The US is banning lithium batteries from cargo holds. The result will mean that all your phones, tablets, computers, music players, games consoles, and other rechargeable devices must be carried in hand luggage and tipped out onto trays to go through the metal detectors. Expect longer lines.
(Score: 2) by ledow on Saturday March 02 2019, @02:25PM
Have done this.
It requires no more planning that normal. Most airports will have packaging stands (who wrap your suitcase) who can do exactly that for you, even from the airport. It costs to do that way, though.
However, it's easier to just only take hand-luggage ("carry-on" to the US people!). Book with the right airline (even budget) and you get a hand-luggages per person and maybe more (I know that I flew BA to Spain recently and got large hand-luggage allowances, the second wasn't "guaranteed", but if it was put into the hold, they'd take it off you as you entered the plane, not make you pre-check it in). More than enough for a week's clothing, my laptop, all the essentials and presents for family. And no check-in / no waiting for luggage.
Sure, you might want to take some things they don't allow on hand-luggage but do in the hold, but I can't really think what, and certainly why I'd want to wait for my luggage to come out the other end just for those moments.
If I ran a big hotel, I'd partner with a courier and set aside a store room. You pack, send it to our courier, they get it to us *days* before you come to stay, we stick it in the storeroom and then put it in your room before you even get off the plane. Hell, I'm sure if you're a "celeb" of some kind, that's exactly what happens already.