Major UK air disruptions

[Maca44]

So what can you carry on board?

I am flying to the USA in two weeks and I purchased a 30gb ipod with the 30 day pre departure time so I could take advantage of the Tourist Refund Scheme and also to download music etc for the flight.

The latest security update on the Qantas website states:

US Travel Advice
Immediate changes to carry-on baggage
The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has determined that there is a high risk of terrorism against US civil aviation and the need for extra restrictions to assure the security of air travel have been introduced.
Effective immediately, passengers cannot carry liquids and gels in the aircraft cabin, within carry on luggage. This includes (but is not limited to) the following items:

• beverages (including duty free purchases),
• shampoos,
• suntan lotions,
• creams,
• toothpastes,
• hair gels and other items of a similar consistency.

Qantas recommend any such items be placed in checked baggage before progressing to check-in.
Excluded from the measures are baby formula or juice, if a baby or small child is travelling. Prescription medicine (including insulin) is allowed provided the name on the prescription matches the name on the passenger's ticket.
Other non-prescription medicines are allowed provided they are essential (only in sufficient quantities for the flight), except medicines in liquid form unless verified as authentic.
Given these restrictions, passengers are requested to not purchase items, including, for example, alcohol, perfume, liquid make-up at any of the retail outlets in the departure area. These items will not be permitted on-board the aircraft. Please also note fountain pens containing ink cartridges may not be carried in cabin unless the ink cartridges are removed. If this is not possible pens must be placed in checked baggage.
All passenger footwear will also have to be x-ray screened prior to departure.

The QF Site does not say anything about not carrying laptops, ipods etc onto the flight, and from reading the above it would appear you can still take a carry on bag at Sydney. (Now is that for flights "other" than the USA??). It does not say you can't take a carry on, only that you can't have liquids etc which is totally understandable given the present security climate.

So does anyone know what you can or can't take onto a flight to the USA, or it just your passport??.

Insofar as the Tourist Refund Scheme is concerned where you take your purchased through Customs and Immigrations before getting the refund at the TRS counter I contacted Customs and they advised that if you have items that you have purchased under the scheme, and are not allowed to take them onto a flight you can show the goods and tax invoice at the Customs Office on the ground floor of SYD, and after inspecting the goods and invoice they will stamp it and you can then pack your goods into your checked luggage.

 

[Mal]

AFAIK, the limitations on all hand luggage only apply to flights ex UK (in particular LHR).

Flights to the USA from Australia just have the liquid/gel ban as you explain, plus tighter checks on shoes etc.

This may change. Things are still unsettled with the rules and regulations regarding what is going to be allowed in cabins, so this may be relaxed or tightened in the next couple of weeks.

I also understand that US immigration are doing stronger checking/screening of passengers before the flight, so it may be delayed for a little while on tarmac before the flight is approved to leave.

 

[Dave Noble]

Given that the state of hand luggage restrictions may well be eased ( I suspect ) within 2 weeks , I would suggest waiting till closer to the time

Dave

 

[redrat]

I'm about four hours away from leaving France en-route to Australia - into the UK via Gatwick and out via LHR.
Where I'm usually relaxed I feel slightly apprehensive given BA's penchance for running late and the queues into LHR. Thankfully the QF lounge has PC's where I can possibly let you know what it's like. Of course that's only if I get any time in the lounge at all.
One thing I'm looking forward to is the FC upgrade I managed to secure using points (60K).

 

[clifford]

Re: So what can you carry on board?

I am flying to the USA in two weeks and I purchased a 30gb ipod with the 30 day pre departure time so I could take advantage of the Tourist Refund Scheme and also to download music etc for the flight.

The latest security update on the Qantas website states:

US Travel Advice
Immediate changes to carry-on baggage
The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has determined that there is a high risk of terrorism against US civil aviation and the need for extra restrictions to assure the security of air travel have been introduced.
Effective immediately, passengers cannot carry liquids and gels in the aircraft cabin, within carry on luggage. This includes (but is not limited to) the following items:

• beverages (including duty free purchases),
• shampoos,
• suntan lotions,
• creams,
• toothpastes,
• hair gels and other items of a similar consistency.

Qantas recommend any such items be placed in checked baggage before progressing to check-in.
Excluded from the measures are baby formula or juice, if a baby or small child is travelling. Prescription medicine (including insulin) is allowed provided the name on the prescription matches the name on the passenger's ticket.
Other non-prescription medicines are allowed provided they are essential (only in sufficient quantities for the flight), except medicines in liquid form unless verified as authentic.
Given these restrictions, passengers are requested to not purchase items, including, for example, alcohol, perfume, liquid make-up at any of the retail outlets in the departure area. These items will not be permitted on-board the aircraft. Please also note fountain pens containing ink cartridges may not be carried in cabin unless the ink cartridges are removed. If this is not possible pens must be placed in checked baggage.
All passenger footwear will also have to be x-ray screened prior to departure.

The QF Site does not say anything about not carrying laptops, ipods etc onto the flight, and from reading the above it would appear you can still take a carry on bag at Sydney. (Now is that for flights "other" than the USA??). It does not say you can't take a carry on, only that you can't have liquids etc which is totally understandable given the present security climate.

So does anyone know what you can or can't take onto a flight to the USA, or it just your passport??.

Insofar as the Tourist Refund Scheme is concerned where you take your purchased through Customs and Immigrations before getting the refund at the TRS counter I contacted Customs and they advised that if you have items that you have purchased under the scheme, and are not allowed to take them onto a flight you can show the goods and tax invoice at the Customs Office on the ground floor of SYD, and after inspecting the goods and invoice they will stamp it and you can then pack your goods into your checked luggage.

For what it's worth, here are the contents of an email I recently received from UA (it pays to be with a reliable airline):

Dear Mr Clifford,

In light of heightened security, United recommends taking
the following steps to ease your travel experience.

New Transportation Security Administration rules are now
in effect.

LAPTOPS, CELL PHONES, AND IPODS
------------------------------------------------------------
For passengers leaving the U.S, electronic devices and
carry-ons are allowed. For travelers leaving the U.K. for
the U.S., all electronic devices and carry-ons are
currently prohibited.

NO LIQUIDS OR GELS OF ANY KIND CAN BE CARRIED ON THE
AIRCRAFT - However they can be transported in checked
baggage.

ITEMS THAT FALL WITHIN THIS CATEGORY INCLUDE:
------------------------------------------------------------
. All beverages of any type in any size container,
including bottled water
. Shampoo
. Suntan lotion
. Creams
. Toothpaste
. Hair gel
. Other items of similar consistency

EXCEPTIONS THAT CAN BE CARRIED ONBOARD INCLUDE:
------------------------------------------------------------
. Baby formula, breast milk or juice, only if a baby or
small child is traveling
. Prescription medicine with a name that matches the
passenger's ticket
. Insulin and essential other non-prescription medications

All of these approved items must be presented for
inspection at the security checkpoint.

These measures will remain in place as circumstances warrant.
Updates about these procedures will be posted on united.com.

United has also waived its excess baggage fee for customers
who elect to check their carry-on baggage.

Please be aware that delays are expected, so plan to arrive
2 hours prior to scheduled departure times for both
domestic and international flights; for U.K. departures
allow 3 hours.

TO CHANGE YOUR TICKET OR ITINERARY
------------------------------------------------------------
Ticket policy changes are effective immediately for
customers with the following travel plans: Traveling August
10-September 1, 2006, with tickets purchased on or before
August 10. All United(R), United Express(R), Ted(SM) and
United code-share flights are covered under the policy.

To change your reservation, please contact United at
1-800-UNITED-1 or your travel agency.

To review our waiver and ticket policy click on the link
below.
http://???
United will do everything practical to ensure we provide the
most accurate flight status information at all times.
However, situations change quickly and many factors affect
our scheduled operations. Please visit united.com or call
1-800-UNITED-1 for flight status information. You may also
take advantage of:
. Our United EasyUpdate service, which automatically
provides flight status notifications via email, mobile
phone or pager.
. Our free customer-paging service, which will
automatically notify you of your flights' status via
email or your text-enabled cellular phone or pager.

At the airport you may check monitors located throughout the
terminal for flight status updates.

We will continue to work closely with the government in the
best interests of all our passengers.

 

[oz_mark]

You are quite right but this latest incident will change the way people travel in the skies.

What this means exactly is anyone's guess. You may be allowed to carry on books, newspapers, magazines etc but things like laptops, ipods, mobile phones, possibly even wrist watches will have to be left in checked baggage. Anything with the potential to cause a spark needs to be taken into consideration.

I'd be worried if I owned a duty free shop at an airport

 

[coco50]

I wish I were the entrepreneurial type. I would develop a clear plastic carry on item that would satisfy security requirements and give travellers a reasonably durable place to store items that you need to carry e.g passport, travel documents etc.

 

[Dave Noble]

The threat level has been reduced from Critical to Severe in the UK

ONE item of hand luggage is now permitted; full details on Airline security

Do note the maximum dimensions though of 45cm x 35cm x 16cm

Dave

 

[NM]

I'd be worried if I owned a duty free shop at an airport

I'd be making darn sure I had the ability to sell in-bound duty free. They will lose all alcohol and perfume sales for departures, but should pick up a lot more sales to inbound passengers.

 

[Dave Noble]

I'd be making darn sure I had the ability to sell in-bound duty free. They will lose all alcohol and perfume sales for departures, but should pick up a lot more sales to inbound passengers.

UK does not permit the sale of duty free to inbound passengers though iirc

Dave

 

[oz_mark]

UK does not permit the sale of duty free to inbound passengers though iirc

Dave

Airlines should push for it, so they don't have to lug tonnes of duty free perfume around the world. Surely, it would save some fuel if these things could be done inbound.

 

[serfty]

Theres an article on the fairfax web site today:

The End for Carry on Gadgets?

 

[NM]

UK does not permit the sale of duty free to inbound passengers though iirc

Dave

My comment twas in relation to Australia, noting that its quite possible all international airlines will follow suit on the banning of liquids onboard. But its all a lot of iffs at the moment.

 

[serfty]

I was a bit more worried about definitive answers to whan can be carried as I'm travelling out of MEL later this week on QF29 (to Asia, not LON). Things have been in a state of flux with varying reports on what can be done carried etc. e.g. My nearly new noise cancelling headphones and spare batteries.

There was a comforting article in the Age today:

Melbourne ups security without a hitch - National - theage.com.au

"■ No restrictions on hand luggage for UK-bound flights."

Hopefully it can be taken as gospel; but in the mean time I will keep my ear to the ground.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Serfty - I wouldn't worry, I am certainly not about my trip this week. New rules are only relevant for US and UK flights (and some airlines in europe are going further than the rules it seems).

 

[simongr]

The threat level has been reduced from Critical to Severe in the UK

ONE item of hand luggage is now permitted; full details on Airline security

Do note the maximum dimensions though of 45cm x 35cm x 16cm

Dave

Now that is good news.- just need to measure my rucksack - its only little butit holds my laptop - yay I can work on the flight to SIN

 

[clifford]

I wouldn't get too carried away about reports that things in the UK are on the improve.

Here's a reliable report which suggests it is total chaos: Heathrow Flight Cuts Continue Amid Security Row

I believe the reality is that John Reid is trying to gain ground politically, and this is an excellent opportunity to frighten the horses and also achieve his objective (somewhat similar to Dubya's approach).

I am still going to avoid the UK on principle, no matter what concessions they might make from here on in.

 

[Dave Noble]

Even with my cynicism, I don't think that the politcians would have caused that mayhem over the weekend just for political gain

Dave

 

[maninblack]

One thing that I do not understand. Duty free is after security so whats to stop you getting liquids on board? The onus must now be on the shop assistants to refuse sales of drink, perfume etc. to passengers travelling to UK and USA. But whats to stop someone going to another destination buying it for you?

 

[serfty]

Body pat downs and full bag searches at the gate as you board!