The latest US and UK ban on electronic equipment transported as cabin baggage on flights from certain countries is a worrying development for photographers, not to mention businessmen who need to use computers while travelling. And parents are already complaining they will be unable to keep their children quiet. More angst for us.
I won’t go into the reasons for the new restrictions; in the past fifteen years we’ve had many security changes in the wake of specific threats — such as the ban on liquids — and many more questionable restrictions such as the ban on the use of e-readers, smartphones and tablets during take-off and landing. Obviously passenger safety is of paramount importance and we should be sensible.
However, I fear a more general crackdown on electronic equipment that could be with us for years to come. Inevitably there will be the usual knee-jerk overreaction and this doesn’t bode well. I’ve been travelling with computers and cameras for many years and have simply assumed that they go with me into the cabin. I don’t think I would want to commit expensive cameras and lenses, nor a pricey laptop, to the care of the baggage handlers. Not only is there significant risk of damage, the possibility of loss is much higher. This will be exacerbated as airport staff realise that almost every suitcase will contain a stack of attractive electronic gear.
And then there’s the question of insurance cover. It is going to be difficult to ensure adequate cover for expensive and sensitive equipment when it has to be checked in for hold transport. All this is quite apart from the inconvenience that will be caused — for instance, we will be deprived of our computers from the point of check in and will have no way of working airside before the flight takes off.
There are also implications for the many passengers who travel light, with just cabin baggage. There is invariably a computer in the bag, not to mention a camera, and all this will be impossible under the new rules. This means that almost no one will want to travel with just cabin baggage, resulting in more delays and queues at check-in counters.
It’s a worrying development, just when we were beginning to see relaxation of certain rules, not least being the new ability to use electronic devices during take-off and landing. If I’m going to have all my electronic and photographic gear confiscated at check in, I doubt that I will be travelling with a lot of stuff in the future. Worse, once knee-jerk restrictions come it we know that it takes years for them to be relaxed.
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You are right to raise this issue Mike. I have just returned from a trip to Jordan and was made to check in ALL my Leica equipment into the hold. No option, either check in the camera equipment or don’t fly. Admittedly it was in the wake of the Westminster attack but I spent the entire flight concerned for the safety of my kit and then anxious to get through immigration quickly in case my bag got taken off the belt in error. All was ok in the end but for future trips I will plan accordingly as these restrictions tend to become the norm. Your concerns regarding insurance are well made too. Where will it end?
John Brockliss, photographer
It is a worry and perhaps I am being over pessimistic. But these things do have have a habit of becoming the norm despite the safety concerns of having all those batteries packed together in the hold. It’s easier to deal with battery fires when they are in the cabin, I think. I would certainly not travel with Leica gear (other than maybe a D-Lux) if such bans do become the norm.
During the last 20+ years, airline travellers were increasingly picked on by airline’s security. An annoying situation, especially because 99.99999% of the wrong people were pestered. Terrorism is still here and is here to stay for quite a while.
If the airlines decide to force us to check-in all electronic equipment, including expensive camera gear, they’ll lose a lot of business. Anyway, there is no way that I check-in my camera bag and run the high risk to have it destroyed or stolen. The financial damage alone simply isn’t worth it.
This reminds me of the pandemonium for travelers immediately after 9/11. I don’t remember where the LHSA annual meeting was that year, but it was not long after, within weeks if I recall of the attack. Airlines at that time were considering a ban on all carry-ons. Of course, that would not sit well with folks in the LHSA. What were we going to do to get our beloved Leicas along with us to the meeting? Of course, there was no such thing as a digital Leica back then, only film based cameras. The president of Leica USA even offered the possibility of trans-shipping our Leicas for us in a special container unit from them if we would all ship our equipment to New Jersey HQ. Thank goodness it didn’t come down to that, and things had gotten back to semi-normal in time for the meeting.
I think I smell new way airlines going make more money. Extra ck in area for people w cameras and laptops. Rip out four seats install large closet and for extra fee you get to give to airline flight attendant and stow your gear! Kind of like the old cloakroom and hat check room !
I have just returned from the Middle East via Heathrow with my Laptop and iPad in my carry on luggage. No incidents occurred other than being asked in Doha airport whether I had a Galaxy Note 7 in my possession. On my trip I met someone significant in the communications field who opined that the main purpose behind this latest somewhat incoherent measure could be to level the playing field against the subsidised Gulf airline operators who are perceived as providing unfair competition to American operators. In the world in which we are living today anything is possible, but the sheer lack of coherence, planning or joined up thinking is not a good sign for the future. Bringing or not bringing Leicas on flights would be the least of my worries about this trend.
William
I did find the ruling surprising and in my limited view, even more shortsighted than my imagination.
The ramification of such action are far reaching and if they permeate the industry, many travel goals and almost all business travel will be redefined in terms of supporting electronics and media. With this kind of paranoia, the next step is likely to imagine all kinds of nefarious contents on all the thumb drives that are going to be part of reconstructing your media needs as you travel.
Back to powerpoint transparencies…. Fuji may have another resurgence of the pharmacy available film single use camera. Or take your SD card with you and rent you next camera at Cricket.
@MikeEvans
Are you sure that the security personnell knows something about film cameras? All digital!
Next prong in the strategy, Mike: take a Leica Sofort, let the official guy watch you load, and then give him his own portrait!
I don’t think they will confiscate your beautiful fountain-pens, Mike – unless they remember that they contain fluid…… And perhaps we shall all have to go back to wholly mechanical film cameras with no battery power at all. I can just see my Vito B getting refurbished (did a whole year of brilliant slide photos in the Near East 55 years ago!). And the Leica IIIf is going to see more action……… Who said "be prepared"?
Ha, hadn’t thought about fountain pens. Unfortunately, though, I don’t think film cameras would be above suspicion. Cameras is cameras and your average security official won’t know the difference. I suppose film cameras can be opened to check there’s no explosive inside, but this rather defeats the object if there’s a film inside.
I find this worrying too. The last 5 years our hollidays where by car to Norway and Denmark, so no worries there, but I do want to visit Iceland again. Maybe we have to go by car to Hirthals in Denmark and then on to a ferry to Iceland. More traveltime, but your gear will be much safer.
Indeed. Last year I visited Photokina in Cologne and travelled by train. It takes about five hours from London but is considerably more comfortable and less stressful than flying. I can see more people opting for land travel in Europe if more restrictions on carry-on luggage come into effect. Of course, at the moment, these laptop and camera bans are on flight from a small number of countries and are said to be temporary. Unfortunately, once the principle is established it is very easy for it to creep into general policy involving all flights, irrespective of origin or destination. I have little confidence that things will be different this time round.