Following the recent ban on uncharged mobile devices for all US-bound flights, the UK Department for Transport has now adopted similar measures for domestic flights.
Planning on flying from or to the UK? Then you might well be asked to prove that your mobile devices (including phones, tablets, and laptops) are charged by switching them on – or have them banned from the flight.
It follows the US government’s implementation of similar measures just last week.
“In line with the US advice,” reads a DfT statement, “passengers on some routes into and out of the UK may now also be required to show that electronic devices in their hand luggage are powered up or face not being allowed to bring the device onto the aircraft.”
The advice, then, is to make sure your smartphone, tablet, and laptop is fully charged before you book into your next flight.
The precise UK routes selected for this screening process have not been divulged for obvious security reasons, but according to The Telegraph they could involved flights to the Middle East and parts of Asia.
These measures follow reports that terrorists have developed a new kind of explosive that can avoid detection by conventional security measures.
If any of your devices are barred from a UK flight for this reason, it seems you’ll be able to collect them upon your return. BA, meanwhile, is offering the option of rebooking a flight 24 hours later, or of having your flat device forwarded to an address of your choice.
Read more: Best mobile phone 2014
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
