| If you live in a cave with no TV or newspapers, | | | | person carrying must taste it when asked to by |
| you might | | | | airport |
| have missed the news of a major security alert | | | | staff. The other exceptions is for prescription |
| in the UK | | | | medicine in |
| during August. Flights to the USA are the main | | | | liquid form, provided the container is not bigger |
| concern, | | | | than 50ml |
| especially flights by US airlines. But flights from | | | | (about 1.75 fluid oz), and the medicine has been |
| other | | | | verified by |
| countries to the USA via Britain are also getting | | | | a pharmacist in the airport terminal.So long as |
| attention. | | | | you can cope with these restrictions, the |
| Passenger safety is obviously the number one | | | | security screening process hasn't changed much. |
| concern, and | | | | Electronic |
| the authorities have come down heavy on | | | | items must be removed and put in the trays |
| security on all | | | | without |
| flights within the UK as well as international | | | | overlapping; coats and jackets have to go in |
| journeys. It | | | | trays as well. |
| may make life more difficult for travellers for a | | | | Of course, you need to have baby milk and |
| while, but | | | | approved |
| that seems a small price to pay for safety. The | | | | prescription liquids handy for checking. In the UK, |
| alternative | | | | you |
| seems to be to stop using air travel altogether, | | | | don't need to take your shoes off unless you're |
| and not | | | | asked to.Once you're through security, you can |
| many people want that!So how will these new | | | | use the shops airside |
| travel safety measures affect you? If | | | | as usual - but what you're allowed to buy |
| you're travelling from or through British airports | | | | depends on your |
| any time | | | | destination. On flights to the USA, you can't take |
| soon, you need to know what the current rules | | | | liquids |
| are, so that | | | | or gels on the plane at all. So you may not buy |
| you can plan ahead to deal with them. And first | | | | forbidden |
| and foremost | | | | items such as shampoo and take them with you |
| is the need to allow extra time to check in and | | | | on the flight. |
| get through | | | | And because of the need to be sure this rule is |
| security screening, because the new precautions | | | | kept, you |
| mean that | | | | are likely to be screened again before boarding |
| it's taking longer to get to the boarding gate.The | | | | the plane. |
| major change affects cabin bags. Whatever class | | | | For all other destinations, you can buy and take |
| of seat | | | | on board |
| you are in, you are allowed to take only one | | | | anything sold in the shops between security |
| item of hand | | | | screening and |
| luggage. And whereas before, small items such | | | | the departure gates.Once the first few days of |
| as a woman's | | | | real disruption were over, delays |
| handbag or purse (actually sometimes rather | | | | became less serious and less lengthy. But the |
| large!) could be | | | | increased |
| taken on in addition to the regular allowance, now | | | | security measures are bound to make it take |
| everything must fit into the one bag. It's not a | | | | longer from the |
| very large | | | | time you enter the airport to the time you board |
| bag, either - maximum size is 17.7 inches high (45 | | | | your |
| cm) by | | | | flight. Most airlines haven't given any specific |
| 13.7 inches (35 cm) by 6.2 inches (16 cm) deep. | | | | guidance |
| But though | | | | about this, but it would be wise to allow at least |
| that's not very big, it IS large enough for most | | | | an extra |
| laptops. | | | | half-hour for the check-in and security screening |
| And that's the really good news: for a week at | | | | process.I've summed up the situation at UK |
| the start of | | | | airports in mid-August |
| the scare, all electronic items were banned, and | | | | 2006, according to the information I had available. |
| since these | | | | When |
| are fragile and unsuitable for being checked into | | | | things are changing fast, it's always wise to |
| the cargo | | | | check that the |
| hold, many people just couldn't travel.The new | | | | ground hasn't shifted again. In the UK, the best |
| safety measures also affect what you can take | | | | source of |
| through security screening. You CAN now take | | | | the most up-to-date information - full of official |
| electronic | | | | jargon, |
| items including your laptop, camera and portable | | | | of course - is the BAA (British Airports |
| phone, and | | | | Authority) official |
| your keys. You can't take any sharp objects - | | | | web site. And for more on travel safety of all |
| not even a | | | | kinds, from |
| tapestry needle or pins, no matches, lighters, | | | | how to be more certain that your luggage won't |
| razor blades | | | | be delayed or |
| live ammunition, nor any of the other dangerous | | | | taken by someone else, to keeping the kids |
| items that | | | | amused on long |
| haven't been allowed since 9/11. But now there | | | | car journeys and staying healthy away from |
| are | | | | home, see my web |
| restrictions on liquids and gels, too.Essentially, you | | | | site on on how to |
| can't take ANY liquids or gels: toothpaste, | | | | travel safely.Copyright Cape Spear Press |
| shampoo, toiletries of any kind including any | | | | 2006The Cape Spear web site on travel |
| aerosols such | | | | safety covers a wide range of topics to help you |
| as shaving foam, suntan lotion, cosmetics Are all | | | | travel |
| banned in | | | | safely, whether you travel as a family or on |
| the plane cabin, as are all drinks. I can hear all the | | | | business, on leisure trips |
| parents reading this thinking that will make life | | | | at home or foreign city breaks, or even plan to |
| impossible | | | | marry away from home. |
| for them to take babies on flights. Fortunately, | | | | And if it's travel bargains you're after, Cape |
| there is an | | | | Spear's |
| exception for baby milk and liquid baby foods, | | | | discount and bargain travel |
| but the | | | | travel site is a 'must visit' too. |