Fast-changing security front – the new, new rules
There has been lots of activity on the security front over the weekend; rules that will directly affect your travel.
First, the United Kingdom. The British Government has downgraded the threat level from critical to severe. The most immediate impact will be (beginning at 4:30am on Tuesday , August 15) you’ll be able to take on board one small carry-on bag (no larger than 17.7 inches x 13.7 inches x 6.2 inches for those of you keeping track). You can also now take on board laptops, mobile phones, music players and such, but they have got to be removed from the carry-on at the checkpoint and x-rayed separately.
As for liquids, you can bring on board prescription medication “sufficient and essential for the flight,” such as diabetic meds; baby formula (but you’ve got to taste it at the checkpoint, in front of a screener); sanitary items “sufficient and essential for the flight,” such as diapers, wipes, creams, tampons, and disposal bags.
Over the weekend, near chaos continued to prevail at UK airports such as London Heathrow, where a significant number of flights were cancelled. Today (Monday August 14) approximately a third of flights departing from the nation’s airports were slated for cancellation.
Significantly slowing the process for flights headed to the United States is secondary screening of passengers at the gate. Be prepared for it. Call your airline before heading to the airport, and be ready to accept the fact that even of you show up “on time” you may not make your plane. For details on all of this, go to baa.com.
On this side of the Atlantic, the Transportation Security Administration is refining its policies, easing some and making others more stringent. First, the good news: as well as prescription medicines, you can now take on board non-prescription liquids as long as the bottle is less than 4oz. Glucose gel for diabetics is also okay, and so is solid lipstick. The issue of ChapStick is still sort of murky. Flights dehydrate, and lip balm is a blessing. Baby formula is allowed.
A check by Cheap Flight News of airports across the United States found that the TSA was asking stores located “airside” (beyond security) to remove from their shelves a slew of prohibited liquids. When you arrive at your destination, you’re going to have to wait until you get to a real, live (probably) off-airport pharmacy to stock up on sundries.
Let’s clarify another misconception: airside restaurants and stores will still sell you beverages in cups or glasses. A spokesman for the Houston Airports System says stores even sell bottled beverages as long as the containers are less than 20oz. In any event, you’re going to have to drink up before you get to the gate.
What you will have to dispense with is any notion of taking a bottle of duty-free booze on board in your carry-on.
This is a comparatively minor item, because most passengers already remove their shoes before going through the screening portal, but now the practice is mandatory. It used to be “optional”. Some airports offer paper booties for the passage through the screening portal, but most don’t.
Before you head to the airport, brace yourself. Be prepared for secondary screening and bomb dogs.
It will be instructive to see how evenly the TSA applies the modified strictures. In the past, rules have sometimes been implemented differently at different airports.
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler