Major UK air disruptions

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Sitting in the BA F lounge as I type on way to TXL. Check in at self-service machine was a breeze, 5 minutes queue to fast bag drop, and about 5 mins queue for security. Now allowed laptop, mobile, ipod, headphones on board, just no bags for any of the above, they all have to go in the plastic bags. I did get my small bag which carries my insulin confiscated which was a bit ridiclous, but it has been no-where near as bad as I had imagined.
 
Thanks for that - makes me a little less nervous about my flight to SIN tomorrow :)
 
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oz_mark said:
I'd be worried if I owned a duty free shop at an airport
Some places that have inbound duty free shops like BKK, SIN, SYD, MEL, BNE to name a few you think would have increased sales.

Would the sale of duty free directly by airlines increase under then new measures? Airlines could end up making extra money off this if passengers choose to buy alcohol and perfume on-board but will only be allowed to collect duty free packages on the way off the aircraft.
 
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maninblack said:
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?

Gate checks ;)
 
JohnK said:
Would the sale of duty free directly by airlines increase under then new measures? Airlines could end up making extra money off this if passengers choose to buy alcohol and perfume on-board but will only be allowed to collect duty free packages on the way off the aircraft.

No onboard duty free sales allowed on flights to UK or US, or within US.
 
Wow! What a trip.
Couldn't even post to the site as the PC's in the club wouldn't accept my password. I had my ballpoint pen confiscated going through security at LHR even though I thought the advisory websites stated something along the lines of no ink nib pens - now I think about it, they must have meant ballpoint pens. Oh, and no books were allowed through. You had to buy at the airport after security.
That bus trip between Gatwick & Heathrow just takes too long. I was having visions of long queues when the bus dropped me off after a 90 minute trip to be pleasantly surprised of immediate check-in. To cope with the load experienced over the previous days, BA had cancelled the majority of their European 'internal' trips to allow the international traffic through.
So, with my 2210 departure I got there at 2100 & was in the lounge by 2120 - what a breeze. Why so anxious? I shouldn't pay so much attention to the media hype in the future.
Then I got onto the aircraft & we sat there for another 4 hours while the engineers fixed a broken wire in the indicating systems (this is what the Captain stated). Having secured the FC upgrade I couldn't think of a better way to experience it. :D
We finally got away at about 0210 and did the 12 hour stint to SNG. QF then did a very fast turn around and got us to MEL in just over 6 hours instead of the usual 8 - OUTSTANDING.
 
Oddly enough, the BA website has some contradictory information on it for travellers from Australia who are transiting through Heathrow. At one point the information under "handbaggae restrictions is"

"From Tuesday 15 August all UK airports will implement the new hand baggage policy:
Customers traveling will be able to take on board as hand baggage one cabin bag no bigger than 16cm by 35 cm by 45 cm, the size of a small laptop bag.
These restrictions are enforced on UK outbound routes only, but we recommend that all passengers carry hand baggage that complies with these regulations.".

But under "Tips for Travellers":

"For travel into the UK (except flights departing the USA):
If your journey terminates when your flight lands in the UK you will be able to take hand baggage on board with you (except flights departing the US).

However, if you transfer through any UK airport you will not be able to carry any hand baggage onto your connecting flight. Please ensure that all items are packed in your hold baggage. If you need to take items such as your travel documents, wallet etc on to a flight you should carry them or put them into a clear plastic bag."

So I wonder - which is it? You are still on a UK outbound flight, but you are stil transfering.
 
I think that the Tips for travellers hadn't been updated from the zero allowance to the 1 small bag allowance

Dave

Dave
 
redrat said:
I had my ballpoint pen confiscated going through security at LHR even though I thought the advisory websites stated something along the lines of no ink nib pens - now I think about it, they must have meant ballpoint pens. Oh, and no books were allowed through. You had to buy at the airport after security.
Must make it hard to complete your arrivals forms without a pen. And I can't understand a ban on books and magazines. Surely they are quick and simple to verify at security screening.
 
Well I am off to the airport in about an hour so I am hoping all is ok - I will update from the lounge as I have a bunch of work to do so I will be on line.

I dont plan to take anything restricted and the guidelines seem pretty clear now - although my bag might be 5 cms too wide but as its not full (well its full of electricla goodies) to bursting I am hoping it gets through - otherwise I will have some very full pockets ;)
 
NM said:
Must make it hard to complete your arrivals forms without a pen. And I can't understand a ban on books and magazines. Surely they are quick and simple to verify at security screening.

Yes, I had to get a pen from the FA. I was a bit down on losing the pen as it was a gift from an airframe manufacturer. :(
What intrigued me was that another traveller going through x-ray at the time was pulled over for having the electronic key fob for her car. What happens when that gets confiscated? Has anyone priced those things for replacement? They're very expensive.
As for the books & magazines thing, I agree but as always you're subjected to the mentality of the security guard at the time. "I only do as I'm told".

Then you've got the full body search pat-down after x-ray. What's going on here? We now have a situation where people are accepting this as a condition of travel. Talk about maintaining the paranoia. :shock:
 
Well sat in the lounge at T4 at Heathrow now and apart form the BA lounge being cough (poor food, poor beer, tiny cans of coke, screaming kids everywhere, no champagne lieing around and the general decor being like a travelodge) and the fact that my travel company hadnt re-issued my tix which meant 25 mins yo-yoing back and forth between checkin and ticketing .... the security measures were no biggy. I slimmed down my laptop backpack and put my good pens in my main luggage and breezed through - didnt even have to take off my shoes :)

Now I have 3 hours+ in the lounge so time to get on with that report....
 
NM said:
Must make it hard to complete your arrivals forms without a pen. And I can't understand a ban on books and magazines. Surely they are quick and simple to verify at security screening.

That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard! Since when are books dangerous? Bomb books? :rolleyes:
 
redrat said:
Yes, I had to get a pen from the FA. I was a bit down on losing the pen as it was a gift from an airframe manufacturer. :(
What intrigued me was that another traveller going through x-ray at the time was pulled over for having the electronic key fob for her car. What happens when that gets confiscated? Has anyone priced those things for replacement? They're very expensive.
As for the books & magazines thing, I agree but as always you're subjected to the mentality of the security guard at the time. "I only do as I'm told".

Then you've got the full body search pat-down after x-ray. What's going on here? We now have a situation where people are accepting this as a condition of travel. Talk about maintaining the paranoia. :shock:

Yes, I agree, redrat.

Why not send a complaint to John Reid, the perpretrator of this "crime".
 
redrat said:
What intrigued me was that another traveller going through x-ray at the time was pulled over for having the electronic key fob for her car. What happens when that gets confiscated? Has anyone priced those things for replacement? They're very expensive.

Thankfully, mine is only about $45 to replace, I think.
However, if they confiscate my pen, I wouldn't be happy (I am a fairly serious pen-freak that carries expensive pens around).
 
Commuter said:
However, if they confiscate my pen, I wouldn't be happy (I am a fairly serious pen-freak that carries expensive pens around).
I would not be happy at all.

What happens to the pens, or any other items, that get confiscated? Sold on e-bay and proceeds given to charity. Or does security/customs/immigration divide the confiscated items evenly and then sold on e-bay for personal profit?
 
Commuter said:
However, if they confiscate my pen, I wouldn't be happy (I am a fairly serious pen-freak that carries expensive pens around).

Commuter, Can I borrow a pen to fill in my arrivals card. I may just forget to hand it back.:D

Reggie
 
Flew out of LHR Sunday and had my pen and a plastic comb confiscated.
I don't know how a a plastic comb could compromise security on an aircraft.:shock:
A shortage of pens on the aircraft made filling out the breakfast menu interesting, one of the FA's pens did the rounds of the business cabin.
The cabin managers pre flight announcement informed us that all electronic devices should be turned off before take off, all cabin baggage should be in the overhead lockers or under the seat in front.........I wonder if those announcements are scripted:)
 
Baggage restrictions eased out of UK

British Airways has already implemented revised measures, introduced by the UK government's Department for Transport, with effect from Friday September 22, 2006 that allow air travellers departing from a UK airport to carry onboard a larger industry standard-sized bag, no bigger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm.
Customers travelling from or through a UK airport are asked to ensure they comply with the new hand baggage restrictions, put in place by the UK government, to prevent delays at airport security search points.
 
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