New TSA Rule Affects Travelers with Electronics

Don’t forget your charger.

On Sunday, in response to a directive issued last week by the Secretary of Homeland Security, the TSA rolled out security measures that may require travelers on some international flights bound for the U.S. to demonstrate that their electronic devices can turn on. Never before has it been more important to charge your electronics before traveling.

British Airways is the airline that has been most clear about how the directive will play out for travelers flying from the U.K to the U.S. In its notice about the new security regulations the airline specifies that this rule applies to all electronic devices, including tablets, phones, laptops, and ebooks. What happens if your electronics are out of juice when it comes time to turn them on for security officials? British Airways says “If you are unable to power up your electronic device you will not be allowed to fly. If it does not power up then it cannot be placed in your hand or hold luggage.”

This affects travelers flying from or through the U.K. en route to the U.S. It’s unclear so far whether this affects travel to the U.S. from other destinations as well.

Since the scope of the directive is still unclear, if you’re flying from an international destination to the U.S., it’s a good idea to travel with fully charged electronic devices. If you have a long flight or connecting flights, conserve battery life or recharge along the way.

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(Photo: Getty Images)