U.K. Joins U.S. Laptop Ban as Skepticism Mounts

Just hours after the Department of Homeland Security published its

ban on electronic devices

on flights to the U.S. from 10 Middle East and African airports, the U.K. followed suit, with its own ban on carry-on devices on flights to the United Kingdom from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia.

In contrast to the U.S. directive, which rather vaguely alludes to electronic devices larger than cellphones, the U.K.

Department of Transport's prohibition

is spelled out explicitly:

Under the new arrangements, phones, laptops and tablets larger than:

_

Related: The World’s 10 Happiest (and Unhappiest) Places



While the U.K. DOT called the measure "necessary, effective and proportionate," at least some travelers aren't so sure. On

FlyerTalk

, a discussion website favored by ultra-frequent flyers, there was considerable skepticism regarding the policy's motivation, its implementation, and its effects. A random sampling of the comments:

Under this policy, would-be thieves will have a field day breaking into bags with a reasonable chance of finding high-value goods inside.

_



Whether the ban is necessary and effective or arbitrary and capricious, it's a reality for a considerable number of U.S.-bound travelers. And those numbers are likely to grow, as other U.S. allies consider adopting similar bans, as the U.K. did.



Reader Reality Check



How do you feel about the electronics ban?

__