PSA: The TSA now requires proof of powered-on smartphone or tablets before boarding some flights

[phandroid]

As stressful as it already is measuring out liquids and baby formula for an upcoming flight, you’ll now want to make sure your smartphone or tablet is full juiced before hitting the airport. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced over the weekend that some flights coming into the US could be subject to additional smartphone […]

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[SiempreTuna]

That advice now applies to all international flights in the UK .. because it's a requirement for passengers flying to the US and of course, there's no segregation of passengers after security.

On the one hand, I'm surprised this has only just become an issue but on the other, knowing zip about explosives, I have to wonder how much damage a phone battery sized bomb could do to an aircraft.

 

[dan330]

well... just a small about of plastic.. packed between the seat and outer wall. I would GUESS that is enough to punch a hole through the wall. and that is bad.


I personally don't think it that much trouble.. to turn on my device to show it working.
and I don't want to get on an international flight (any flight) without a full charge. Keep me busy with games and things to read and music.

 

[mikedt]

That advice now applies to all international flights in the UK .. because it's a requirement for passengers flying to the US and of course, there's no segregation of passengers after security.

Didn't have to do it at HKG last Friday, it was just remove laptop from bag and the usual liquids in bags shenanigans. Flights to the US aren't segregated here AFAIK. Didn't even have to remove belt and shoes.

 

[bjacks12]

I'm always dangerously close to a dead battery in airports. I've even managed to kill both my phone AND my tablet while waiting for a flight out of SLC(to be fair, it was delayed for several hours). And now there's too many damn hipsters camped out at all the power outlets looking like homeless folk, lol.

I just got a 10,000 mAh external battery, I wonder if they'll allow me to bring that through security.

 

[mikedt]

well... just a small about of plastic.. packed between the seat and outer wall. I would GUESS that is enough to punch a hole through the wall. and that is bad.


I personally don't think it that much trouble.. to turn on my device to show it working.
and I don't want to get on an international flight (any flight) without a full charge. Keep me busy with games and things to read and music.

Most long haul flights have USB charging points in the seats now. So can use phone as much as like and still arrive fully charged at destination. In fact on Singapore Airlines, didn't even have to turn off for landing and take off, just told to put them into flight mode. There was WiFi and a microcell on plane, so could even use Internet and send SMS. No phone calls or VOIP though.

 

[Stuntman]

They should at least have some power outlets close by so that people can charge their phones prior to going through the security check points. Also, I would hope that they would publicise this well enough so that people are aware ahead of time. They should make sure that passengers on flights that land in some other country first and then continue onto the U.S. are well aware of this policy. I was flying from Hong Kong to Vancouver and thought it was OK to buy some bottled drink AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE SECURITY CHECK POINT. Before I boarded the plane at the gate, there was a second check point where I had to dump my drink. The reason was that the plane continue through to New York after landing in Vancouver. I had no idea this was the case. If I had known ahead of time, I and apparently 1/3 of the passengers wouldn't have to dump the drink they bought after the check point.

It's not that big a deal for a drink that costs a couple of bucks. It would really suck if someone had to leave their phone with a dead battery in a similar situation.

 

[dan330]

Dallas, USA to Cabo, Mexico... and back.

never asked to show my phone working. nor my friends and their ipads.

I had to dump my full bottle of Gatorade before the TSA security... but was allowed to keep my drinks that I got within the terminals on to the plane.

I guess.. it different for every location.. and individual....