Okay, the latest airport security problem is not in the least bit funny. But sometimes you have to see the humorous side to stay sane, especially when you have loved ones planning to fly in the next few days.
All liquids and gels are presently banned from carry-on luggage at U. S. Airports. Exceptions are being made for certain medications and for pre-mixed baby formula, which will be allowed after inspection. After getting the word, parents at the Orlando International Airport (and no doubt elsewere) were frantically preparing bottles of formula and hoping they wouldn't spoil on the trip, since they couldn't bring bottled water on board.
How nice to have your baby's food with you at all times, handy, pre-mixed, with no fear of spoilage, and in a form that can't be consigned to checked baggage.
It was nice of the Transportation Security Administration to reassure us on that last point, however (emphasis mine).
Exception: Baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is traveling; prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket; and insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines
I'm guessing they're referring to expressed breast milk in a bottle...but still...it makes one think....
Posted by
sursumcorda on
Thursday, August 10, 2006 at
12:08 pm
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Below from the BAA website for Heathrow. Note no carry on bags except those items acceptable and even those have to be put in a plastic bag. J made it home just in time. No laptops or ipods as carry on. What a mess Heathrow must be. D had to fly to Presque Isle Maine this afternoon from Boston. He has made it safe and sound.
Alert at UK Airports Media Statement10 August 2006
Alert at UK Airports - 13:15am
Following this morning's police operation, the Department for Transport has asked all UK airports to apply additional security measures designed to ensure passenger safety.
Hand baggage restrictions:
These measures will prevent passengers from carrying hand luggage into the cabin of an aircraft with the following excepts (which must be placed in a plastic bag):
pocket size wallets and pocket size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc (not handbags));
travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets);
prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (e.g. diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic.
spectacles and sunglasses, without cases.
contact lens holders, without bottles of solution.
for those travelling with an infant: baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger) and
sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags).female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (eg tampons, pads, towels and wipes).
tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs
keys (but no electrical key fobs)
All passengers must be hand searched, and their footwear and all the items they are carrying must be x-ray screened. Any liquids discovered must be removed from the passenger.
I have to say I'm glad for one thing: they didn't shut down all flights for two weeks or whatever it was after September 11. Driving all the way across the country takes a bit of time! I'm sorry we don't get to see D Sunday, but perhaps it's just as well this time.
I hope they go back to previous restrictions before I fly next. A water bottle for a nursing mother is just as essential for making breastmilk as it is for making formula.
I am sure the airlines will still provide their beverage service which includes bottled water. It will be even more important now that people can't bring their own drinks onboard. On our trip the drinks were free unless you ordered liquor. I think if I were formula feeding, I would put dry formula in the bottles and just get bottled water on the plane to make up the bottle.
D flew on Thursday and Friday out of Logan and didn't have a problem. The whole issue of laptops, ipods etc. in the UK has to be a real problem. I've seen how they handle the checked bags. Plus, I always have carried on what I don't want stolen. How are they going to deal with that?
I read one person's complaint that not only were passengers not allowed to bring drinks on board, there was no beverage service, either. That was very soon after the ban and I'm trusting was an aberration. Porter had no problems at all on his flight, not even a long security line. Um, correction...the flights were messed up and his luggage hasn't made it yet, but there were plenty of drinks available.
You're absolutely right that banishing laptops and other delicate/valuable items to checked luggage is untenable. Reading the BAA rules above made my heart go out to any musician trying to fly -- there's no way Janet would entrust her oboe to checked baggage, so I guess she would have been stranded....
