jamesatfish
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2008
- Posts
- 666
As I've just got back from my first trip with our daughter (6 months old), I thought I'd share a summary of our experiences at the various security checkpoints around the world.
In all instances I carried our daughter in a baby sling, we had 3x 210ml bottles of sterilised water in the baby bag (for infant formula) as well as the usual creams, liquids and gels in the standard ziplock bag. Where available we used priority / First security areas.
CBR Domestic
Baby
Baby had to be removed from the carrier, with carrier passed through the XRay and baby carried through the metal detector.
Liquids & Gels
Domestic flight so no inspection of LAGs.
Infant Formula
Domestic flight so no inspection of LAGs.
Additional Screening
None.
SYD International (Fast Track)
Baby
Baby had to be removed from the carrier, with carrier passed through the XRay and baby carried through the metal detector.
Liquids & Gels
LAG baggie placed in bin through XRay.
Infant Formula
Bottles were removed from the bag and placed in a separate bin through XRay. No further screening.
Additional Screening
None.
LAX Domestic (T4)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
LAG baggie placed in bin through XRay.
Infant Formula
Bottles were removed from the bag and placed in a separate bin through XRay. Bottles were then placed individually (unopened) in a chemical screening machine in a secondary screening area. One of us had to be present at the screening.
Additional Screening
None.
SFO Domestic (AA)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
LAG baggie placed in bin through XRay.
Infant Formula
Bottles were removed from the bag and placed in a separate bin through XRay. Bottles were then opened individually (we were asked to open them ourselves - the TSA staff did not touch the bottles) and a testing sheet (like litmus paper) waved over the open bottle and then tested in a chemical trace machine.
Additional Screening
None.
JFK (BA Terminal - First Security Checkpoint)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
LAG baggie placed in bin through XRay.
Infant Formula
We actually left the bottles in our baby bag as they passed through XRay. Nothing was said about them so we just carried on our way with no screening of the bottles.
Additional Screening
None.
LHR T4 (Fast Track)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
We actually left the LAG baggie in our carry on bad this time around (just forgetfulness). Nothing was picked up as it went through the XRay.
Infant Formula
We advised the pre-screening staff that we had water for baby formula. The first staff member (who was really just checking to make sure we were eligible for the fast track lane) just gave us more LAG baggies with a bewildered look on his face. The second staff member made us take out all 3 bottles, picked 2 and made my wife taste the water (by pouring some on her hand and licking the water off her skin).
Additional Screening
After passing through the metal detector with our daughter in the carrier I was asked to give her to my wife, and I was subject to a brief frisk search.
BKK Transit
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
We actually left the LAG baggie in our carry on bad this time around (deliberately as the BKK staff were being quite difficult so I couldn't be bothered playing their games). Nothing was picked up as it went through the XRay.
Infant Formula
We left the bottles in our baby bag as they passed through XRay. Nothing was said about them so we just carried on our way with no screening of the bottles.
Additional Screening
After passing through the detector I was given a brief frisk search (concentrating on the composition of the baby carrier) with our daughter still in the carrier.
BKK Pre-Gate Liquids Check
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier. No inspection.
Liquids & Gels
We didn't mention the LAG baggie; they didn't look in that part of the bag to find it.
Infant Formula
We didn't mention the baby bottles; they looked through the bag containing the bottles but did not say anything about them.
Additional Screening
None.
SYD Domestic Transit (T1)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
Domestic flight so no inspection of LAGs.
Infant Formula
Domestic flight so no inspection of LAGs.
Additional Screening
None.
In all instances I carried our daughter in a baby sling, we had 3x 210ml bottles of sterilised water in the baby bag (for infant formula) as well as the usual creams, liquids and gels in the standard ziplock bag. Where available we used priority / First security areas.
CBR Domestic
Baby
Baby had to be removed from the carrier, with carrier passed through the XRay and baby carried through the metal detector.
Liquids & Gels
Domestic flight so no inspection of LAGs.
Infant Formula
Domestic flight so no inspection of LAGs.
Additional Screening
None.
SYD International (Fast Track)
Baby
Baby had to be removed from the carrier, with carrier passed through the XRay and baby carried through the metal detector.
Liquids & Gels
LAG baggie placed in bin through XRay.
Infant Formula
Bottles were removed from the bag and placed in a separate bin through XRay. No further screening.
Additional Screening
None.
LAX Domestic (T4)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
LAG baggie placed in bin through XRay.
Infant Formula
Bottles were removed from the bag and placed in a separate bin through XRay. Bottles were then placed individually (unopened) in a chemical screening machine in a secondary screening area. One of us had to be present at the screening.
Additional Screening
None.
SFO Domestic (AA)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
LAG baggie placed in bin through XRay.
Infant Formula
Bottles were removed from the bag and placed in a separate bin through XRay. Bottles were then opened individually (we were asked to open them ourselves - the TSA staff did not touch the bottles) and a testing sheet (like litmus paper) waved over the open bottle and then tested in a chemical trace machine.
Additional Screening
None.
JFK (BA Terminal - First Security Checkpoint)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
LAG baggie placed in bin through XRay.
Infant Formula
We actually left the bottles in our baby bag as they passed through XRay. Nothing was said about them so we just carried on our way with no screening of the bottles.
Additional Screening
None.
LHR T4 (Fast Track)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
We actually left the LAG baggie in our carry on bad this time around (just forgetfulness). Nothing was picked up as it went through the XRay.
Infant Formula
We advised the pre-screening staff that we had water for baby formula. The first staff member (who was really just checking to make sure we were eligible for the fast track lane) just gave us more LAG baggies with a bewildered look on his face. The second staff member made us take out all 3 bottles, picked 2 and made my wife taste the water (by pouring some on her hand and licking the water off her skin).
Additional Screening
After passing through the metal detector with our daughter in the carrier I was asked to give her to my wife, and I was subject to a brief frisk search.
BKK Transit
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
We actually left the LAG baggie in our carry on bad this time around (deliberately as the BKK staff were being quite difficult so I couldn't be bothered playing their games). Nothing was picked up as it went through the XRay.
Infant Formula
We left the bottles in our baby bag as they passed through XRay. Nothing was said about them so we just carried on our way with no screening of the bottles.
Additional Screening
After passing through the detector I was given a brief frisk search (concentrating on the composition of the baby carrier) with our daughter still in the carrier.
BKK Pre-Gate Liquids Check
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier. No inspection.
Liquids & Gels
We didn't mention the LAG baggie; they didn't look in that part of the bag to find it.
Infant Formula
We didn't mention the baby bottles; they looked through the bag containing the bottles but did not say anything about them.
Additional Screening
None.
SYD Domestic Transit (T1)
Baby
Baby could be kept in the carrier; we walked through the metal detector together.
Liquids & Gels
Domestic flight so no inspection of LAGs.
Infant Formula
Domestic flight so no inspection of LAGs.
Additional Screening
None.
