Canada might follow US / UK on laptop / tablets ban on flights

Canada is still considering whether to follow UK and US in their laptop and iPad carry on ban on airlines flying from Middle Eastern countries. The ban came into effect this past Saturday March 25th. This basically means you are now allowed to use your laptop during your flight. You can still use it at the airport but not take it with you with your carryon. You have to check the items in.

Airports that are now part of the ban are as follows.

US is now banning the following airports:

Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Ataturk International Airport (IST)
King Abdul-Aziz International Airport (JED)
King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
Kuwait International Airport (KWI)
Mohammed V Airport (CMN)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)

UK is now banning airports located in:

Turkey
Lebanon
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
Jordan
Tunisia

Examples of larger electronic items are:

Laptops
Tablets
E-Readers
Cameras
Portable DVD players
Electronic game units larger than a smartphone
Travel printers/scanners

Some business travelers are wondering what they will now do on those long 15+ hour flights. Books are so last century. But it is not really about inconvenience you have also greater chance of your laptop or tablet getting stolen or broken in your checked in luggage. The best idea is to encrypt your laptop.

You can always try to book your flight to travel through Europe for example from Turkey and then onwards to the US. This way the ban would not apply to you. However be aware even on connecting flights through Canada – for example Dubai to Detroit and then on to Montreal – the ban will still applies.