I do wonder how many laptop bombs have endangered planes so far - vs. actual Li-ion battery fires.
Force laptops in the holds and watch planes crash when the inevitable battery fire happens. This policy will likely kill more people than the terrorist menace it is meant to protect against.
And that doesn't even consider the loss of business, because people simply won't fly without a laptop (or put it in the hold - considering how checked baggage is routinely treated). Not everyone is traveling for leisure and for business people a laptop is essential.
When a battery fire sends a plane down they will blame terrorists or something, not their policy. Have you seen anyone blame policy on the Brussels airport attack?
I don't agree that a laptop on a flight is "essential" for business people. While I always notice very few people using laptops on business class flights, after all the point of flying business class is so that you can get some rest to arrive fresh to work, one area where you do see laptop use is in business class lounges. Unfortunately this ban will affect that as you cant check-in hold luggage after departing the lounge.
That said I think people are blowing this way out of proportion, the point of your business trip should not be to do work on your laptop during the flight.. Surely you are making the trip to do something important and relevant on the other side. If your company wants you in a meeting on Monday morning on the other side of the Atlantic then I am sorry but not being able to use your laptop on a flight has nothing to do with the business justification for your trip. God forbid you actually get a break from working 24/7 on your flight. Why are people complaining about this..
I think you are missing the point. It isn't that business travelers need their laptops during the flight, but that most don't check any luggage at all. When I was flying for business, I only traveled with hand luggage. No need to deal with the hassle of checking a bag, when all my clothes for the next few days can fit into a carry on bag.
The problem isn't being deprived of the use of the laptop in flight, it's that you're separated from the laptop, which increases the chance it will be damaged / stolen (especially given that bags can only be locked with TSA approved locks).
Force laptops in the holds and watch planes crash when the inevitable battery fire happens. This policy will likely kill more people than the terrorist menace it is meant to protect against.
And that doesn't even consider the loss of business, because people simply won't fly without a laptop (or put it in the hold - considering how checked baggage is routinely treated). Not everyone is traveling for leisure and for business people a laptop is essential.