Extra security at airports

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Hmmmm want to know what the deal is exactly. DH flew to Aberdeen on business yesterday and was made to turn all his electronic devices on at the security scanner and then for a second time at the gate. As a family of four, we will have with us...3 tablets, 2 phones, 2 psps, 2 iPods and a satnav! I am sure we are not alone, surely they cannot make a whole flight to Orlando do this for every single passenger? In addition to this, my satnav plays up and often depletes charge quickly, requiring charging in the car as we use it. Am I allowed to put this in my case or will I still be expected to open my case and demonstrate the capability of electronic items in there.

Also the VA website states passengers travelling from the UK to the USA....does this mean that we will not be checked on the inbound flight and that it is an outbound flight only. Suggestions, advice, thoughts and opinions please!

 

[cliveywolves]

We shall have to see, it's early days things might tighten or ease over the coming weeks.. Airlines still have tight turn around times on flights so checkin times may open earlier to allow extra security time.
But security & safety Is the upmost important for us all, like you say we have 2 iPhones , 2 iPads & iPod I'm sure most family's will be the same too !!

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Indeed I would rather be safe than sorry, but we are looking at potentially checking 1200 devices TWICE!

 

[Skywise]

Indeed I would rather be safe than sorry, but we are looking at potentially checking 1200 devices TWICE!

1200 devices?! How do you manage to carry them all on!!!

From my understanding of the bulletin yesterday that only occurs at security for flights coming into the US. US Domestic (and outbound?) are unaffected.

 

[tinks_1989]

1200 devices?! How do you manage to carry them all on!!! From my understanding of the bulletin yesterday that only occurs at security for flights coming into the US. US Domestic (and outbound?) are unaffected.

I think they mean 1200 per plane not them personally

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Indeed 1200 per plane, we always like to get breakfast at the airport and the kids buy sticker books etc, I hope we will still have time to do this and not just be standing in line all morning before our flight!

 

[Elise79]

We will have 10 devices to be checked - I will report back tomorrow with what Gatwick/BA are doing.

 

[edinburghlass]

What they are saying is your gadget must be charged as you MAY be asked to switch it on, not that everyone will be checked.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

What they are saying is your gadget must be charged as you MAY be asked to switch it on, not that everyone will be checked.

I realise they said MAY...but my husband was only going to Aberdeen and they were making everyone going through security turn every device on there and then again at the gate!

 

[Elise79]

The regulations have been extended to cover all flights to and from the UK.
http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28223150

Anything with a dodgy battery I would put in your hold luggage

 

[chmurf]

surely they cannot make a whole flight to Orlando do this for every single passenger?

Mr Obama could have answered : Yes, we can

Ultimately, if this means requiring pax to get to the airport 4 hours before the flight instead of 3, then it will become a requirement. And if it means bringing the cutoff time for checking luggage from 45/60 minutes up to 90/120 minutes for a TATL, they will.

Anything with a dodgy battery I would put in your hold luggage

This brings a question.

If devices need to be powered up, to verify that they're functionnal and have not been jerry rigged into a bomb, then wouldn't the same devices, in hold luggage, pose a similar threat ?
After all, if a passenger's iphone is a bomb, it will be a bomb all the same wether it's carried onboard in a carry on, or placed in the hold.

But so far, there doesn't seem to be any information about electronic devices in the hold

anyway, I think many of us would rather spend £20 on a powerbank than taking the risk to put their brand new iPad in a checked luggage, but the rules on electronic devices in the hold is an interesting issue that needs some clearing up.

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

, I think many of us would rather spend £20 on a powerbank than taking the risk to put their brand new iPad in a checked luggage, but the rules on electronic devices in the hold is an interesting issue that needs some clearing up.

If a person had the ability to make a bomb out of printer cartridges, then what would stop them doing the same with a pewerbank? He was unsuccessful though!

I think we need to work with the authorities, this is a real threat and not something done to annoy us. We've decided to minimise what we take with us and leave the DSs and iPods at home and just take phones and laptop(for work) with us.it may even make the kids have conversation with us ;-)

I must say though that passengers can cause extra delay by not taking the time to read what's expected of them eg when we were going through security two years ago a lady was holding up the queue because she didn't think a bottle of juice was a liquid!

 

[edinburghlass]

Quite rightly they aren't saying what checks are being done on the hold luggage, presumably it will continue to be scanned and checked by sniffer dogs on its way through the airport to the plane and if it keeps me and mine safer, I'm all for it and will allow extra time at the airport.

 

[cliveywolves]

Just been confirmed on the news if your electrical device does NOT switch on if checked @ the gate both VIRGIN & BA have confirmed they will confiscate & post your device free of charge to an address in the UK so you can still board flight

 

[chmurf]

If a person had the ability to make a bomb out of printer cartridges, then what would stop them doing the same with a pewerbank? He was unsuccessful though!

you're absolutely right
my point was to say that most passengers would chose to have a power backup and keep their ipads in their carry on, rather than putting it in the hold and risk it being stolen.

I think we need to work with the authorities, this is a real threat and not something done to annoy us.

Agreed. And we consider ourselves a "checkpoint friendly family". Sensible packing, easy to put on/take off shoes, consolidated loose items in limited amount, electronic devices ready to be placed in the trays, and so on. We comply and will keep complying with the rules.


Now if I may just go to the wider picture, there is an irony here.

What is the goal of terrorists ?
Basically, use fear, terror, and violent acts to scare people in order to restrict their freedom and impose violent rules/dogma.

The irony here, is that terorrists only need to make believe they can perform a violent act, and as a result, authorities will restrict people's freedom and, basically, have those people (us) be a little scared of what might/could happen.
The irony is that terrorist don't even need to perform violent acts to achieve their goal of inspiring terror

I'm not debating on the need to go for reinforced security. I'm a dad and I want my family to be safe. But still, it's a bit ironical that, in order to prevent terrorists from changing our way of life, we agree that our own governments change our way of life in a similar fashion. They win without a fight.

Makes me think of my Grandpa, who was on the deck of a ship going from the UK to Normandy 70 years ago, and who used to tell us that there was no point in hiding below decks, if a shell would hit, then it would still hit the ship no matter where he'd hide, and that would be God's will.
Staying on deck was his way to beat the ennemy.
Our situation probably don't compare what they went through during WW2, but I sometimes wonder what he'd have to say about this.

sorry if I digressed

 

[ChipnDaleRule]

We didn't grow up with Al Qaeda and the like, so this new form of fear is new to us. I suspect our children will accept all this as the norm and the fear won't be there! I suspect that if you fought in WWII this sort of scare mongering is small fry compared to live bullets flying yards away from you,and these cowards in a lab making bombs are an inconvenience.

 

[Minniesgal]

The regulations have been extended to cover all flights to and from the UK. http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28223150 Anything with a dodgy battery I would put in your hold luggage

Don't put anything with a dodgy battery in the hold. Hold luggage is subject to the same checks. If it's dodgy best leave it at home.

 

[wilma-bride]

Just a gentle reminder to please keep this thread on topic. Political/religious discussion (which I fear we are on the verge of) is not permitted on the DIS. Please can we keep the thread to discussing the new security measures only.

Thanks all

 

[Elise79]

Don't put anything with a dodgy battery in the hold. Hold luggage is subject to the same checks. If it's dodgy best leave it at home.

The new restrictions relate to hand luggage only at the moment.

 

[Minniesgal]

The new restrictions relate to hand luggage only at the moment.

No they do not. There was an article in the mail yesterday which clearly stated hold luggage was subject to the same restrictions.