Electronics ban on flights. :-(

The Lounge General Discussion
#1

My plan for DT was to use it for drums and samples, and also sample my A4 (which I am swapping for AK) into it, to keep gig travel a little lighter and more portable.
DT(full tracks) + AR(full tracks) + looper would be all I need.

Well this whole business with the TSA considering getting more strict on laptops and similarly sized electronics on flights from europe to USA has me reconsidering my DT purchase.
They’re saying even tablets might not even be allowed as carry-on.

I really hope they get things sorted out, as I refuse to check any gear as under-carriage.
The few times in my life I have allowed that to happen have all resulted in damage and/or theft. In all instances, it was made worse by the fact that $value of undercarriage luggage is priced by the pound.

I’ve already had some airlines ask me to check my carry-on size compliant hardcase (HPRC 2550w, that holds 3 Elektrons) as undercarriage luggage because it “looked” to them to be too big. The only thing that allowed me to keep it with me as carry-on was demonstrating its size compliance at the gate, or in the aircraft, showing it fits just fine in the bin.

If that won’t even matter, and the fact that it is an electronic device larger than a smartphone means it will have to go underneath, well then I may as well just go back to DJing as performance.

Ugh!

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Introducing Digitakt
Digis in carry on bags for flight (Lufthansa)
#2

The travel restrictions in the US are so damn ridiculous. I hate flying anymore, it’s become such a joyless experience. Between being irradiated and molested by security I can’t see the point to flying anymore.

3 Likes
#3

Jeez, what’s next?
Don’t let TSA make you leave your hardware, that would be terrible… Hopefully it doesn’t happen but maybe you could rent the gear or team up with another performer that has the gear and load your projects from sysex… :confused:
Edit: by leave your hardware I mean don’t go back to DJing because of this…

#4

I have been in US only a few times and whole flight from Europe just sucks, but this is just ridiculous.

#5

Flying anywhere with gear already sucks. Lame they’re looking at making it even harder :frowning:

1 Like
#6

God this fucking sucks. RIP international live sets

#7

Tour australia. Problem solved.

9 Likes
#8

We should organise an Elektronauts bush doof. Now that would be epic.

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#9

One would think so, but sadly two of my stolen / broken experiences with gear were both on Qantas.

1- Firewire interface that magically disappeared
2- Yamaha SU-700 that got put back into a (custom fit) case knobs down instead of up = shot encoders.

Both were gear that I was forced to check as undercarriage when I checked in. Both were carry-on size compliant. There are simply no guarantees and this new policy, if enacted, would make that even worse.

#10

Qantas sucks.

#11

If folks stop flying because of this nonsense itll change…but the world is full of sheep…

#12

Lame

They better offer some kind of reinforced cargo protection as a result

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#13

Remember.

If domestic flight terminals in the USA had had the same level of security in 2001 that every podunk airport in the rest of the world had at the time, 9-11 would not have happened.

The concept seems to be: close the stable door after the horses have bolted. Close it so fucking hard that the whole stable falls down.

#14

All that woulve been needed was a permanently closed cock pit…no access to cockpit from cabin…easy as…they know this but want to control u.

#15

Well a lockable cockpit door is not the smartest all around solution as ‘germanwings’ proved.

#16

Depending how bad it gets there’ll be a lot more ‘just pressing play’ at shows. Or maybe Elektron will start up swap-shops at airports :wink: Drop your Elektrons at Heathrow before boarding, for someone coming from US, grab someone else’s at JFK :wink:

#17

Christ! I couldnt have survived past transatlantic flights without my Gameboy!

It’s a strange move. If someone really wanted to bring down a plane or some other shit then they’ll find a way regardless. That, in itself, is no excuse not to try and improve controls of course but blanket bans just dont seem, well, right.

I found this part interesting:

“which prevents all electronics larger than a smartphone from being taken on a plane as a carry-on”

When you force these people to work within much tighter limits, they’ll do it. And likely very convincingly. It’s like companies that switch from several cyber defence platforms to one all encompassing super duper cyber defence system. On paper, it can do stuff nothing else can but in reality it becomes the sole focus of attack and you’re left with a cat and mouse game into perpetuity.

Anyway, I didn’t need another excuse not to visit America again - Trump did that on his own! But when I do eventually head back on over to Disney or wherever I’ll be making sure I pay the extra £££’s for a flight with some serious entertainment packages. I’m in a cold sweat thinking about my kids reaction to not getting to play with anything for 9 hours.

3 Likes
#18

I often wondered the same when lugging an OT around… If i could just have had the CF card with me woulda saved a lot of pulling out the OT and demonstrating to some clueless airport employee.

#19

The thought, that airlines might want to generate new revenue streams by renting out access to their on-board entertainment systems rather than let you entertain yourself with your own electronic doo-dah.

Airlines don’t really make any money from economy passengers tickets anymore.

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#21

Where I live there is a national newspaper that sometimes features naked women as young as 16 on page 3 (or at least they used to, its not the sort of newspaper i buy). This paper is available at the airport. Always wondered if one would get done for child porn if you bought a copy and flew to certain other places in the world with it.

I vaguely recall a guy from holland who had not carefully emptied his pockets of fully legal organic products before flying to UAE and running into trouble.