TERROR THREAT: UK airports face crisis as smartphones banned on ALL flights#TheElitePartyinJuly #IRepEntertain9jarBlog #RIPBrazil via @myentertain9jar

MILLIONS of British holidaymakers face a summer of hell as the panic mounts over airline terror threat

 

Smartphones are being banned on all flights from the UK if they can't be switched on[ GETTY]

Airports across the UK are facing chaos today as new rules on smartphones and tablets come into force.

All passengers leaving Britain must now prove their electrical devices have enough power to be switched on.

If your phone has run out of battery you will face not being allowed to fly.

These latest secruity measures couldn't have come at worse time, as millions of Brits prepare to fly off on their summer holidays.

And families could now face hours of delays and cancellations as airports struggle to implement the new rules.

Passengers with devices that won't switch on have the choice of leaving them at the airport or rebooking onto a different flight.

But Heathrow, which deals with more than 190,000 customers every day, has already admitted that it currently has no plans in place to deal with these latest measures.

And the UK's biggest airline, British Airways, had warned its passengers that they faced being barred from flights if their phones had run out of power.

Security has now been tightened at all UK airports [PA]

However this information has now been revised, with BA saying: “Please do all you can to ensure that any electronic device you have is fully powered before you arrive at the airport.

“There will be very limited facilities at airports to charge electronic items.

“If, when requested, you are unable to power up your electronic device, then it cannot be placed in your hand or hold luggage and will not travel on the flight.

“Customers can ask to be rebooked on to a later service or can leave the device behind and hand it to a member of British Airways’ customer service team.

“The item can be collected on your return to Heathrow or forwarded to an address of your choice.”

Virgin Atlantic and BA will get your phone back to you free of charge [ VIRGIN ATLANTIC]

The UK is facing a constantly evolving threat from terrorism

Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary

If customers decide to leave their phone behind, BA will return it for free.

Virgin Atlantic originally said that passengers would foot the biil but they have now brought their policy in line with British Airways.

The ban on none-working smartphones was originally put in place by US security forces.

But now the UK appears to be concerned about a possible terror threat.

The Department of Transport has updated its guidelines, saying: "In line with the US advice, passengers on some routes into and out of the UK may now also be required to show that electronic devices in their hand luggage are powered up or face not being allowed to bring the device onto the aircraft.

"Passengers flying into or out of the UK are therefore advised to make sure electronic devices being carried in their hand luggage are charged before they travel."

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told Parliament that the UK faced "a constantly evolving threat from terrorism".

And he confirmed that there would be no change to the UK terror threat level, which remained at "substantial".

US officials confirmed last week that has recieved a "credible" terrorist threat.

And experts have pointed to Islamic militants in Syria and Yemen who may be planning to build bombs that evade airport security checks.

So the advice is clear - if you are travelling to any UK airport, make sure all your electrical devices are fully charged.