Hand Luggage?

[mattnkatsmum]

Mmm. It'll be interesting to see what happens over the next few days. I travel in a fortnight and would feel safer with all the restrictions still in place.

A couple of observations:

1. As someone has already observed, there is going to be tremendous pressure from the airport shops to resume hand luggage as soon as possible. I believe half of the profits from these shops goes straight to the BAA. They must be losing money hand over fist at the moment.

2. Surely, placing all electronic stuff in cases is going to bring its own security nightmares. How can we forget Lockerbie? Surely jamming our cases with mobile phones and laptops is going to make it a lot easier for terrorists to slip something through the net.

3. On a lighter note, I had promised my daughter a Pal Mickey. I'm just wondering what the security sevices would make of a wired up stuffed toy with transmitter in the case

4. Does anyone have any idea whether I'm going to be able get my daughter's comfort blanket and dummy in the cabin? If not, I pity the poor people sitting near us!

 

[SimonV]

We were in the middle of it all yesterday (Thomson flight to Orlando Sanford) and I have to admit it was pretty much chaos, with news of what you could take on the plane changing by the hour. My feeling is this will stay VERY fluid for the next week or so, and there will then be some new stipulations for what you can and can't take in hand luggage. We are going to have to re-think what we do with things like laptops, cameras, etc, and the airlines are going to have to help (which I think they will, to avoid people taking a seriously adverse view of flying) with in-flight meals, catering etc.

For what it's worth, we were only travelling with carry-on baggage (4 bags between the 3 of us) and it all went, obviously, in the hold. Laptop and camera came through unscathed, as did everything in the boys' bags - except for our smallest bag with the oldest's Nintendo DS Still waiting to hear if it's been found.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

Glad to know you're back safe SImon. We were all concerned when we heard that you were 'in transit' yesterday.

 

[AlanUK]

Hi Simon Glad to hear you all made it back safe and sound :

It will be interesting to see what happens with electronic equipment in the cabin.

 

[Laurafoster]

Certainly will be interesting to see what happens! I suspect that other posters are right and things like food and drink will not be allowed as hand luggage. Means Virgin will have to step up their drinks service as i dont s'pose they would be too thrilled with everybody on board popping up to the stewardess's area every 20 mins.

 

[AlanUK]

I've just been watching an interview on Sky News with an airline security consultant who used to work for BAA and he didn't think that the current situation would be sustained long term and that things such as Laptops, cameras, iPods etc would be allowed back on board in the future

The issue as it stands is with liquid explosives as the technology doesn't exist that will detect it, so it may be that liquids remain a no no for the foreseeable future. However the technology does exist that will detect solid/plastic explosives (although it's not installed at any of our airports ) and he thought this would probably now be the driver that gets that technology rolled out.

It was interesting to hear his opinions.

 

[Boss Hogg]

The interviews I have seen have all intimated that the current restrictions will only last as long as the current threat level remains.

As people have quite rightly said the amount of money made by BAA and the like from shop sales at the airport is huge, so they will have a very strong deisre to see the status quo resumed.

It appears that the current concern is around liquid items more than electronic, or at least that is my impression. So it would seem logical that once this issue has been tackled and liquids are once again allowed on board that electronic items will also.

After all, hold luggage is scanned as is carry on luggage. To my mind, it would seem logical that this gives the authorities the same scanning abilities in both areas, so there would appear to be no long term need to have no carry on luggage.

BTW Simon - glad to see you got through ok.

One way around all the issues I think is to have seats on aircraft like you do on large roller coasters - the harnesses would surely stop people getting up to no good whilst on board

 

[jna]

It crossed my mind to put the little digital camera photo card inside the wallet that is allowed in the clear plastic bag.

I don't want to lose a camera but I definitely don't want to lose the photos.

Do you think that we can do this?

 

[AlanUK]

Not sure really :

If it were me then I would probably take it to a store and get a couple of CD's cut as back up and store them in different cases so that the risk of the photos going missing would be minimised

 

[Claire L]

Not sure really :

If it were me then I would probably take it to a store and get a couple of CD's cut as back up and store them in different cases so that the risk of the photos going missing would be minimised

That would be my idea too, if the worst came to the worst. Could always mail home a cd well packaged.

Claire

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I hope they can come up with a scanner that can look inside electronic equipment better so we will be allowed to keep it with us.

I THINK that it is not so much "already constructed bombs" hidden in electronic devices that the authorities are worried about (i.e. in hand/hold luggage), BUT they are worried about electronic devices being used as triggers for bombs that can easily be assembled once on the plane (an MP3 player, a bottle of gatoraide, some gel and a few other harmless bits of pieces and there you go...). Mobile phones can also be used as triggers (because of their alarm functions)... although the same could be said about some watches (i.e. ones with an alarm or stop watch function)...

I'm actually quite glad that I haven't yet gotten around to choosing travel insurance though as it means I'll be able to find the ones willing to cover my stuff in the hold if it comes down to it.

I want to urge ANYONE (think I saw that a few other people were in a similar situation) who had got a holiday booked BUT no travel insurance to hurry up and get some. I hadn't realised (we have had an annual policy for years and before that always bought insurance when booking), but it is actually very common for people not to buy insurance until shortly before they travel (i.e. some considerable time after they have booked).

This can be very bad - if you have to cancel all or part of your holiday (and you don't have insurance), then you strongly risk loosing your deposit/balance/whatever.

My sister-in-law and her husband booked a last minute ski trip to Europe (two weeks before they were due to go). They hadn't "got around" to sorting out travel insurance when, 4/5 days before they were due to go, her Grandad very unexpectedly died. Grandad lived in California. Sister-in-law had to cancel ski trip (about £700 lost) and fly to California for the funeral. A very sad time anyway, but to be £700 out of pocket because you "didn't get around" to sorting out travel insurance makes it even worse .

Always be prepared for the unexpected...

Boo

 

[Claire L]

I want to urge ANYONE (think I saw that a few other people were in a similar situation) who had got a holiday booked BUT no travel insurance to hurry up and get some. I hadn't realised (we have had an annual policy for years and before that always bought insurance when booking), but it is actually very common for people not to buy insurance until shortly before they travel (i.e. some considerable time after they have booked).

This can be very bad - if you have to cancel all or part of your holiday (and you don't have insurance), then you strongly risk loosing your deposit/balance/whatever.

My sister-in-law and her husband booked a last minute ski trip to Europe (two weeks before they were due to go). They hadn't "got around" to sorting out travel insurance when, 4/5 days before they were due to go, her Grandad very unexpectedly died. Grandad lived in California. Sister-in-law had to cancel ski trip (about £700 lost) and fly to California for the funeral. A very sad time anyway, but to be £700 out of pocket because you "didn't get around" to sorting out travel insurance makes it even worse .

Always be prepared for the unexpected...

Boo

That is indeed a very valid point insurance should be purchased at the time of the initial booking , if you don't have an annual policy. It amazes me the number of people who leave it to the last minute, as you never know what is around the corner.

Better to spend a few pounds earlier than lose hundreds or thousands later.

Claire

 

[Red-Snapper]

Of 5 major Insurers today 4 have confirmed to us (Insurance broker) that laptops will be covered by their travel policies while the current ban on hand luggage is in place - at no extra premium on policies already taken out.

The fifth said they would cover laptop damage/theft only for yesterdays flights.

Interestingly though at least one of the above is providing a letter of intent to confirm the cover and to avoid problems if there is a claim.

So it is worth people checking with their insurers/brokers and not just assuming it wont be covered.

 

[AlanUK]

Well it looks like there are 4 insurers who are about to get some extra business courtesy of the 5th then, LOL :

 

[Lindy Loo]

I agree, the 5th company will LOOSE alot of business!

Fair play to the other 4, I hope they get extra business form their decisions!

 

[jna]

If it were me then I would probably take it to a store and get a couple of CD's cut as back up and store them in different cases so that the risk of the photos going missing would be minimised

Good idea. Unless the situation has relaxed a trip to Walgreen or the likes is on the cards. Quite like the idea of sending one back by post. Think I'll take a jiffy bag and an empty case with me.

 

[traceycooper]

Can the 4 insurance companys be named, i need to get mine before Friday (when full balance is due)
Thanks

 

[Goofyish]

Most travel insurance policies only seem to have a £300-500 per item limit on personal possessions/valuables, if you are taking expensive laptops, cameras or camcorders it would probably be better to get them included on your home contents policy.

 

[mattnkatsmum]

I have a 'free' policy with HSBC Premier. I telephoned them today and they specifically advised that my valuables aren't covered in the hold.

 

[AnitaCB]

On Sky news tonight it was reported that the current restrictions were not going to last and will be changed at some point.