After initially insisting that it would be up to the passengers themselves to pay for uncharged mobile devices to be posted to their final destinations, Virgin Atlantic and BA have agreed to pay for all such shipments made.
There’s (slightly) good news for air travellers today who might be worries about having their devices confiscated prior to flying in or out of the US. Assuming you’re travelling with Virgin Atlantic or British Airways at least, the two airlines have confirmed that when and where unchanged gadgets are denied entry to any given aircraft, they themselves will pay to have them sent on to the passenger’s destination.
Or in other words, it won’t be the passengers that foot the bill.
The new restrictions were first implemented on selected transatlantic routes over the weekend, insisting that all electric devices must be charged and ready for demonstration in order to be allowed on an aircraft. However, the measures have now been extended to cover most of the UK and thousands more weekly routes.
US and UK authorities implemented the heightened security checks following intelligence that terrorists were close to readying a bomb that could be disguised as a mobile phone and would not set off any standard security alarms.
Though understanding of how essential the new measures were and are for safety, passengers lashed out at Virgin Airlines for initially insisting it would be up to travellers to pay for any uncharged devices to be sent on. This has now been overturned and it will in fact be the airline that pays for postage.
“We have in place a range of options if customers are not able to comply, when requested, with the new regulations,” said a spokesman for BA.
“Customers can ask to be rebooked on to a later service. If you wish to carry on the item as part of your hand luggage, you will need to ensure that the device can be charged ahead of your rebooked flight,”
“Alternatively, customers can leave the device behind and hand it to a member of our customer service team. You will be asked to complete a form and the item can be collected on your return to Heathrow or forwarded to an address of your choice.”