Posted by Tony Anderson on August 27, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Hi All
Saw yesterdays thread about getting a 600mm lens on board a airliner from the UK, just to say I contacted the people responsable for aircraft security and put the same question to them (not going into to much detail) stating that I would like to get a Canon 600mm lens on board an aircraft as hand luggage, apart form getting the runaround (no one wants to admit whos responsable for this) i got this e-mail from them and this is there stance.
Dear Mr Anderson
The Department is particularly mindful that the UK rules limiting cabin baggage to one bag has created inconvenience. Unfortunately, the UK faces a higher risk of terrorist attack than many other countries, and we reserve the right to introduce and maintain enhanced measures to mitigate the risk to flights departing the UK. Our first priority has to be to protect the industry and all who work and depend on it from attack. A successful attack by terrorists would do much more harm to the UK than maintaining the current procedures.
That said the Department shares the view that we should return to a position where there are no restrictions on the number of cabin bags permitted. Indeed, we have made clear throughout of our readiness to remove the one bag limit once industry - collectively - is confident of its ability to continue to deliver security effectively without this restriction. That action now rests with industry.
I was speaking with a friend the other day re the same subject as although i now live in Switzerland i seem to travel through the UK to get to other places so am restricted to the same baggage allowance, She told me that there was a rumour that the restictions will be relaxed in Oct
Posted by Paul Mc Cann on August 28, 2007 at 6:06 AM
Heathrow is a nightmare, Period. It appears to be down to the individual concerned. Particularly weariesome is the differing parameters applied by various carriers and other airports. I have flown into Heathrow from Dublin carrying a computer bag and a camera bag and on the way back out of Heathrow was told I couldnt take these two bags on board which meant cramming one into the other as I wan't trusting either to the hold.!
En route to a wedding in Spain my wife had with her her handbag and her wedding hat in a paper bag. No go madam. One piece of hand baggage only. Hat will have to go in hold. Can you imagine? Very strict rules etc. etc.So hat was removed from bag and placed on head to be returned to paper bag when on board. Problem solved. I ask you, where do these people come from.
!
It kinda makes me glad I intend staying in Northern Europe/Scandinavia for the next 5 years! How times change and rarely, w.r.t. bureaucracy, for the better.
In fairness, I think a number of the restrictions are government mandated....however, that doesn't make them any the less infuriating....or ridiculous.
Perhaps the government should start making airlines and airports responsible for the baggage they handle...then things might be easier - at least to get compensation for lost/stolen/mishandled stuff .
Posted by Phil Shaw on August 28, 2007 at 12:44 PM
The one bag rule is due to heightened security requirements - see quote above, but what have the government or the airports done in the last 12 months to address the issue. I don't believe there is one more scanner at Thiefrow now than there was last August. The queues are not just at the security scanners either. The arrival queues are a disgrace as well
Discussion
5 repliesSaw yesterdays thread about getting a 600mm lens on board a airliner from the UK, just to say I contacted the people responsable for aircraft security and put the same question to them (not going into to much detail) stating that I would like to get a Canon 600mm lens on board an aircraft as hand luggage, apart form getting the runaround (no one wants to admit whos responsable for this) i got this e-mail from them and this is there stance.
Dear Mr Anderson
The Department is particularly mindful that the UK rules limiting cabin baggage to one bag has created inconvenience. Unfortunately, the UK faces a higher risk of terrorist attack than many other countries, and we reserve the right to introduce and maintain enhanced measures to mitigate the risk to flights departing the UK. Our first priority has to be to protect the industry and all who work and depend on it from attack. A successful attack by terrorists would do much more harm to the UK than maintaining the current procedures.
That said the Department shares the view that we should return to a position where there are no restrictions on the number of cabin bags permitted. Indeed, we have made clear throughout of our readiness to remove the one bag limit once industry - collectively - is confident of its ability to continue to deliver security effectively without this restriction. That action now rests with industry.
Regards
Roxanne Bonar
>>> "Tony Anderson" <scor@btconnect.com> 20:08:59 04/07/07 >>>
Ref: Airport Security - Air travel
Is that a cop out or what.
Tony A
West Sussex
En route to a wedding in Spain my wife had with her her handbag and her wedding hat in a paper bag. No go madam. One piece of hand baggage only. Hat will have to go in hold. Can you imagine? Very strict rules etc. etc.So hat was removed from bag and placed on head to be returned to paper bag when on board. Problem solved. I ask you, where do these people come from.
!
Perhaps the government should start making airlines and airports responsible for the baggage they handle...then things might be easier - at least to get compensation for lost/stolen/mishandled stuff