New scanners for liquids on trial at SYD/MEL from today

[markis10]

New airport scanning technology for liquids and gels to be trialled at Melbourne and Sydney airports could end the annoyance of forfeiting duty-free perfumes and alcohol at security checkpoints for international flights.......Federal transport minister Anthony Albanese says the scanners have the "potential" to remove the need for passengers to forfeit oversize containers of shampoo, water, soft drink, hair product and alcohol before they board an international flight.
The new scanners will be trialled for two weeks at Melbourne Airport's international terminal from today, and from November 29 in Sydney.

Read More at : New scanners at Australian airports may let you keep your liquids

Could be a good move, despite the rules now being quite old there are still everyday issues with people being given the wrong advice.

 

[oz_mark]

Given recent US and UK restrictions, they'll need a scanner for printer toner soon too :shock:

 

[munitalP]

thank God for common sense at last. The only ones who have benefited from this stupidity have been the duty free shops who have been profiteering from our inability to carry liquid. Watch AU duty free prices drop in the coming weeks...

munitalP

 

[kpc]

As a contact lens wearer, this liquid restriction has been a nightmare for OS travel. My contact lens solutions are only available in 120 ml containers in Australia:shock:, and I can only get the 30 ml travel sized containers in the US which has been a hassle....usually order it online, and get it delivered to the hotel that I / family are arriving at.

I have to place the larger 120ml containers in my checked luggage, and there is no guarantee that my baggage will arrive at the same time I do, not to mention needing to use it onboard. Had a major argument at Sin, even offered to taste the solution, before a supervisor came along, stared into my eyes to confirm that I was wearing contact lenses, then allowed me to take the 120ml container onboard:!:

 

[NM]

thank God for common sense at last. The only ones who have benefited from this stupidity have been the duty free shops who have been profiteering from our inability to carry liquid. Watch AU duty free prices drop in the coming weeks...

I believe a lot of the lobbying for the current rules was played out by the airport owners. With the rules channelling passengers to purchase their DF at inflated prices at their Australian port of entry, the airport owners saw the opportunity to increase rents under the guise of improved facilities. Of course the facilities improvement was making sure all passengers, inbound and outbound, have to walk right through their retail areas.

So the ultimate winners are the airport owners who charge higher rents to the DF shops who can earn higher profits because the government has retained the status queue after the initial knee-jerk reaction and all under the unjustified guise of enhanced security. Why? see above.

So the winners are:

• Airport owners (higher rents)
• DF Shop owners (higher profits)
• Government (perception of security)

And the losers are:

• Passenger

Bring on these changes, I say. Its taken a lot longer to develop and certify these scanners than it has taken for the development and certification of the Nude-o-Scope.

 

[munitalP]

...

Bring on these changes, I say. Its taken a lot longer to develop and certify these scanners than it has taken for the development and certification of the Nude-o-Scope.

I was very surprised to read the ex boss of the TSA is now the owner of the company selling the Nude-o-Scope! I thought the LOTFLAP had many rules against this sort of thing...

 

[medhead]

I was very surprised to read the ex boss of the TSA is now the owner of the company selling the Nude-o-Scope! I thought the LOTFLAP had many rules against this sort of thing...

Maybe the former VP is involved as well. Or was Chaney defense secretary?

 

[anat0l]

I was very surprised to read the ex boss of the TSA is now the owner of the company selling the Nude-o-Scope! I thought the LOTFLAP had many rules against this sort of thing...

No one picked up on the equally business-unethical deal that went on with the humongous Iraq war contract and Halliburton-KBR.

What were you expecting?

 

[NM]

I was very surprised to read the ex boss of the TSA is now the owner of the company selling the Nude-o-Scope! I thought the LOTFLAP had many rules against this sort of thing...

Maybe the former VP is involved as well. Or was Chaney defense secretary?

No one picked up on the equally business-unethical deal that went on with the humongous Iraq war contract and Halliburton-KBR.

What were you expecting?

It seems they can get away with anything under the excuse of "security"

 

[medhead]

In terms of the liquid scanners taking longer to develop that nudeamatic. At am educated guess I would say the liquid scan was harder technology. Nude o scope basically involves measuring the same radiation that it emits. Whereas the liquid scan has to fire radiation at the liquid that will be absorbed by the substances of interest, which then reemits the energy absorbed as different radiation that has to be detected and measured. At least that is how I guess it works and that's probably a bit complex.

 

[Sprucegoose]

As a contact lens wearer, this liquid restriction has been a nightmare for OS travel. My contact lens solutions are only available in 120 ml containers in Australia:shock:, and I can only get the 30 ml travel sized containers in the US which has been a hassle....usually order it online, and get it delivered to the hotel that I / family are arriving at.

I have to place the larger 120ml containers in my checked luggage, and there is no guarantee that my baggage will arrive at the same time I do, not to mention needing to use it onboard. Had a major argument at Sin, even offered to taste the solution, before a supervisor came along, stared into my eyes to confirm that I was wearing contact lenses, then allowed me to take the 120ml container onboard:!:

It should be considered medical?

 

[munitalP]

It should be considered medical?

Its not, my wife goes through the same drama... Crazy, but the rules. I am looking forward to these new scanners

 

[ethernet]

About time. This hurt tourism more than they would admit, now we just have to get over the infant formula hurdle (milk product banned).
As for the airports getting more money - not too likely, although Singapore has 2 prices - one for arrivals (high) one for departures(lower).

I thought liquid scanners had been in for a while, but maybe had to buy 'new' ones as the old ones were not 'certified' enough. (and pump up someones pockets). Besides the Triacetone Triperoxide scare is negligible risk, now that the planes have been modified against sudden err events.

Just in, is Australia Post climbing in on the scare. I'll just say it is very bad for business and Australian exports.

24 November 2010 | 11:04AM EST

Due to additional security measures, Australia Post have advised that articles over 453g and all Express Courier International and Express Post International services will be subject to an additional $9 security surcharge and may face transit delays of up to 48 hours.
International post regulations for each country can be found on Australia Post’s website here and any enquiries regarding the surcharge should be directed to Australia Post.
eBay is currently waiting for further news regarding the surcharge, however sellers are recommended to avoid using calculated shipping on items that ship to the US as the shipping calculator is not currently configured to include the surcharge.


Moving back to liquids, does that mean curries and snowglobes are back in?