How to Work Around the Device Ban on US Flights
Image Caption: Smartphones such as the Apple iPhone 7 and 7 Plus could be a workaround to a laptop if you take a bluetooth keyboard along on your flight to the US. Pawan Singh / The National
There is no two ways about it, business travellers from the UAE will struggle to be productive on board flights to the United States, now that the on-board laptop ban has taken effect. But there are ways to power on.
The cabin luggage ban covers electronic items with built-in batteries and plugs larger than 16 centimetres x 9.3cm.
This means smartphones such as the iPhone 7 Plus or Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge are allowed in the cabin, although “phablets” such as the Samsung Galaxy J Max will need to be packed away in the hold, along with tablets, e-readers and laptops. It is not ideal to work on a smartphone for a prolonged period but it’s “better than nothing”, says Saj Ahmad, the chief analyst at aviation intelligence company StrategicAero Research.
You can reach a “comfortable level of productivity” by pairing a large-screen smartphone (the iPhone 7 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge have 14cm displays, while the Huawei Mate 9’s screen is 1cm wider) with a Bluetooth keyboard such as the Logitech Multi-device K480, says Mike Priest, the editor of Stuff Middle East magazine.
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FAQ: Everything we know about the electronics ban on US flights
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Software such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint are available on many smartphones, Mr Ahmad says. And Mr Priest advises using cloud services such as Google Docs and Evernote to type up documents on your phone, then sync using on-board Wi-Fi or after disembarking, sorting out formatting on your laptop.
You can also work at the airport if you are flying Emirates, as it has introduced a laptop handling service – they will be collected at the gate just before passengers board, to be returned upon arrival in the US.
Etihad, on the other hand, has a US pre-clearance facility at Abu Dhabi airport, meaning passengers have to clear US immigration before getting to their gate. If a passenger forgets to remove a prohibited item from their hand luggage, Etihad will put it in a tagged box.
Both airlines have in-flight Wi-Fi and USB charging ports. If you do take an additional power bank, remember to check it falls within your airline’s allowable lithium levels.
But as Mr Ahmad suggests, you could go old school by printing documents or taking business publications to read on the plane in advance – or even use “good old-fashioned pen and paper”.
Q&A: Suzanne Locke expands on how to work on the plane without your devices:
How do I protect my laptop?
Back it up before you fly then bubble wrap it and put it in the centre of your suitcase, using clothes as “soft protection”, says Saj Ahmad of StrategicAero Research. You can also buy a shockproof laptop sleeve. Mike Priest of Stuff Middle East recommends a suitcase with a built-in GPS tracker such as the Bluesmart so you can keep tabs on your precious cargo, or tagging your device directly with a GPS gadget such as the Trackr. Bader Al Bader, the founder of the online travel agency Rehlat, suggests looking for reinforced, fire or stab-proof luggage. He also says that if you use “fragile” warning tape, it has the added bonus of getting your bag loaded on last – so off first.
Am I covered for laptop damage?
Generally travel insurance does not cover valuables placed in the hold against loss, theft or damage, and even if yours does, check the maximum sums insured. You should obviously lock your suitcase, but don’t forget that the lock has to be TSA-approved for US travel. However, since the ban some insurers have started extending baggage insurance cover to large electronic devices so check before you buy a policy.
How do I choose a portable keyboard?
PC World recommends you look for one made of aluminium and high-quality nylon or plastic, with important keys like return, tab, backspace, delete and shift where you’re used to them on your normal keyboard – and with a low battery warning light.
(Source: TheNational.ae)