What's next? No cameras allowed anywhere?

[Larry Cloetta]

Cameras are explicitly called for out as not allowed -

Electronic devices larger than a cell phone/smart phone will not be allowed to be carried onboard the aircraft in carry-on luggage or other accessible property. Electronic devices that exceed this size limit must be secured in checked luggage. Necessary medical devices will be allowed to remain in a passenger’s possession after they are screened.

The approximate size of a commonly available smartphone is considered to be a guideline for passengers. Examples of large electronic devices that will not be allowed in the cabin on affected flights include, but are not limited to:

Laptops
Tablets
E-Readers
Cameras
Portable DVD players
Electronic game units larger than a smartphone
Travel printers/scanners

See:

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/03/21...ncements-select-last-point-departure-airports

Fair enough. I was looking at their other page. Point taken. Still, in the overall scheme of things, it affects less than 2% of the international flights coming into the U.S. on the average day, and not sure it is such a hardship, over and above all the other indignities of flying we already submit to like sheep, that you can't keep your D4 with you in the cabin on this minuscule number of flights, or that the stinky, fat guy in the next seat won't be able to have his 17" notebook flopped over onto your lap the entire flight. Maybe this latest disruption of air travel, on top of all the others, is worth all the heavy breathing. I'm just not seeing it.

Air travel has gotten to be so unpleasant for anyone over 3 feet tall anyway, that I can't see that this restriction on this small number of flights is what tips it over the edge. But, for someone who flies these routes every day, and must have their camera or computer on their person at all times, I guess it might be horrible.

None of this was done arbitrarily, but as a result of specific information gathered at an al-qaeda compound. Not saying it is going to be effective in preventing anything, impossible to know. Impossible to know it's not.
It's not that I like all these strictures, I won't fly any more anyway, they lost me at "you can't take your pocketknife on board (leave it here in that bucket and I'll give it to my kid), and "let me see how big your bottles are", and "Sir, you need to see someone about your prostate, it is very large."

 

[coogee]

This looks like it could be a potential show stopper flying from Australasia into the UK as all the flights go through Dubai these days. I think? I saw Emirates on a list but Qantas not? - since they codeshare the flights (and aircraft) it can get extra confusing.

I don't doubt there's a good reason to go to all this trouble and I gave up on political discussion some time ago.

I wouldn't fancy trying to explain a medium format film camera is not a battery powered device on the spot going through security and no way am I going to put something like a Hasselblad or a Leica in my checked luggage.

Portuguese baggage handlers stole my disposable panoramic 35mm camera from my honeymoon baggage 15+ years ago, so I feel the bar is set low for luggage camera theft.

 

[YouAreHere]

For the U.S. It's not the airline, it's the airport. Any airline flying out of an affected airport is subject to the new rule.

I don't believe there are any U.S.-domiciled airlines offering direct non-stop service to the U.S. from the affected airports.

 

[FrozenInTime]

Last year passing through Tel Aviv, I recall screening looking baffled when some hipster turned up with a mechanical typewriter.
With this news, I have a vision of business class full of laptop deprived executives clacking away on the vintage Olivetti portables 🙂

A Hasselblad 500 in three pieces is a lens, a film holder and a nice empty box with a flapping mirror.
Probably easier with that than trying to explain a Leica M2 is not an electronic device.

 

[fireblade]

That's only because they have yet to discover electricity.

Franklin did that for us a while back.

Dear Keith,
Ah: a business opportunity at the airport: Honest Abdul's Used Cameras...
Cheers, R.

As long as Abdul has not been near a goat or camel.
I know...the PC brigade are gonna smash me 🙂

 

[fireblade]

Thinking out loud....Jennifer Aniston is now screwed.

 

[mcfingon]

Is this an attempt to drive up iPhone sales?

 

[PhotoGog]

And good luck explaining what a mechanical film camera is. I recently travelled through half a dozen airports in India with my Canon F-1 and asked for my 35mm film to be hand checked instead of going through the x-ray. Given most of the security staff seemed to be under 30 years old, none had any idea what the hell I was holding! One guy had to call over the much older supervisor can could not believe what this "film" thing was when explained to him. And the camera itself got routinely eyeballed after going through the x-ray, I guess because it has so much metal compared to a DSLR. May the joy continue.

 

[lynnb]

It's called Security Theatre. Some way had to be found to provide McJobs to all the people made redundant by technology and automation, while at the same time convincing the travelling public that Something Is Being Done. A win-win for the security bureaucracy and politicians. Every few months new things can be added to the list to give the impression of progress.

As much as I do not like what is going on in D.C., this makes sense though. If it were up to me, I would allow passengers to fly w/ only what they had on, and send their stuff on ahead on a separate unmanned flight. In the end, it would save a fortune because a lot of security people could be let go of, and put a full stop to bombs on planes. As soon as passengers entered the airports, they would hand off all their luggage and possessions to specified people, walk through a metal detector, and they could catch up to their stuff once they landed. This would simplify everything.

Much safer to require all flights to be nude and contract out all passenger luggage to DHL. Problem solved!

 

[Solinar]

Are willing to trade freedom for wealth or security?

Are willing to trade freedom for wealth or security?

Cameras are explicitly called for out as not allowed -

See:

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/03/21...ncements-select-last-point-departure-airports

Thanks for the link - While no one yet knows the full intel behind this draconian restriction - I just want remind everyone that the EgyptAir flight that blew up over the Mediterranean departed from a European airport, rather than Cairo or Dubai.

"These enhanced security measures will only affect flights from 10 of the more than 250 airports that serve as last points of departure to the United States." - but what's to stop a terrorist from boarding a flight at one of the other 240 airports, thar are not on the list?

For the past several years I've taken the precaution of FedEx my film in lead-lined containers to either my hotel or a residence when I fly. Now, it looks like I won't be bringing the camera along, since there is nothing secure about placing valuables in your checked luggage.

 

[stompyq]

Delta flies out of Istanbul and are unaffected

For the U.S. It's not the airline, it's the airport. Any airline flying out of an affected airport is subject to the new rule.

I don't believe there are any U.S.-domiciled airlines offering direct non-stop service to the U.S. from the affected airports.

 

[jszokoli]

If we are looking for motivation for this ban of in cabin electronics, what about this.

Once your device is in your checked luggage and out of your sight it will allow intelligence officers to access devices of interest and gain access to data they contain...

Joe

 

[nikonhswebmaster]

iPhones can be run completely clean. Before leaving -- backup. Then restore to factory. Do not even bother to password protect the phone. Do not sign into Apple iCloud.

 

[stompyq]

I think that's a great idea

I wonder. as we have many travelers here, if it would be good to start a travel tips and advice thread? If kept current, it could be of value to those both driving and flying with photo and electronic gear.

I think many here travel monthly and reports of current conditions and changes would be timely and first hand info.

 

[stompyq]

I'm planning to fly in April and was thinking about taking my Rolleiflex or Leica with me (and a lot of film). Under the present climate is that stupid? Will the Rolleiflex survive in a pelican case as checked luggage? Provided it doesn't get stolen of course

 

[FujiLove]

I'm planning to fly in April and was thinking about taking my Rolleiflex or Leica with me (and a lot of film). Under the present climate is that stupid? Will the Rolleiflex survive in a pelican case as checked luggage? Provided it doesn't get stolen of course

Not if a laptop bomb explodes next to it 😉

 

[YouAreHere]

Delta flies out of Istanbul and are unaffected

A Delta-badged plane? Not a codeshare flight. And direct nonstop to U.S. No hops.

 

[stompyq]

Thanks PKR. That's an angle I didn't think about

I answered over here..

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=160408

 

[Huss]

And anyone else think that this will not be an opportunity for 'them' to make a copy of your hard drive while it is out of your sight? Or upload snooping software?

If we are looking for motivation for this ban of in cabin electronics, what about this.

Once your device is in your checked luggage and out of your sight it will allow intelligence officers to access devices of interest and gain access to data they contain...

Joe

They would never!

 

[LKSC]

Now that this measure has been in place for a while, reports are surfacing. On a dedicated flying forum passengers have inidicated that they are packing camera bodies in check-in, and have been allowed to carry on their much more valuable lenses, though guidance on it is not altogether clear.

What's been the experience of members here, if any?