Reported in the Telegraph, British Airways have said that any passenger travelling to the US will be immediately banned from their flight if they fail to switch on any electrical device when asked.

It doesn't matter even if they offer to abandon the item or send it on separately.

In a statement on their website, the airline have also said that even any device bought within the confines of the airport lounge will also have to be charged and working before the traveller gets to the boarding gate.

Any traveller who is just making a transfer from one flight to another, will again, have to charge their phone if it died on the first leg of their journey.

British Airways said that this new move is based on advice from US authorities. New security measures were ordered by America on all direct flights amid fears that al-Qaeda has developed a new bomb that can evade the security checks that are currently in place.

Turning on an electronic device can show a security screener that the laptop computer or mobile phone is a working device and that its batteries are not hidden explosives. 

These new restrictions have already caused some confusion already at airports.

While British Airways are saying they will refuse anyone with a dead device, the British Government only advised that a flat electronic device would not be allowed on the plane and didn't mention that passengers themselves might be refused travel. 

Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines and Air France were all unable to outline their position on the matter.