Travellers have been warned about a little-known rule at airports that could result in their mobile phones or other electronic devices being confiscated. The regulation requires that all electronic devices carried in cabin baggage must be sufficiently charged to be turned on when requested by security staff.
According to the GOV.UK website, passengers must ensure their electronic devices are charged before travelling. If a device does not switch on when requested, it will not be allowed onto the aircraft. Security staff are permitted to ask travellers to turn on devices such as phones, laptops, and tablets, and can confiscate any that fail to power up, deeming them a potential security risk.
Major airlines including British Airways, Ryanair, EasyJet, and TUI enforce this rule. British Airways advises passengers to keep devices fully charged and switched on before arriving at the airport, and to place any uncharged devices in checked baggage. TUI recommends keeping mobile phones switched on until boarding, as additional checks may occur at the departure gate.
The rule applies across UK airlines and was recently reported by the Manchester Evening News. Passengers are urged to charge their devices before heading to the airport to avoid the inconvenience of having them confiscated.
