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News

plane terror plot disrupted: hand baggage banned

199 replies

TutterOtsky · 10/08/2006 07:57

LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways said on Thursday that no hand baggage would be allowed on any of its planes leaving UK airports, after British police said they had disrupted a plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight.

A number of people in the London area had been arrested, police said.

"British Airways, acting on instruction from the UK Government, wishes to advise passengers that no items of hand baggage can be carried on board any aircraft departing any UK airport," the airline said in an e-mailed statement.

========================

that's gonna be a bugger for those of us due to fly soon with kids...

OP posts:

Report

katierocket · 10/08/2006 07:58

If you have children you will still be allowed to take hand luggage on board but any baby milk has to be tested in front of officials by drinking a bit of it.; It's because the plot was thought to involve some kind of flammable liquid.

meowmarx · 10/08/2006 07:59

a friend of mine is at heathrow waiting for a 7 hour flight back here. she's been allowed her ticket and passport and some money, loose in the bag and thats it. 6 hour delays today.

better that than the alternative

Gingerbear · 10/08/2006 08:01

we flew after 9/11 - same precautions were taken at that time.

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 10/08/2006 08:04

I know just got up and seen this on the BBC news - we've got a huge long haul trip - including a 5hr stop-over in Jo'burg coming up next Thursday - going to be a complete nightmare.

Here's the full information for those that are travelling soon

"With immediate effect, the following arrangements apply to all passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and to those transferring between flights at a UK airport.

All cabin baggage must be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing UK airports.

Passengers may take through the airport security search point, in a single (ideally transparent) plastic carrier bag, only the following items. Nothing may be carried in pockets:

Pocket-size wallets and pocket-size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc (not handbags)

# Travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets)

# Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (eg, diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic

# Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases

# Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution

# For those travelling with an infant: baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger) and sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags)

# Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (eg tampons, pads, towels and wipes)

# Tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs

# Keys (but no electrical key fobs). All passengers must be hand searched, and their footwear and all the items they are carrying must be X-ray screened.

Pushchairs and walking aids must be X-ray screened, and only airport-provided wheelchairs may pass through the screening point.

In addition to the above, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, must be subjected to secondary search at the boarding gate.

Extra time

Any liquids discovered must be removed from the passenger.

There are no changes to current hold baggage security measures.

Regrettably, significant delays at airports are inevitable. Passengers are being asked to allow themselves plenty of extra time and to ensure that other than the few permitted items listed above, all their belongings are placed in their hold baggage and checked in.

These additional security measures will make travel more difficult for passengers, particularly at such a busy time of the year. But they are necessary and will continue to keep flights from UK airports properly secure.

We hope that these measures, which are being kept under review by the government, will need to be in place for a limited period only. "

Sobernow · 10/08/2006 08:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TutterOtsky · 10/08/2006 08:06

so no toys or books at all?

OP posts:

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 10/08/2006 08:07

TO - they're advising to ring your airline for any further queries.

TutterOtsky · 10/08/2006 08:10

there appear to be fewer planes coming into heathrow today (overhead - normally every minute or two) - must be having an impact on the turnaround times there...

OP posts:

BudaBabe · 10/08/2006 08:10

My MIL is flying here this morning - managed to get hold of her just before she left home to warn her. God knows what time she'll arrive now.

Not flying again with DS till Oct so hopefully it will have eased a bit by then.

Really feel for anyone flying with children anytime soon. My best friend is flying Europe to Asia next week with 3 under 8 - it will be a nightmare.

Bloody terrorists.

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 10/08/2006 08:12

oh dear - we're flying from Heathrow next Thursday evening - 11hr flight to Jo'burg - I can't remember if you've got a conecting flight do you seen your hold luggage before you land in your final destination?? I only ask because I bet they won't let me take my cigarettes on board - and I'll be gagging for one by the time we reach Jo'burg...........I guess I can always buy some South African ones when we're there........

CheTeepee · 10/08/2006 08:20

Wonder how this will affect the recent changes at Ryanair - whereby they are charging for checked in luggage so as to encourage passengers to only take hand luggage. Will they still charge if passengers are not allowed to take hand luggage?

Furball · 10/08/2006 08:20

I think things like this wake you up to how real a terrorist attack could be. Very scary. We haven't flown since having ds 5 years ago and probably wont for a few years yet. But yes absolute nightmare to think bad enough travelling as an adult without handbaggage - especially our beloved handbags which mine seems to have been transformed into a mini survial kit since becomming a mother! But with a child? maybe the airline could provide a toy and books/crayons etc like when you go to a family pub to keep them amused for abit.

Mum2Ela · 10/08/2006 08:23

We are flying from Heathrow tomorrow. Guess i'd better unpack all my hand luggage.

Are they reall going to make me take my hand luggage on board in a plastic bag?

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 10/08/2006 08:24

true in one respect Furball - but when you consider that even 9/11 was carried out with only a tiny percentage of flights - I'm NOT playing down the atrocity - rather pointing out that the chances of being on a plane that's caught up in a terrorist attack is pretty slim.

sallycinnamon · 10/08/2006 08:29

We went to Jamaica with dd aged 3 at Easter which is about 10 hours in the air. I honestly don't know how we'd have coped without the books, pens etc.
As someone else has said its better than the alternative. Very, very frightening. I wonder what the atmosphere among passengers is because I know for certain not being the happiest of flyers that I'd be pooing my pants. Actually thinking about it today will probably be a very safe day to fly.

katierocket · 10/08/2006 08:32

mum2ela - yes! and only very limited stuff at that

NotQuiteLouisRiel · 10/08/2006 08:35

This actually just says you can't carry all that stuff through the security check point - but you can buy books etc at the shops on the other side, presumably.

We're flying BA to Canada on Monday. I really hope these restrictions are lifted or reduced by then, but will cope if they aren't. I guess.

NotQuiteLouisRiel · 10/08/2006 08:37

The note on the BA flight site says this is just for today, at least so far.

HRHQueenOfQuotes · 10/08/2006 08:38

NQRL - Home Secretary and Transport Minister on BBC just now have said this will remain "as long as is nessecary" (but they're hoping not long - ha ha).

Uwila · 10/08/2006 08:39

I think these measures are in place for a matter of days or weeks. Would thinki Monday will be the same. (sorry)

katierocket · 10/08/2006 08:41

No I don't think that's right that you will be able to buy stuff once you're through check out and take it on board.

This suggests otherwise:

"All cabin baggage must be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing UK airports."

Uwila · 10/08/2006 08:43

I'd also like to say that I take my hat off to the police for preventing this attack. A job well done.

NotQuiteLouisRiel · 10/08/2006 08:43

Oh god, you'd better be able to buy things on the other side. I have a seven-hour flight on Monday, with the two kids.

Nope, I'm just not accepting this idea. We definately will be able to buy books on the other side and carry through.

After 9/11, people could still buy restricted items (e.g. nail clippers) in shops on the other side and carry them on.

(I'll ask DH to ask his work travel agents what the deal is on this.)

katierocket · 10/08/2006 08:43

You wonder how close they were though... very scary.

katierocket · 10/08/2006 08:44

NotQuiteLouisRiel - advice is to speak to the airline you are flying with.

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