The UK Government yesterday followed the USA and placed a ban on large electronic items being carried in hand luggage from various countries into the UK.
Lets start with the Department of Transport who have set down the new rules.
There are new size restrictions for phones, laptops and tablets for air travel on selected routes to the UK https://t.co/uVLxTZ5tSz pic.twitter.com/MfrlFdnsu8
— Dept for Transport (@transportgovuk) March 21, 2017
The UK has done something the USA hasn’t – and have defined the size of the large electronic items. Anything larger than these dimensions will need to go into checked luggage when coming to the United Kingdom.
- Length: 16.0cm
- Width: 9.3cm
- Depth: 1.5cm
The countries affected include Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia
The advice from the Department for Transport gives also indicates this ban applies if you’re connecting in these countries, or are buying devices at the airport.
Amazingly the Department for Transport inform that
You can still bring hairdryers, straighteners, travel irons, electrical shavers and e-cigarettes as hand luggage
How long that will last remains to be seen – this ban has confusing written all over it.
Meanwhile the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has updated its travel information for the affected countries to include information about the Electronics Ban
The travel advice for those heading to the United States of America has also been updated – reflecting the countries not covered in the UK Electronics Travel Ban. These include Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar,and the United Arab Emirates.
Let’s not beat around the bush – this electronics ban is going to affect anyone heading into the UK or USA who needs to work, entertained or connected.
One can only hope this ban doesn’t go on into the long-term.
Header – UK Department of Transport travel advice – https://twitter.com/transportgovuk/status/844247157397962753
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Sounds like a good time for some Ghetto IFE…
I wasn’t going to say that out loud. There’s a post in that somewhere
“One can only hope this ban doesn’t go on into the long-term.”
Since we’re still forced to take off our shoes I wouldn’t hold out much hope.