Jane Ruffino: Xenophobic attitudes in the air

The laptop in hand luggage ban currently affects nine airlines, and hits business travellers the hardest, but what if others follow?

About 15 years ago, I was on a Ryanair flight to Leeds-Bradford. During landing, the ceiling panel above the seat in front of me came loose and nearly bonked the head of the man sitting there. I caught the panel, and my seatmate clicked it back into place. My seatmate and I rolled our eyes.

He told me he travelled between Leeds and Dublin every week for work, and wow, could he tell ...