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