Emirates Airlines: guidelines on laptops, tablet devices to US-bound travellers

Dubai International airport (DXB) is going to impose a ban on carrying any electronic device larger than a cell phone or smart phone, excluding medical devices into the aircraft cabin from Saturday (today), following new security directives, issued by the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Keeping the said restriction in view, the Emirates Airlines has announced to introduce laptop and tablet handling service for US flights, which enables US-bound passengers to use their laptops and tablets until just before boarding, said Emirates Airlines.
It further said that electronics ban did not apply to Emirates' US-bound flights via Milan and Athens and customers could continue to use smart phones on board, staying connected with mobile telephone services and free Wi-Fi and urged the passengers to pack their electronic devices into their check-in luggage to avoid delays.
Emirates customers travelling to the US via Dubai will be able to utilise their laptops and tablet devices on the first part of their journeys, and also during transit in Dubai.
They must then declare and handover their laptops, tablets, and other banned electronic devices to security staff at the gate just before boarding their US-bound flight. The devices will be carefully packed into boxes, loaded into the aircraft hold, and returned to the customer at their US destination. There will not be any charge for this service.
Customers should be aware that there will be a detailed search of all hand baggage on non-stop flights to the US from Dubai. They should therefore declare their devices before the search, or ensure their electronic devices are packed into their check-in luggage in the first instance.
Sir Tim Clark, president of the Emirates Airline said: "Our historical data shows that on Emirates' US flights, 90% of passengers using our onboard mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity services do so via their smart phones. Only 6% connect via their laptops, and 4% via their tablets. That is not to say that other passengers are not using their devices offline, but perhaps the silver lining to this is that they can now justifiably give themselves a break from their devices, enjoy our onboard service and catch up on the latest movies, music, and TV box sets that we have on offer."
From Saturday March 25 (today), travellers on non-stop flights to the US from Dubai International airport (DXB) will not be allowed to carry any electronic device larger than a cell phone or smart phone, excluding medical devices, into the aircraft cabin following new security directive, issued by the US TSA, applies to all passengers travelling on non-stop flights to the US from Dubai, including those in transit. However, the ban would not apply to Emirates' US-bound flights via Milan and Athens.