cloud using your phone as the courier. You just need a USB SD card reader, and a big-to-little USB cable.

bvlenci

Or you could just buy a cheap tablet for traveling.

mokka4

Won't be affected at all. I travel with my smartphone and paperbacks + disposable magazines!

julies

Recently we've been taking three to six week trips, so what I want along for these longer periods of time is different from those who are perhaps taking a one week trip.

I was just planning to buy a nice, new, high quality camera to replace my old one. This would now need to go in to checked baggage. I take tons of photos on our trips and would be unhappy about the theft of a camera even if the photos had been backed up. My husband also has his expensive camera he travels with.

I can easily live without an e-reader during flight because I always bring a paperback book or two, but I still would want one for the extended trips we take because I can load quite a few books on it; it too would need to go into checked baggage now too.

We've been traveling with a switch laptop that also converts to a tablet.

Currently we always put all of these things in our carry-on luggage. If this change occurs, they would all have to go into checked baggage and be vulnerable to theft. Not happy!

HappyTrvlr

I am with ekscrunchy tomhave the luggage shrink wrapped like they do in South America to prevent tampering.

marvelousmouse

I'm not really worried about this happening. Banning them from middle eastern flights probably effects a relatively low number of business travelers. Banning them from Europe flights probably means inconveniencing a far greater number of people. dhs has a lot of power but so do the airlines and the airlines cater heavily to the people who want to use their devices inflight.

And then them there's the lithium battery issue. The fact that they're just looking into that now probably indicates they aren't completely sold on taking on the public and airlines over this.

As for me, if it did happen, I'd buy an iPhone plus, maybe, to use in flight to read books. I usually grab a magazine or newspaper at the airport anyway. I'm not too worried about my iPad getting stolen out of my luggage, and my renters insurance protects me from loss while travelling anyway.

But like I said, I'm not sure it's something to be concerned about. Either the airlines will have to come up with a way to appease people who regularly travel with their electronics- like claim checks and a special padded gate check cabinet- or dhs will back down. Most of their rules, interestingly, don't impact airlines that much. Less luggage helps airlines out. Limited liquids mean passengers just scale back and fly anyway (I mean they could have done away with liquids entirely if they were really worried about shampoo). This, though, will definitely at least effect customer attitudes. I would not want to be security enforcing that or flight attendants on flights with people who not only get no food or free entertainment, they also can't wallow in their own media or work.

pavot

I want to believe you, marvelousmouse. What you said makes so much sense.

Just in case, though: Amazon is selling Kindle tablets for 50-60 dollars at the moment, and I would be more willing to check something like that.

(So thanks for that thought, bvlenci.)

I'll be watching for developments with interest.

StantonHyde

Um, parents will buying LOTS more drinks I can tell you that!!!!! Electronics=happy kiddos or at least distracted kiddos. argh.

Cjar

I'd stop traveling with children or teenagers. Can you imagine an 8- 10 hour flight with them deprived of what they see as a necessary item . Unbearable.

crosscheck

^Yes, they will have to bring back the Gameboy.

marvelousmouse

Good point about the kids. Or teen relatives. There would certainly be more money spent on margaritas, I can say that much.

(I want to believe me too, pavot! The kindle would not help, that's the maddening thing. I carry my ipad/ereader pretty much solely for plane/airline distraction unless it's a really long trip. I use my iPhone for pretty much everything else when traveling.)

I would really, really miss the ereader. Before those, we're talking AT LEAST 3 paperbacks for one way long haul flight. And that really adds up in terms of luggage weight and room.