The laptop and tablet ban on planes is in effect. Passengers from the U.S. and the U.K. who are going to certain Middle East and North African countries are no longer allowed to pull out their devices from their carry-ons.
This ban, however, upsets parents traveling with children or special needs kids because they won't have anything else to keep them occupied during the long hour flights. How badly will this ban affect families? Here's what moms and dads need to know.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security set the ban on Tuesday, March 21. The countries covered in the ban include Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as per the Associated Press.
Direct flights from these countries with passengers heading to the United States will need to keep their devices in the checked-in luggage. Passengers in connecting flights from these countries via the United Kingdom will also need to adhere to the new travel rule.
Exempted from the ban are gadgets no bigger than mobile phones and medical devices. The ban also doesn't cover any American airline flying to and from the countries.
"The biggest danger from banning the iPad is crying babies," a Saudi national said, as per Vocativ. "Honestly, it's parents of small children who will be most negatively affected by the electronics ban," a Dubai native said.
When the Federal Aviation Administration allowed handheld devices and laptops on planes in 2013, parents embraced the ruling most among all other types of passengers. In many of these long-hauled flights, parents were the ones always bringing their laptops and tablets for their children, according to a survey, as per BBC.
In the absence of these devices, however, parents can either keep kids occupied with their mobile phones or go the old school route. Coloring books, puzzles and reading books are some of the suggested replacements. The children could also watch in-flight programs the airline provides for its passengers.
Homeland Security enforced the ban following threats of terrorist activities against Americans, Reuters reported. The agency mulled the decision for several weeks before the ruling took effect as a temporary security measure.
