When Homeland Security announced an electronics ban on flights from (and through) certain Middle Eastern airports, I had advice to share — see my article A Pro Photographer’s Solutions to the Airline Electronics Ban — but a lot of questions too. That’s because I needed to fly with all my camera gear on one of the flights affected by the ban. I just got back. Here’s what happened and what I learned.

I had no problem bringing electronic items into Morocco. The problem was getting them back to the States, since I was flying Royal Air Maroc from Casablanca (one of the affected airports) to New York. Luckily, Wendy was flying back from Morocco on a different route (via Europe) with no ban, so she carried my most expensive camera gear in her carry-on. She had no issues whatsoever. But here’s what happened when I arrived at Casablanca airport with the remainder of my gear.

Signage about the electronics ban at the Royal Air Maroc check-in desk. Photo: Tim Baker

At Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, the check-in area for New York–bound passengers was roped off from other flights. At the entrance, an official asked each passenger whether they had electronics in their carry-on and advised them to move these items to their checked baggage. I had already packed my remaining camera and lenses in my checked bag, but as a test I’d left my smallest camera in my carry-on. This compact camera is about the same size as a cell phone, and the Homeland Security website states:

Electronic devices larger than a cell phone/smart phone will not be allowed to be carried onboard the aircraft in carry-on luggage or other accessible property. Electronic devices that exceed this size limit must be secured in checked luggage.

My compact camera made it through without being questioned. Photo: Tim Baker

The New York-bound passengers were co-mingled with other international fliers for the security checkpoint, which went exceptionally smoothly. Too smoothly, I thought, considering that it was operating under a heightened alert.

At the gate, I was at the end of a long line of passengers. Six security staffers were rummaging through each carry-on bag. The man inspecting my bag missed my compact camera, and I was green-lighted. My children, Charlie and Doug, were carrying their Nintendo DS game consoles with them in their backpacks. The inspector missed Doug’s but found Charlie’s. He showed it to several other inspectors and got mixed answers. Several times he returned it to the backpack and looked ready to send us on our way. After several minutes of confusion and consternation, he called over a supervisor, and it was finally determined that the game console could not be in the cabin.

Charlie and his console were then directed to a staffer at a small table, where the game console was placed in an individual padded paper pouch. Charlie was given a baggage claim check. The pouch was placed with a dozen others, including several laptops. He retrieved it at baggage claim at JFK. Of course, all this time, Doug’s exact same Nintendo DS game console had been allowed to remain in his carry-on.

At the gate. The staffer on the right is packaging confiscated items to be put in the baggage hold of the plane. Photo: Tim Baker

Here are my three biggest takeaways from this experience of the electronics ban:

* The rules are way too vague, and thus enforcement is inconsistent. Too much is left to the discretion of individual inspectors.

* At affected airports, you may find long lines for U.S.-bound passengers. So, if you’re hoping to get something to eat or buy last-minute souvenirs at the airport, get there even earlier than planned.

* Like certain other affected airlines, Royal Air Maroc has a good system for handling devices that are confiscated during the final inspection and ensuring they are returned safe and sound to passengers after the flight.

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