Why Your Electronic Devices Should Always Be Charged When Going Through Security

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Going through security can be a pain, especially for those who don’t prepare. In the U.S., most savvy travelers know how to zip through security checkpoints by getting TSA PreCheck and CLEAR and to place all of their loose belongings in their carry-on bag. I even take my belt off even though with TSAPre, you don’t have to. But I know that once in a while, it sets the metal detectors off and it’s a pain to go back.

If there are multiple security lines, I always scope out the crowd for length but also for who’s in it. In the movie Up In The Air, George Clooney’s character Ryan Bingham hilariously says, “Never get behind people travelling with infants. I’ve never seen a stroller collapse in less than 20 minutes. Old people are worse. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left on earth.” 

FYI: Ryan has never been behind me and my wife because we used a Doona stroller and we’d have that thing collapsed before he could put his briefcase on the conveyor belt!

If you think going through security in the U.S. is a pain, then you’ve never been through Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. It’s on another level and starts before you even enter the airport grounds. In the U.K., they don’t mess around either and their screeners have no problem holding you up for 30-45 minutes if your bag gets flagged for the stupidest thing.

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That’s why, when I travel through London’s Heathrow, I make sure all of my electronics (including the cords), and liquids (even a little tube of lip balm) are placed in a bin so they don’t take what seems like hours to go through your bag.

Well, one thing I just learned about going through UK airports from Sammy Vagabond, an English travel content creator, is: “Electronic devices with no charge ? – If you cannot turn on your devices when requested by security, they can confiscate it, placing your vacation contents in jeopardy.”

 

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A post shared by Sammy | Travel Content Creator (@sammyvagabond)

Sammy’s right. This is straight from the UK Government’s website: “Make sure your electronic devices are charged before you travel. If your device does not switch on when requested, you will not be allowed to take it onto the aircraft.”

Besides having your device confiscated (which would SUCK), traveling with a portable charger like this one is always a good idea because a dead device is a useless one and you won’t be able to use it in an emergency, make a phone call, send a text, get an Uber, find directions, find a last-minute hotel, order a pizza … that’s why a portable charger is the one thing flight attendants say they never travel without.

I suspect most travelers leave home with fully charged devices but throughout a travel day, phone batteries can drain quickly, especially if you’re using your device for hours on the plane, watching movies or playing games. If you’re landing somewhere and connecting and need to go through security again, you’ll want to make sure you can charge your device, so always make sure you have a portable charger on you.

All of this is good information to have since it could seriously make or break your trip. Always make sure you know the security rules of any country you’re traveling to.

H/T The Sun