The new rule was prompted by terrorism fears. Picture: AFP/Mark Ralston

And one of the big points of frustration is the risk of theft or damage of large devices, such as laptops and tablets, that now have to be packed in checked-in luggage.

Under the new rule, which will be enforced from Saturday, passengers cannot bring on board electronic devices larger than a smartphone when they fly to the US or Britain from airports across the Middle East and North Africa.

The US and British governments have cited intelligence that suggests passenger jets could be targeted via explosives planted in electronic devices in the cabin.

The Australian government said it would not follow the new rule.

But the new ruling is angering inconvenienced travellers, according to AFP.

“Is there anything else I should know before flying back home? Navy blue boxers not allowed? Should I shave?” asked an American expat living in Abu Dhabi who is travelling on a direct flight to the US next week.

The new directive bans electronic items larger than smartphones from the plane cabin on certain flights. Picture: AFP/Anwar AmroSource:AFP

At the airport in Tunis, a passenger flying to Canada via London said he needed to travel with his laptop and iPad. “It’s a personal thing,” he said. “Why do I have to put them in hold?”

Another traveller, in Lebanon, told AFP he planned to copy his laptop hard drive before an upcoming flight to London in case it disappeared or was damaged in transit.

ARE THESE ITEMS COVERED BY INSURANCE?

It’s not unreasonable for passengers to board a plane with laptops, cameras, tablets and other small electronics. Apart from these items being an increasingly popular form of entertainment on flights, carrying them on board is considered the best way to avoid damage or theft.

And that’s especially true in light of reports of checked luggage being mishandled by baggage handlers.

But many travellers will find expensive electronic items, such as laptops, cameras and iPads won’t be covered by travel insurance when packed with checked luggage.

“Unfortunately travel insurance doesn’t cover laptops, cameras, tablets or phones that are checked in as baggage during a flight, which poses an issue with the new ban,” Travel Insurance Direct travel expert Ash Zaman told news.com.au.

“Our advice is that if you’re going to be heading to the USA or UK, think about leaving the laptop at home if that’s an option. If you need to take it for work, talk to your employer about insurance coverage they have available.”

A Syrian passenger travelling to the United States through Jordan checks his laptop before entering the departure lounge at Beirut’s international airport. Picture: AFP/Anwar AmroSource:AFP

Finder.com.au’s travel expert Angus Kidman agreed personal electronic devices larger than 16cm x 9.3cm x 1.5cm probably wouldn’t be eligible for compensation through travel insurance.

“Damaged or lost luggage on a long haul flight isn’t uncommon, so the on-board electronics ban is especially concerning for those travelling internationally for business,” he told news.com.au.

“While generally electronic items in your checked baggage are not covered, it never hurts to ask. Check with your insurer to see what exactly they will cover when it comes to expensive electronic items in your checked luggage.”

He said airlines were responsible for providing compensation if luggage was lost in transit.

But Dean Van Es, chief executive of Fast Cover, said travel insurers may well have to pay up in cases where the airline forces the passenger to check in these items.

“Our vision from the beginning has been to make travel insurance fast and simple and while this new device ban has been made for safety reasons, we understand it will end up inconveniencing a lot of travellers,” Mr Van Es told news.com.au.

“There seems to be differing opinions among insurers, but it’s our understanding of the Insurance Contracts Act that travel insurance should provide cover if the airline forces you to check in devices such as laptops or tablets.

“We want to do our bit to make things simpler for our travellers, so regardless of what other insurers decide to do, Fast Cover will be providing cover for Australian travellers on the affected flights. People can still take their devices with them for business or on holidays and have one less worry knowing they will be covered.”

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

The US ban affects nine airlines from eight countries: Turkey, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The UK ban, meanwhile, affects flights out of Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Lebanon.

Angus Kidman said passengers travelling on those routes should try to leave their large electronic items at home, if possible.

If not, strategic packing could be their best bet.

“Pad your valuables carefully within your luggage,” he said. “Surrounding them with soft items should cushion them if the bag gets thrown around or dropped.”

He also said turning off your laptop before packing it would prevent the risk of it overheating in the bag.

The new rule was prompted by terrorism fears. Picture: AFP/Mark RalstonSource:AFP

“Email yourself copies of your most important documents so that if your baggage is lost or stolen, you’ll be able to access the necessities for your trip,” he added.

“And if you notice something is missing from your bag, report theft to local police immediately and make sure you receive documentation of your report.”

CABIN OR CARGO: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Both the US and UK governments have cited intelligence suggesting electronic devices could be used to bring down a passenger plane.

“From what we know, the [US] ban is linked to intelligence on Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula gathered by the US military,” said Mustafa Alani, a security analyst at the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center, according to AFP.

But questions have been raised over whether the cabin ban would be effective, or if electronic items stowed in the cargo hold would be just as dangerous.

A source speaking to CNN claimed the intelligence suggested al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was working on “battery bombs” that were powerful enough to bring down a passenger jet but small enough to be hidden in electronic items.

Experts told the Associated Press that while explosives in the cargo hold could be just as destructive as in the cabin, checked-in bags were scanned using more sophisticated technology.

But airline industry analyst Robert Mann told The Guardian filling a plane’s cargo hold with hundreds devices containing lithium-ion batteries increased the risk of fire and explosions, which were harder to detect and fight than fires in the cabin.