Is the previously proposed cessation of LAGs restrictions at a standstill?

[Melburnian1]

With a quick look at the AFF search function, I found threads in 2008 and 2010 that discussed whether the irritating 100ml individual container/ one litre maximum handcarry restriction on liquids,aerosols and gels ('LAGs') might soon end.

There was also this detailed 2010 assessment by Peter Harbison's self titled CAPA:

Australia leads the way in partly removing LAGs ban, but why is it not happening globally? | CAPA - Centre for Aviation

I have not heard much about this issue in recent months.

Are any plans to remove these restrictions either from Oz, or globally, on hold? If not, will they be implemented in 2016?

Surely passenger profiling should be aimed at looking for the dangerous, fanatical, culturally dissimilar individuals to the vast majority of Australians who are a tiny minority of air travellers rather than taking tubes of toothpaste from travellers at security screening points because the tube is 110ml rather than 100ml (and it may be half empty!) This is the approach that the Australian Border Force takes with regards to travellers who it believes may be trying to travel to proscribed regions (such as Syria).

Instances like this are thankfully extremely rare:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Airlines_Flight_434

While one can be accused of being 'simplistic' or perhaps 'trivialising' the subject through the use of imperfect analogies, more than a few individuals I have discussed this with come to the conclusion that, on balance, the current security screening at airports (and at the ground floor of office buildings as another example) is more about employment and creating an 'industry' than 'protecting us.'

We can walk up Swanston Street, Melbourne or through Pitt Street Mall in Sydney without security screening (albeit with CCTV cameras 'watching.') We can board public transport (including trains that carry thousands of passengers, such as in India, or 1000 - 1200 a trip as in peak hour Sydney or Melbourne) and stand on most railway station platforms worldwide without security screening.

Cynical? You be the judge.

 

[opusman]

My memory is that the anticipation was that new scanning technologies would render the restrictions unnecessary; presumably such technology has not yet been developed and/or widely deployed.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Wouldn't be waiting for a change - some public servants - and I use that term very loosely - may lose their jobs.

 

[Melburnian1]

opusman, yes, that's what I quickly read too.

 

[Austman]

Perhaps others have noted, along with me, that the 1L zip lock bags are now rare to find and you generally don't need to remove the LAGs?

There already seems to be a bit of leniency on LAG allowances at several airports.

I suspect new technology has largely replaced the need for LAG rules. But until the technology is universally rolled out the old rules have to stay there. And you never know if you will be subject to screening with older technology.

 

[RooFlyer]

Flew about in Nth America recently; I think it was at LAX that I noted a sign saying that liquids only in excess of 2 or 3 fluid ounces (from poor memory) - 60 to 90 mls - had to be put in the tray.

I frequently forget to take my plastic-bagged lags out of the side of my bag into the tray (mostly eye drops and the like 10-20mls) in Oz and o/s and I never get picked up on it, although I'm sure they can 'see' the items.

 

[Himeno]

My memory is that the anticipation was that new scanning technologies would render the restrictions unnecessary; presumably such technology has not yet been developed and/or widely deployed.

Such scanning technologies have been available and in use for years. It's just that the US doesn't want to buy Japanese designed scanning equipment.

At any rate, the liquid ban thing should never have happened in the first place.

 

[Melburnian1]

Himeno, for the benefit of us all, can you perhaps elaborate a little on why you suggest that the 'LAGs' ban was a mistake?

Ineffective against detecting items of concern? Window dressing? Political?

 

[Sdtravel]

To me it seems that inside Australia its not worried about that much but on flights to Australia its like we forgot to tell them
ie in HKG you now get checked for liquids on the ramp down to the plane. People stand there drinking their water bottle only to fill it up again on the plane.

I think 2 years ago i was checked for liquids coming back from the US just before boarding where as on a recent trip i dont believe I was checked at any stage.
when leaving there are no checks either domestically or internationally i dont recall.
I carried a can of Lynx in my backpack onto a plane last year on a SYD to BNE flight.