Luxor4u

Your link actually makes my point, but we will leave it at that

I thought your point was that random security checks don't happen.

Perhaps I've misunderstood

No, just the efficacy, but the main security lies elsewhere.

Then I must have misunderstood...because I agree with that!

Random checks are an irritating waste of time

Just heard from people leaving this morning that you're only allowed to keep one phone with you. I normally have my Egyptian phone and an English phone with me so Im glad I know beforehand.

hatusu wrote:Just heard from people leaving this morning that you're only allowed to keep one phone with you. I normally have my Egyptian phone and an English phone with me so Im glad I know beforehand.

It's getting ridiculous What's the rationale behind that?

I carry two Nokia $15 cheepies. If they want one in the hold (I only have hand luggage) I'll give it to some kid to carry through for me.

Or maybe keep the SIM and throw the phone away.

I use a dual SIM phone. They are readily available these days.

Annoyingly however, I found my phone battery only lasts about 5 hours in Kindle mode. I was going to get a small battery backup device but I suspect that may now be "not permitted". I did have my electric toothbrush in my hand luggage and they even queried that before eventually allowing it. It was not on the list so I guess they had no choice.

BBLUX wrote:I use a dual SIM phone. They are readily available these days.

Annoyingly however, I found my phone battery only lasts about 5 hours in Kindle mode. I was going to get a small battery backup device but I suspect that may now be "not permitted". I did have my electric toothbrush in my hand luggage and they even queried that before eventually allowing it. It was not on the list so I guess they had no choice.

You wish!

If some jobsworth (in Egypt) decides he's going to confiscate something, or insist you can't carry it in hand luggage, there's bugger all you can do without risking missing your flight.

To be fair, the guys doing the searching were querying everything but the officer overseeing the search was very friendly and correct and seemed to show knowledge of the regs and exercise commonsense.
However, it was the first flight with the new rules and there were many, many officials present. Once it settles down you could well be right

hatusu wrote:Just heard from people leaving this morning that you're only allowed to keep one phone with you. I normally have my Egyptian phone and an English phone with me so Im glad I know beforehand.

Thanks for the heads up on that. I've still no intention to return to Egypt but if I did I would be carrying two phones too. I guess the way round that is to pack one phone but keep the sim card handy so you can swap them as required.

When leaving Egypt I only ever carry my exclusive battered leather 'carry on Condotti,
so if it has to go in the hold so what ?
It's a 20 minute walk to 'baggage reclaim at Gatwick I don't see a problem.
Just take onboard a 'paperback, their made of paper, approx 3" x 5" x 2" and quite light.
The other name for them is a 'book....no electrics battery back up just a pair of eyes.

That's only if the art of conversation went out the porthole.....
Ps: It's the return journey that is always the problem with all my kilo's of overweight contraband....

It is all down to the physical sizes involved, above a certain size = potential for explosives disguised as a battery sufficient to bring down a plane, ergo two smaller battery sized devices put together can equal one larger bomb, simples.

You are welcome to fly via sunny Copenhagen! I brought two iPhones and an iPad in my handbag this morning.

Horus wrote:It is all down to the physical sizes involved, above a certain size = potential for explosives disguised as a battery sufficient to bring down a plane, ergo two smaller battery sized devices put together can equal one larger bomb, simples.

Can I put my second phone in the hold?

That might work....provided it isn't regarded as a "spare battery"...and therefore prohibited.

I have relatives who flew back yesterday and security was high. They were physically searched three times. There was delays because lots of people have kept their chargers in their hand luggage and apparently these should be in the hold.
After hearing of all the security for passengers, I couldn't help but wonder what security airport workers go through, for example those putting luggage into the hold etc. I hope it's as stringent, even though we can't see it.

I'm still puzzled by this "charger" business.

Various devices I carry have a sort of plug connection for charging the device...i.e. it's not a power pack of any kind. It is, I suppose, a sort of transformer and has to be plugged into a power source.

Are these banned from cabin?

Most are less than the size of a standard 3-pin plug. One is roughly fag pack size 3cmx2cmx1cm.

According to the published regs, I can't see why these items would be a problem :

What about peripheral devices?
The following peripheral devices, designed to be used with either a phone, laptop or tablet and exceeding any one of the following dimensions:

length: 16.0cm
width: 9.3cm
depth: 1.5cm
will not be allowed in the cabin:

keyboards
power cable transformers
external hard drives

I had my universal USB and phone charger in my cabin baggage. It was noted but permitted to stay in the cabin bag without any issue.

BBLUX wrote:I had my universal USB and phone charger in my cabin baggage. It was noted but permitted to stay in the cabin bag without any issue.

That's interesting...and a bit of a relief.....but seems to conflict with Angela's experience :

I have relatives who flew back yesterday and security was high. They were physically searched three times. There was delays because lots of people have kept their chargers in their hand luggage and apparently these should be in the hold.

Copying my post here that I made in another thread as I know some people use KLM and Air France for flying to Egypt.


I've just done an online checkin for a KLM flight from UK to Asia via Amsterdam and the following was in the final agreement.

Travelling with a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone in any form, whether on one’s person, in hand baggage or as checked baggage, is no longer allowed on
AIR FRANCE, KLM and KLM Cityhopper flights. This measure was taken in order to comply with an emergency order issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation; banning the carriage of such devices from commercial air transport. For more information, please refer to the Department of Transportation (DOT) website.

So you really do need to read the small, and not so small, print, no matter where you are planning of flying to or from.

I think that all flyers should be on a level playing field to keep these new rules fair. So, if any have the new electronic digital heart monitors/pacemakers implanted, then they should ether remover them prior to take off, or travel in the cargo hold as a second option.