Incredible that we're so addicted to our phones that they make us get rid of any liquid but we can still carry that firebomb with us into the cabin.
They're devices that are highly valuable (both monetarily and how much hassle it would be to lose it due to all the 2FA tied to it) and indispensable for modern life. They're not just toys, "addiction machines", entertainment etc. - and even if they were, despite what some puritans think, there is nothing wrong with entertainment if you're sitting in a plane for hours.
Prohibiting phones on flights completely would likely be a great way to cut air travel in less than half, because it would become too much hassle to bother with for many.
Requiring them to be checked would result in massive theft, and while it would reduce the risk of fire, any fires that would happen would have a much higher risk of being catastrophic. There's a reason why power banks are required to be in the cabin.
I have never paid more than $250 for a phone, and I hope I never will.
> all the 2FA tied to it
It’s not the brightest idea to use phone for 2FA, precisely because it’s so easy to break or loose a phone. Fortunately, 2FA algorithms are open and there’re equivalent desktop apps.
But if I were to speculate, I mean performance shows have yonder bags today. They could be checked in with the rest of luggage in special boxes that you pick up at luggage claim.
They're banned in checked luggage, yes, but this would be packed by the airport authority into specialized luggage compartments.
What they don't want is people taking liquids that aren't designed for human consumption.
As for the phone battery issue, yeah it is a problem, I guess the only solution would be to forbid any kind of battery powered device.
I bet lots of folks won't be happy with such regulation.
It would take care of flights for business purposes and increase selling books though.
The liquid rules were introduced in 2006 in response to a foiled terrorist plot involving explosives in soft drink bottles. But if you have 1 litre of liquids in small bottles, can't you just combine them to end up with a bomb?