If you're planning a trip to or from England, take note - hand luggage has been banned! This means that you can't carry even a handbag or purse on the plane and your pockets must be empty. Following security alerts and arrests of 21 people Thursday in the UK, the Department of Transport issued new restrictions. Effective immediately "all cabin baggage must be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing UK airports."
In a single plastic carrier bag, passengers can take only the following items:
- Pocket-size wallets and pocket-size purses (containing money, credit cards, identity cards) but not handbags or briefcases.
- Travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets)
- Prescription medicines sufficient for the flight (eg, diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic
- Eyeglasses and sunglasses, without cases
- Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution
- Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (tampons and pads)
- Tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs
- Keys (no electrical key fobs)
- Passengers travelling with an infant can carry only baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger) and sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags)
- All electrical or battery-powered items including laptops, mobile phones, iPods and remote controls must be checked in as hold baggage.
- All passengers must be hand searched and their footwear and items they are carrying must be screened.
Pushchairs, strollers and walking aids also must be screened, while only airport-provided wheelchairs may pass through screening points. In addition, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all items they are carrying - including those acquired after the central screening point - will be subjected to a secondary search at the boarding gate. Any liquids - including water - discovered will be taken from the passenger. British Airways said passengers failing to comply with government restrictions on luggage and other items would not be allowed on its planes.
A Heathrow Airport spokesman said that airport shops remain open and that passengers could still buy duty-free items and take them on board. However, all items carried by passengers on flights to the US will be checked at the boarding gate.
The persons who came up with this never had to travel with BWee or Air India or those rules would be null and void.
I can just image travelling to England checking in my laptop and other important docuements and then realizing when I get there already late for these are crafts havent managed to get it right, only to hear sorry madam we cant find your suitcases.
Posted by: Czerina | 21 January 2007 at 16:12
lol. And next, no clothing and all heads must be guaranteed emptied before approach of terminals. Governments are giving comedians a hard run for their money.
Posted by: Pearl | 12 August 2006 at 16:31
I will be travelling to the UK on the 22nd (from India). I am so hoping there will be an amendment to the handbaggage rules by the time I leave. I cannot imagine not being able to carry a book with me on the 10-hour flight. I know they will have inflight magazines, but it's not the same. At the same time, I totally understand and appreciate that these rules have been put in place for the safety of the passengers, still, I can't help but wish we were allowed reading material!
Posted by: lotusreads | 12 August 2006 at 05:23
The person with the electronic car keys could get some non-electronic ones? Or leave a spare set with someone in the city where the car is? And get a prescription for the tylenol etc. In Auckland (NZ) passengers travelling to the US aren't allowed to take on board alcohol bought at the duty free store. How is that a risk? It's sealed! I understand the restrictions, really, but if you are travelling from New Zealand it is a very long flight to anywhere, and not being allowed reading matter, laptop, bottle of water etc will make for a very uncomfortable flight - I gather that the airline staff weren't prepared so didn't have extra water etc for the passengers not able to take their own on board. If it continues for long, they will certainly need to have extra supplies.
Also, if laptops are not allowed in the cabin, will the airlines insure them in the hold? In the past they haven't been covered for damage in checked baggage.
Posted by: Catherine | 11 August 2006 at 09:24
You know, I'd much rather check everything and be safe than to have all my extra "comforts" with me. It's been a long time since flying was a pleasure anyway, long before 9/11. With that being said, airlines better start adding a little more creature comforts (which, of course, won't happen) if this is the future in flying. The thought of having to wait for a "cart" to come around with some water almost sends me in to a tizzy! And I always have xanax with me in case we are hijacked! (paranoid, I know, but I've had 6 (yes six!) for years--way before 9/11, and they are my security blanket! Never taken one, but I know they're there!! So old now, they probably wouldn't even work! hehe). Oh dear. (Probably TMI, too much information....ha.)
It will all sort itself out again, as usual; and we will become lax again until the next time something new is found. Same ol' same ol'.
The hub leaves for Beijing tomorrow, and I'll wait to see what he says when he arrives.
I always enjoy your view on things, Tara. Thanks for the information you provide us, very thought provoking and informative.
Posted by: Rosa | 11 August 2006 at 07:42
Tara-- Don't mind me. I'm grumpy. This crap just made me grumiper. All of it.
;)
Posted by: Amber | 10 August 2006 at 20:10
I heard part of a radio interview last night on, I believe NPR (the reception was terrible), Arab-American comedienne Maysoon Zayid (who has cerebral palsy and who actively volunteers time and money towards Palestinian children who are injured or disabled) about her most recent trip to volunteer for these kids, & she told how she had been strip-searched (which she said she understood about) however, she was on her period & when they returned her clothing, they didn't return her kotex. When she asked for it they refused her. They wouldn't allow her to even buy any from the duty-free, and sent a disabled woman in a wheelchair covered with her own blood onto the airplane. She stated the Istraeli security personnel KNEW her - knew she was an American citizen and a semi-celebrity comedienne who has visited there many times to volunteer, yet they refused her this common decency. I've been trying to find out more about this incident, but have been unable to so far - if you're able to find anything out through your resources, Tara, please let me know. As a woman, as an American, as a human being - I'm outraged by this senseless humiliation. At least she said when she finally was allowed to board Continental to go home, the Continental employees were very sympathetic and helpful to her, helping her clean-up and find clean clothing. So kudos to Continental - at least they have a heart!
Posted by: tinker | 10 August 2006 at 18:39
Amber, no one is saying trying to be safe is an over-reaction. But until the British police and Scotland Yard who are conducting the investigation release the information they have, blaming Al Qaida or any other terrorist organisation is purely speculative. So far the information suggests those arrested are British-born. Whatever group they are affiliated with, obviously the threat is very serious and is being taken seriously, by governments and airlines around the world. But I stress that this is a British investigation and therefore the British are in a position to know more than the Americans about details - and not once has a single British official or reporter uttered the term Al Qaida - that is until reporters started quoting Cherthoff's highly speculative remark many hours after British police and officials had conducted numerous press conferences on the matter.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 10 August 2006 at 17:23
I am at a loss. I am. I don't understand how trying to be safe is an over-reaction. SHIT ACTUALLY HAPPENS, people. Even to us.
I understand not wanting to be manipulated with fear, and I agree that some of this has been happening. BUT when ones first reaction is "stupid government just trying to control us again", before we know more of the story, (like the government officials do, hmm?), then I think one needs to check and see how political THEY are being, instead of level headed.
I have TWO brothers who work for Home Land, here in the US, btw. One is very Liberal and hates Bush. And THAT is the one who has been saying on the sly to us ,that "something big" was happening, and not to fly out of the country. ;)
:)
Posted by: Amber | 10 August 2006 at 17:08
Kristen, I don't know about in the US, but in the UK, no toys, books, makeup, moisturizer, papers, anything like that allowed on the plane. I can't imagine traveling with small children amidst all these restrictions. I suppose next the airlines will start charging $5 for a bottle of water, as we're not allowed to bring our own.
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 10 August 2006 at 16:13
This does make travel nervewracking right now--Why do people have to hurt innocent people to make their point. It's a crazy world.
Posted by: nancy | 10 August 2006 at 16:03
I saw in the news what you just mentioned here and it is sad, frustrating and I'm so fed up with these terror threats. I leave tomorrow for California and I know it's going to be a pain at the airport with security that's why i'm leaving my house no later than 5 a.m. Thanks for this post
Posted by: cathy | 10 August 2006 at 15:30
I was wondering the same thing this morning, that Laura wrote in her comment.
I already hate air travel so much and it is really sad that it's come to this. Because I don't think the UK is going to be the only place that will require this type of travel restrictions. I hope we can still take a book or toys for my girl. The flights are freaking long (from the US or across to CA which is where we mainly fly) and they certainly don't provide you with good food OR entertainment. I'm just sad about the world.
Posted by: kristen | 10 August 2006 at 15:22
hee hee. no, we cool, we calm, we collected - but sensible? no more than any other.
hey, less of the english! it was a scots fella what ordered this! i think there are more scots in government now than englishmen. do we fight each other over this? no, because there's not much mention of english and scots in any holy books and neither of them has been ''chosen'' for any dubious purposes. i guess we like to do our own choosing. ;o)
seriously though, this situation has followed several arrests of an alleged bomb plot of ''up to 10 planes'' bound for US. it's probably a prudent, short-term solution - until more information is in.
now why can't they act this sharp in other matters?
Posted by: ian russell | 10 August 2006 at 15:21
so this means that I won't be going to England. I won't travel without tylenol, benadryl and pepto at the ready. and there is no way i'm letting my car keys (which are electronic) out of my personage. if they get lost in the luggage hold, how will me and my car get home from the airport?
the english are usually so sensible. how did this overreaction happen?
Posted by: ally bean | 10 August 2006 at 15:02
the latest news, tara, is the cancellation of most flights into and out of UK.
Posted by: ian russell | 10 August 2006 at 13:59
I'm so deeply distrustful of information of this kind (the alleged foiling of terrorist schemes) coming from the US government, and to a lesser extent, from the UK government. In the US, the government has manipulated public emotion cynically and ruthlessly since 9/11, in the attempt to keep fear levels high, to justify their own not- so- hidden agendas. I will wait to see what facts, if any, we can discern from ensuing reports about this incident.
Posted by: Laura | 10 August 2006 at 12:48