Electronics Travel Ban - The Skinny
Monday, April 3, 2017 at 03:12PM
Need the skinny on the recent travel ban regarding electronic devices? Don’t let the latest news come between you and your next adventure.
What’s Up?
Ten designated airports in eight countries inacted restrictions on passengers carrying electronics… and yes, this includes camera equipment. These restrictions are, hopefully, temporary, but will continue until further notice. The UK has followed suit. So, the airport or flight you use to return, either via the UK or directly to the States, is the one to be concerned about. For safari travelers coming home from Africa, the most common airlines affected are Turkish Airlines and Emirates Airlines.
The following electronic devices are not allowed on board these flights, and would have to be checked. In a nutshell? Anything larger than your cell phone.
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Cameras
- Travel printers
- Games larger than your cell phone
In summary, U.S inbound flights directly from the following airports and countries are affected:
- Kuwait City,Kuwait
- Casablanca, Morocco
- Doha, Qatar
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Amman, Jordan
- Cairo, Egypt
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Jidda and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
As mentioned above, the UK has imposed a similar ban on inbound direct flights from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia. This would affect British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air, Royal Jordanian, and Emerites Airlines. Many adventurers use the UK as a hub, so if you are travelling/ returning to the UK on any of the above mentioned airlines, restrictions apply.
What Now?
If you have not already booked your homecoming ticket, choose the carrier wisely. For those who have already booked their flight on affected airlines, try to re-route. You’ll pay a penalty, but it will be worth it to sit with your camera gear. KLM, Swiss Air, Brussels Air, Luftansa, or Delta via South Africa Air are some alternative suggestions.
However inconvenient the current electoronic restrictions may be, don’t let them take over your bucket list. So bring a good book… and see you on safari!
Happy Travels-
Andy Biggs and Team