plane terror plot disrupted: hand baggage banned

[TutterOtsky]

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.

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

My teenagers leave on Monday, too. Gah. They're flying Air Canada from Heathrow.

the interviewed a woman on five live just now, and she said she wasn't allowed to take anything on the plane, just milk for her baby, which she had to taste in front of security to prove it hadn't been poisoned, nappies and wipes. isn't allowed to take anything for her 5 yo, no food, no books, no toys nothing. all baggage is being processed as hold baggage, and everything else is put into clear plastic wallets. even buying of things on the other side isn't permitted.

It depends how stringent the police feel the security checks are on the stuff for sale in departures. When i flew after 9/11 all the shops were closed and it was literally me and me placcy bag.

This trip is clearly cursed. My accommodation for Monday got cancelled on Sunday (8 days before), and I've been flailing about trying to find somewhere to stay, there are conferences, it's high tourist season. Gah.

That's what I thought. I guess they have to be absolutely rigid about the rules.

Ok, I'm just refusing to deal with the possibility of a flight with no books or knitting or toys or food. I am officially covering my ears with my hands and singing.

"la la la la la la la"

I think it would be worse if you were flying on a shortish haul flight with kids, say 4 hours or so since at least on long haul there is the in flight entertainment.

Yeah, there will be seat-back telly. Thank god for BA.

But still:

"la la la la la la la"

we're flying to majorka in 4 weeks - I hope to christ it's blown over by then - can't imagine my 3.9 yo with no entertainment for two hours ... yikes.

I'm wondering about ryanair too, am due to fly to dulin tommorow morning, not bothered about having no hand luggage on such a short flight, but I havn't paid to check in a bag as you have to on ryanair, so wondering what will happen there?
Anyone any idea?

wannaBe1974 - start making up those stories now!

airy - knowing money grabbing rynair they;ll make everyone pay! (no I'm sure they coudln't possibly)

Aside of the safety issues everyone who is flying needs to be aware of the extra cost they might incur. If you aren't allowed to take food & drinks on the plane then you will need to make sure you have money to buy something.
My brother is due to fly American Airlines next Friday into Washington DC and is absolutely shitting himself this morning

bummer, bummer, bummer.
Am due to fly from Germany to Manchester tomorrow with three little (7, 5, 2) on my own. Hopefully the restrictions don't apply to inbound flights.

jura: actually, no - you can have knitting needles on board. I'm always careful to take wooden or plastic ones, just in case I run into someone who's a bit fussy, but from what I know, even metal ones are ok.

(I've knitted on three or four flights since 9/11, including ones into and out of the states.)

Dh is due to fly home today from Poland with 2 laptops.... I hate it when these things happen when he's away. He's probably not going to get back tonight.

I can't believe this
We are flying to alicante on tues. I don't know how I am supposed to keep four kids entertained with no drink or snacks. I hope they allow bottles for the dts (16mnths) but even that isn't goin to be enough. They will be screaming the place down . Aaaargh!

airy it was on the radio this morning that Ryanair have suspended the charge so you should be OK. Didn't have much choice really did they.

wannabe I don't think 2 hours should be that bad. Everyone else will be in the same position with nothing to do, so may help entertain him. You will have to hope for a bit of blitz spirit on board instead of the usual grumpiness. I think it would be worse on long haul with littlies that aren't allowed their comforters etc to sleep with.

Oh and I wonder what happens about connecting flights if there are delays. We are supposed to change at barcelona.

kelly they allow bottles of baby milk but you have to taste it first to prove it is not really poison/explosives and also baby jar food. Would the twins still eat jar food? And a limited number of nappies/wipes.

Big praise for all the skilled work done to save people's lives.

I hadn't thought about not letting children have their comforters - I am very glad we're not doing any flying soon.

bozzaq they would, tht would be a good idea. I'll get soem jars of fruit and porrige.

they've now stopped all incoming flights...

This mean I wont be seeing DH for a few days then , hes Old Bill !!