With Stay switched on to flight tech ban
SECURITY is being cranked up at airports once again after more terror alerts.
The Government this week banned large electronic devices from cabin luggage on certain flights after a similar move in the US. Here’s what you need to know. WHAT’S BEING BANNED? Passengers will be stopped from taking devices that are more than 16cm long, 9.3cm wide and 1.5cm deep into the cabin.
This includes laptops, tablets, portable DVD players and Kindles. Mobile phones and medical equipment are still allowed. WHICH FLIGHTS ARE AFFECTED? The ban, which starts this weekend, extends to all inbound flights to the UK from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Tunisia. This will affect the following 14 airlines:
Atlas-Global Airlines, British Airways, Easyjet, EgyptAir, Jet2, Monarch, Middle East Airlines, Pegasus Airways, Royal Jordanian Saudia, Thomas Cook, Thomson, Tunis Air and Turkish Airlines. WHAT IF YOUR ELECTRONICS ARE DAMAGED IN THE HOLD? According to the Montreal Convention – the law that applies to lost and damaged luggage and goods – airlines are responsible for the bags they allow you to check in as opposed to carry on.
But their liability is limited to £1,200 per passenger, unless there has been a “special declaration of interest”. This is where you tell them you have something in your luggage worth more than £1,200.
If the airline then accepts the declaration, it will be liable for the full value if your property is damaged on the flight.
In the case of laptops and other electronic devices, the airlines are unlikely t o accept special declarations of interests so this probably won’t protect you.
If you really need to take your large electronic devices with you on one of the affected flights, you should check to see if your home insurance policy will cover you.
If you have taken out all-risk cover, which tends to be an optional extra, it will probably cover electronic devices put in the hold.
But speak with the insurance provider before you travel. EXTRA CHARGES Some of the airlines have announced there may be additional charges to put electronic devices in the hold. Check with them so you are not caught out.