handluggage from heathrow

[hillbilly 81]

i know sizes are 45cm x 35cm 15 cn, and no liquid etc but how tight are they with bag size

[Treebeard 0]

Hi mate,

 

I work at Heathrow.

 

Security is very tight now, and all hand luggage is being x-rayed and searched with extra vigilance. Which is having the knock on effect of taking a lot longer to get air-side.

 

The best thing is to go through with the absolute minimum. passport, tickets, wallet, and any medication which you may need on your flight. Every thing else, pack in your suitcase. If everyone does this the ques will go through much quicker, and will save you the embarrassment of your 12" dildo being waved in the air in front of everyone

 

Sorry I do not know the bag size thing

 

As an edit: All the staff are having to take their footwear off to be x-rayed, even guys like me, with Kevlar toecaps (they do not trigger the metal detectors like conventional steel toe caps) so it may be a good idea to wear shoes that you can slip off easily!

 

 

Edited August 25, 2006 by Treebeard

[grs90 49]

They are being very tight with bag sizes. I've been through Gatwick and Heahthrow since the change to allowed size and both times had to put my bag in to a frame to prove it was within the limit. From what I observed anyone with a bag that looked anywhere near the limit was being asked to do this. It probably isn't worth trying to get away with anything over the limit.

[jambo 0]

The biggest problem for me is my contact lenses.

 

My next flight is the 9.30pm EVA flight from Heathrow and as soon as I get on the plane I will take out my lenses before going off to sleep. However, it looks as though they will not let me take the rinsing or wetting solution into the cabin so putting them back in again in the morning will be a real problem.

 

Teerak's meeting me at Bangkok Airport (assuming she goes to the right one!!) and I am too vain to walk out wearing spectacles!

[ben99 0]

Yeah - I suffer from dry skin - although it's not on perscription, I need my pot of E45 cream handy, as my hands soon crack

 

What about deodrant - maybe a solid stick? Would that be allowed?

[grs90 49]

Ben/Jambo

 

After you have cleared the security check you are in the departure lounge and can buy what you need at the Boots Chemist in there.

[jambo 0]

Ben/Jambo

 

After you have cleared the security check you are in the departure lounge and can buy what you need at the Boots Chemist in there.

 

On the way back from Bangkok 2 weeks ago they searched all handluggage at the departure gate and were confiscating everything on the excluded list.

 

Surely they are doing similar at Heathrow?

[yselmike 389]

Is this a problem for all destinations or only for flights to and from the UK and USA?

I will fly EVA from Amsterdam to BKK in december and I only want to take handluggage, one bag about 8kg in

total.

I will then transfer to a Phnom Phen flight so I do not want my luggage on the carousele in bangkok,

otherwise I have to go through passport control, get my bag and then go back through passport control

it seems a bit odd.

Can I get somebody from thai/bangkok/aisa air to get the bag from the carousele for me?

[grs90 49]

Jambo

 

Apart from flights from the UK to US, at all UK airports you can buy what you want in the departure lounge and take it on to the plane with you. The logic to this is that all the stuff in the departure lounge has already been given the OK by the security people. Its all a load of bollocks though in my view.

[Samsonite 181]

The biggest problem for me is my contact lenses.

 

My next flight is the 9.30pm EVA flight from Heathrow and as soon as I get on the plane I will take out my lenses before going off to sleep. However, it looks as though they will not let me take the rinsing or wetting solution into the cabin so putting them back in again in the morning will be a real problem.

 

Teerak's meeting me at Bangkok Airport (assuming she goes to the right one!!) and I am too vain to walk out wearing spectacles!

According to HomeLand Security and an e-mail I received from one of the airllines you will be allowed to carry 4 ounces of contact lens solution. That should be more than enough for the flight. Are you wearing "hard" contacts?

[Guest Fatboyfat]

Jambo

 

Apart from flights from the UK to US, at all UK airports you can buy what you want in the departure lounge and take it on to the plane with you. The logic to this is that all the stuff in the departure lounge has already been given the OK by the security people. Its all a load of bollocks though in my view.

 

There seems to be some mis-information going on from somewhere here.

Other sources state that liquids will be confiscated no matter where you buy them, including those that you have bought in the departure lounge and try to get through the final boarding security check at the boarding gate.

[grs90 49]

Official policy at UK airports. From BAA.co.uk

 

Security control

Following the Government’s reduction in security levels from critical to severe, passengers are reminded that strict security remains in place at all UK airports. This easing of restrictions is not a return to normal.

 

The revised regulations will continue to have an impact on our airport's operations. All passengers will be subject to hand baggage restrictions and are asked to be patient while these additional security measures are in place as delays are likely. Passengers are asked to allow extra time for their journey and to arrive at the airport prepared.

 

To help passengers prepare for their journey and the heightened security restrictions download this leaflet. (1.87MB PDF)

 

Hand baggage restrictions

Passengers are now permitted to carry ONE item of hand baggage, no larger than the specified size, through the airport security search point.

 

 

 

Sharp items

Items such as knives, razor blades are not allowed in the cabin, for a full list of sharp items, please see our Packing tips section.

 

Please note: Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be x-ray screened. For further guidance on prohibited items, including what to do if travelling with baby milk and prescribed medicines, download this leaflet giving details on what you can and can't take in your hand baggage. (76KB PDF)

 

All laptops and large electrical items (eg large hairdryer) must be removed from the bag and placed in a tray so that such items neither obscure nor are obscured by the bag.

 

Pushchairs and walking aids are permitted but must be x-ray screened. Wheelchairs are permitted but must be thoroughly searched.

 

Further passenger information

Before security: All shops and catering outlets are open to all passengers, but any liquids and gels purchased must be packed into your luggage for check-in. Any other purchases must fit into your hand luggage.

 

Once through security: All shops and catering outlets are open to all passengers. If you are travelling to any destination except the USA then you can take all items purchased in the departures lounge into the aircraft cabin.

 

If you are travelling to the USA: Extra restrictions are in place. Passengers will be subjected to secondary security searches at the gate. No toiletries or cosmetics purchased in the departure lounge will be allowed into the aircraft cabin and any drinks or liquid items must be consumed before boarding. Food, however, is allowed. Passengers boarding flights to the USA and items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, will be subjected to secondary search at the gate and any liquids discovered will be removed.

 

If you are in any doubt about what you can and cannot take on board please ask a member of staff.

[Big_Brian 179]

grs90,

Thanks, that covers it nicely.

[vegaheart 0]

Yes I also work at Heathrow, and can confirm that the BAA security are being quite stringent with the size of your hand baggage. Yesterday they sent back 1st class customers to me to check in their hand baggage as it did not quite fit in the template unit that they have all over the airport. So you'd better check that your hand baggage is going to fit in this template BEFORE you go to check in, so you can repack your stuff if it doesn't fit and put any excess into your checked bags.

[hillbilly 81]

[ben99 0]

I note they refer to "liquids and gels"

 

If I carried a cream (likeE45) I could claim it was neither - but that might get me slapped (again) and cause delay.

 

But I would be correct!

[Guest Fatboyfat]

On the same lines could somebody confirm that NONE of these restrictions apply on the return flights from BKK to say a UK destination.