This week a ban on carrying the majority of electronic devices in hand luggage on certain flights into the US and UK was announced.
First, the US Department of Homeland Security said devices larger than a smartphone will have to be stored in hold luggage on US-bound flights from 10 airports.
Then the UK followed with a similar ban on inbound flights from six countries.
On these particular flights, items that now cannot be in hand luggage include
- Laptops
- Tablets
- E-readers
- Cameras
It might not stop people travelling but they may need to rethink about when they will work. And it's not just the flight that is affected but the airside time in the airport.
In our recent webinar Scott Gillespie of tClara showed statistics that said road warriors spend 267 hours on flights during a year and those hours do not account for time at the airport or delays. If those hours can't be spent working on a laptop then the travellers might work from a small phone screen but, alternatively, they might fly out a day early and have an extra night in the hotel, or have to work later in the office.
There's also the danger of the airline losing a bag with the devices inside, which could impact the entire purpose of the trip. That's where technology such as microchips in luggage can be valuable, as explained by ReboundTAG's Max Rangeley in a recent Q&A.
Depending on how long it lasts, the ban could have an impact on airlines, particularly those adopting in-flight Wi-Fi and streaming services. Perhaps keeping screens in the back of seats isn't a bad idea after all.
And let's not forget that traveller relaxation and personal travelling preferences are affected by these bans too. Catching up on television shows or playing games is a way of claiming some 'me time' during business travel which, as Gillespie reminded us, is usually taken in personal time.
That said, a 'detox' from devices could mean more relaxation or sleep.
This ban is all for the right reasons but could affect the way we travel.