Britons are advised to be aware of a lesser-known airport regulation that could lead to the confiscation of their phone or laptop even before boarding their flight. This rule is enforced at airport security and has caught some passengers off guard, especially those traveling with airlines like TUI, British Airways, Ryanair, or easyJet, as the airlines themselves do not actively enforce it.
Most travelers carry at least one electronic device in their luggage, such as a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop, likely containing important documents or entertainment for the journey. However, if your device’s battery is completely drained when passing through airport security, you might encounter a problem. All electronic devices must be functional upon request, and security personnel have the authority to ask passengers to power them on.
Failure to comply due to a dead battery could result in being denied boarding or having to abandon the item. The UK government’s official travel guidance emphasizes the necessity of ensuring that electronic devices are charged before travel, as devices that fail to power on upon request will not be allowed on the aircraft.
Consequences for carrying an uncharged device in your hand luggage vary based on the airport and airline. If you have not checked your baggage yet, you can place the device in your checked luggage to be stored in the hold.
British Airways advises passengers to ensure all items in their hand baggage are fully charged and operational before reaching the airport. If a device is not charged, they recommend placing it in checked baggage. Additionally, they caution travelers connecting to preserve device power during the journey, as airport charging points may be limited.
For London-Heathrow passengers flying with British Airways, those with drained batteries may need to reschedule their flight to allow time for recharging, potentially incurring a fee. Alternatively, passengers can leave items at Bagport, the lost property office, and arrange for retrieval at their destination.
TUI alerts passengers that all electronic devices in hand luggage must be fully charged when passing through airport security due to new security measures. They recommend keeping devices on until boarding, as additional checks may occur at the departure gate.
Apart from low battery concerns, easyJet and Jet2 prohibit damaged batteries among their list of banned items. Jet2 explicitly states that damaged personal electronic devices and spare lithium batteries or power banks are forbidden from carriage under any circumstances.
Ryanair suggests keeping your phone charged but does not provide further guidance. If a smartphone or tablet dies before airport security and online check-in has been completed, a complimentary boarding pass can be obtained at the airport. However, what options are available if security bars passage due to a dead device is not specified.
To learn more about airport security regulations, visit the gov.uk website.
