Things that airline staff want you to know...

[FlyMayBe]

If you bring the wrong passport to the airport, you will not be allowed to fly on an international flight.

No, the captain will not hold the aircraft for you while you wait for your relative to bring the correct passport in a taxi.

Lost your passport in the airport? Nope. You still can't fly - unless it is a domestic flight and you have reliable photo ID.

elastic because he’s human, and sometimes that’s what humans do. From some posters you’d think this was an execution matter ffs.

That's a shame Dreamingofsunshine, I've heard good things about it previously. Which airport? Did you mention it? Personally, in your shoes I'd ask to see the supervisor and mention that.

I fly into Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow and they're all the same. On occasion I'll be asked by the boarding staff if I need anything, but at security they don't take any notice really. Funnily enough I feel like other passengers know what the lanyard means and offer to help which is nice

Those moaning about people not knowing about security. No, not every one knows the drill. I
am 41 and have never been on a plane.

@topbitch but if you were to go on a plane surely you would check beforehand to see what was expected? You wouldn't just turn up clueless

And it's quite normal to have to turf people out of your seats on the plane as people just sit where they want (especially large family groups who want to sit together but didn't check in online ...or (surprise!) arrived too late to be seated together..

This was exactly our experience on an Emirates flight from Mauritius to Dubai! We didn’t have to move ourselves, but were fascinated to watch the endless negotiations between our fellow passengers. Also they regarded the wearing of seatbelts, or indeed any instruction from the flight deck, as optional. Oh, and the passenger who fumed because he couldn’t have a vegetarian meal as he hadn’t pre-ordered one, and refused to accept the (Muslim) cabin crew’s assurance that the meal he was being served was Halal.

I also hate that male security officials watch the screen as you are going through those scanners that show you naked.

I’m pretty sure they don’t show you naked, but even if they did they must be desensitised by the number they have to see every day. I have a replacement knee so I fail the beep test every single time. God knows how many people have copped a look at me but I wouldn’t regard it as a perk!

I fly a lot and usually between the same set of airports. Security protocols change frequently, aren't consistent and half the time I have forgotten what I did the last time.

It's ok. People are generally nice. If you're kind of ready for things it helps but otherwise, just ask. You can ask the security person if they're not awful (watch them deal with other people) or someone who seems nice in the queue.

I know I'll always need to put my liquids in a clear plastic bag. Generally they're already in one, I just keep them like that in my bag because I am so amazingly classy.

In addition, I'm generally ready to:

• take my shoes off
• take the bag of liquids out of my bag
• take out my computer and iPad
• take off my belt
• make sure nothing is in my pockets

I don't wear a jacket when flying but that would be off, too. I get patted down frequently because my trousers bunch weirdly (this is my working theory) but that's fine.

Anyway, I'm with TSSDNCOP, security can be confusing. Don't worry about the haters.

None of these problems on Eurostar ....

I suppose given the liquids thing started in 2006, people think they must have sorted it out by now. After all, they can scan a suitcase for the hold with liquids in, so why can't they scan a suitcase for the cabin with liquids in (which may end up in the hold)? And why do they have to be in a small plastic bag rather than a large plastic bag? The rules make no sense.

If they take a bag off you as you board the plane to put it in the hold, does it get rescanned?

Why are all of these dogs being flown to so many different countries? Is it work like a circus or something or just a hobby?

I was in a US airport in 2017 and the queues to get through security were hours long, queue was pretty much backed up to check in. My husband and I must look like butter wouldn’t melt as the TSA agent at the queue entrance took one look at us meekly holding our electronics and belts and waved us through without so much as a wave of the wand never mind scanning our bags.

I was so surprised as I’d been led to believe that the TSA agents were all arseholes.

No one else was waved through so I have no idea why we were singled out!

I've had proper searches of my luggage twice in my life. Once on Eurostar, once at an airport.
I have done 2 return trips on Eurostar, and more than that a year flying. I'd take an airport over St Pancras any day!

I suppose given the liquids thing started in 2006, people think they must have sorted it out by now.

TBH I've long been deeply suspicious that the airports have discovered an easy way to make money. I wonder what % of passengers buy an extortionately priced bottle of water once they have cleared security? My guess would be around 80 %.

I'm very much in favour of airport security, but let's be honest, the liquids rule wouldn't deter the people who intend to cause harm or havoc.

I've had proper searches of my luggage twice in my life. Once on Eurostar, once at an airport.
I have done 2 return trips on Eurostar

Must be you. I did three return trips on Eurostar last year, and just got back from one this year. Lost count of how many before last year, must be another half a dozen return trips. Always just breeze through in about ten minutes. No searches, just the bag scan and metal detector. No fuss about liquids or laptops. No baggage nonsense, take as many bags as you like.

To be fair most airports have bottle filling stations and any bar or restaurant airside will fill a water bottle. I just take an empty bottle through now.

I’ve travelled all over the world but as soon as I get to the airport I become a bumbling, checking idiot. Don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon.

VanGogh there used to be a gaping hole in the Eurostar security which was that, lax and all as they were in Waterloo (this is a while back) and Brussels, at Lille you could pretty much walk straight onto the platform. I think there was an automated ticket barrier but nobody was ever there. I hope they've beefed that up a bit now.

Oh, I did Eurostar to Lille a few years ago, can't remember much about it to be honest but don't recall there being much security around.

when you book a flight you receive clear instructions in the confirmation email (or the info pack from the travel agent).
I know what to do, but In my recent trip to America I received no Information beforehand about security rules. So no it does not always happen.
I have no hearing problems, been officially tested. But I can rarely understand what officials are saying either when they are shouting to a queue or in airport announcements.
Also the lanyards heme. I am disabled and the only time I have ever heard of this scheme was on MN, and once in an article in a magazine that made it sound this was only for autistic people. I fly about five times a year. So if I haven't heard of it, I doubt many have.

I 2as the one that said I hate going through those machines that show a naked image of you, when a staff member of the opposite sex is watching the screen, I don't care if he just sees it as routine. I don't like it. That should matter, but it doesn't.

I also used to get all my items out that needed to be separate before I got to the security scanner. But they have expanded the items that need to be taken out of your bag and I simply can't carry everything safely and my bag. So I now do things like take off my coat and get my small bottles of liquids out, but I do unzip my bag at the security scanner and take things directly out. I usually have to place a coat, fleece, bag, plastic bag with liquids and creams, phone, laptop, and purse that was in my jeans pocket.

I take an empty bottle through security and fill with water the other side.

Best and quickest boarding and security ever was flying to Canada the dat after I think the shoe bomber. Absolutely nothing allowed apart from a book or newspaper. We were on board in minutes...

I wonder what % of passengers buy an extortionately priced bottle of water once they have cleared security? My guess would be around 80 %

This isn't strictly true now. More and more countries and airports are now reducing the price of their bottles of water airside. Spain for instance has capped the price of bottled water and installed water fountains for filling bottles at all major airports. I've notice this at airports in UK too, plus in other countries.

You can also often get a free bottle of water with the telegraph in WH Smiths. I know it's not free if you don't want the paper, but I think it's £1 in the week, so it's the cheapest way to get bottled water.

I like this website that encourages people to share where the water fountains are in airports so you can fill your own bottle. I know at Manchester they're at the end of the corridor after security but before you get to all the shops.

Interesting about Spain - I think it was 1 euro from a vending machine last time I bought some in a Spanish airport which I didn't think was too bad for an airport, although it is extortionate for what you get and considering how much it costs in supermarkets there. Also due to plastic etc.

I've also spotted water fountains at Malta airport, and what appeared to be a drinking tap at Hurgarda, Egypt, which I was slightly wary of, but as I didn't have enough Egyptian money to buy a bottle (I don't know if it was a one off but the entire terminal wash cash only, even booze, tobacco, perfume and all the other fairly expensive stuff on sale at airports) and it was a 6 hour flight I decided to risk it and it was fine.