Increased flight security following attempted terrorist attack

[wickesy]

I haven't seen this posted here yet and I know there's a few people leaving soon that might need to be aware of it:

From 26 December 2009, additional security measures have been put into place for all flights to going to the US. This includes extra screening of passengers and hand baggage at the gate immediately before boarding.

In order to minimise delays and congestion, we are asking all passengers to arrive at the gate early and to minimise the amount of hand baggage they carry on to the aircraft.

Virgin Atlantic

The United States government has revised its security arrangements for all customers travelling into the US.

Please be aware that due to these revised security arrangements for all customers departing on a flight from Heathrow or Gatwick to the US only one item of hand luggage is allowed. They are advised to check-in as normal.

Customers travelling to other destinations outside the United States are not affected.

Please check ba.com for further updates during the day.

British Airways

This is all as a result of an incident on a flight into the US yesterday - BBC News

 

[ukstitch]

From what I understand, they're back down to 1 piece of hand luggage (rather than the previous 1 + laptop/handbag or 2 for "upper class").

This is starting to make me think that those full body scanners may actually be a good idea after all - I suspect they would have spotted this particular attempt if one of those was used as the stuff was supposedly taped to the inside of their legs.

Thankfully, nobody (apart from the suspect) was hurt - another lucky escape I feel

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I'd rather have more checks and be safe - so glad nobody else was hurt.

 

[ukstitch]

Rumour has it that the TSA will very soon be imposing new rules on flights heading to America.

Basically, these rules mean "Sit down, don't move, don't speak, don't even breathe!" for the last hour of the flight:

New rules imposed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration also limit on-board activities by customers and crew in U.S. airspace that may adversely impact on-board service. Among other things, during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal belongings or other items on their laps.

 

[wickesy]

As I said elsewhere - those lockers beside the seat in the upstairs Premium Economy cabin on Virgin are so useful for keeping things handy but out of sight...

 

[mikki.young]

Does that Air Canada advice mean you can't even read a book for the last hour? And woe betide anyone who misses their chance to have a comfort break or is still in the line!

I agree we all want to be safe but I have to wonder how much help this sort of restriction is. Those full body scanners sound a safer option all round.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Knee-jerk reactions from Air canada and probably more airlines.

no access to hand luggage, no movement for the last hour of a flight, no IFE.
So an economy deck full of children going to Orlando for example, "sorry johnny, you can't go to the topilet, you have to hold it" yeh right, wet seats, full babies nappys, just because the DHS did not talk to another area and make a proper check on a single guy flying to the USA who had been in the Yeman and Nigeria first.

Tell the "terrorist" that you are over american soil why don't you? "Sorry, we are an hour from Boston, so no movement" Oh, very close to American soil then.

Stupid, stupid stupid.

It will do nothing for security rather put more people off flying and thos ethat have to, an uncomfortable journey

 

[ukstitch]

I've heard some other restrictions suggested as well today The ones that stick out are no cabin announcements of aircraft location and no moving maps etc once over America.

It seems to be they want to stop attackers from targeting specific locations, but personally I think it would be pretty impressive to hit something from 35,000 feet up.

Very tongue in cheek comment coming up...

I'm starting to wonder if the best approach for airlines would be to simply issue a general anaesthetic to all passengers upon boarding the plane - that way, you could fit more passengers on the flight as you could stack people like cargo (more income), no need for food and other free conveniences (lower expenses), and no complaints from passengers because they wouldn't notice anything (100% customer satisfaction), plus of course much less risk of attack because any terrorist would also be anaesthetised

For this to work of course, you'd also have to ban hand luggage as well, otherwise they could just take some timed device onboard.

 

[wickesy]

Very tongue in cheek comment coming up...

I'm starting to wonder if the best approach for airlines would be to simply issue a general anaesthetic to all passengers upon boarding the plane - that way, you could fit more passengers on the flight as you could stack people like cargo (more income), no need for food and other free conveniences (lower expenses), and no complaints from passengers because they wouldn't notice anything (100% customer satisfaction), plus of course much less risk of attack because any terrorist would also be anaesthetised

I'd go for that - get on the plane, fall asleep, wake up at destination. It's the closest to teleportation we are going to get for a while.

 

[wideeyes]

I don't understand getting rid of the maps so you can't tell where the flight is however for the last hour of the flight you can't get out of your seat or have access to your hand luggage. Sort of defeats the object of not knowing where the flight is.

 

[ukstitch]

I don't understand getting rid of the maps so you can't tell where the flight is however for the last hour of the flight you can't get out of your seat or have access to your hand luggage. Sort of defeats the object of not knowing where the flight is.

I guess the theory is - you know you're with in 1 hour of your flight destination, but do not (for example) know when you're just over Las Vegas.

That's the only thing I can think of

 

[disneyangel]

I have also read on another forum that in flight entertainment may be suspended so skymap cannot be used to track location.

Our DD is going to be very bored in the last hour if she is not allowed to play with toys , draw or read as well as having nothing to watch for the rest of the flight and I'd better check that she need the loo at the 1.5hours to go mark.

I think the checks need to be done before you get on the plane. All these other restrictions are too late if the bomber is already onboard.

 

[wideeyes]

I guess the theory is - you know you're with in 1 hour of your flight destination, but do not (for example) know when you're just over Las Vegas.

yeah, it makes no sense to me though, must be missing the point.

How hard would it be to figure it out? confused3 , using distances, time and speed. I guess you would need to know how fast the plane is going however they must be an average speed a planes goes at.

As a security measure that one wouldn't make me feel any safer.

 

[wideeyes]

I think the checks need to be done before you get on the plane. All these other restrictions are too late if the bomber is already onboard.

I agree, I would hope they screen people and search before they are able to board the flight.

 

[wicket2005]

What also has been reported is he was on some list but not the no fly list. It would make sense for these passengers to be properly searched if they are already on some sort of watch list. It is worrying that even when the security forces knew him he was still allowed to board like any other passenger.

I always wonder what security at Orlando parks are looking for as if anyone wanted to take something dodgy in they could just carry it on their person.

 

[tennisfan]

I can't believe he slipped through security but having said that luggage isn't meant to fly unattended but it happened on an internal US flight recently. A family friend were told their flight was full so they couldn't board but it turns out the luggage was kept on the plane, this was meant to have stopped after the Lockerbie bombing. They were lucky it was a failed attempt, his father also reported him & said he was a danger

I'm all for extra security, even the full body scanners. I have nothing to hide. I can't see the not getting out of your seat etc plan working though on long haul flights

 

[disneyholic family]

I can't believe he slipped through security but having said that luggage isn't meant to fly unattended but it happened on an internal US flight recently. A family friend were told their flight was full so they couldn't board but it turns out the luggage was kept on the plane, this was meant to have stopped after the Lockerbie bombing. They were lucky it was a failed attempt, his father also reported him & said he was a danger

I'm all for extra security, even the full body scanners. I have nothing to hide. I can't see the not getting out of your seat etc plan working though on long haul flights

the rules for US airlines are as follows:
luggage can fly unattended on internal US flights.
luggage cannot fly unattended on international flights.

pretty stupid, right?
after all, the 9/11 flights were all internal...

and the idea that you can't know where you are the last hour.
So what? What difference does it make where you are - bringing the plane down is going to make a statement.

and you can't walk around for the last hour...fine....so walk around right before that - get your bomb ready - then sit in your seat and light her up...

they are being so ridiculous...

they should have put the guy on the no-fly list.
apparently there are many 'lists' and the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing..

by the way, the security in amsterdam is rubbish...
that's the flight route i often take - amsterdam to detroit...
though i'm usually on the 10:30 flight, not the earlier one (since my connecting flight only arrives after it's left)

while schiphol has the appearance of good security, it's just that - appearance....

 

[Muscateer]

Seems there is alot more to this guy. He was refused a new visa back into UK a while ago. Supposed to have been in Yemen recently. If he was on the list to be watched you would have thought he would have had to have gone through even more security checks. He got whatever it was he made through Nigerian and Amsterdam airports.

Its really scary that someone can still get on board with devices. The more security the better me thinks.

 

[HeresYourEars]

I'm for anything it takes to make things safer, and that goes for both international and domestic flights.

If that means sitting down an hour before the final approach, so be it.

 

[wideeyes]

I'm for anything it takes to make things safer, and that goes for both international and domestic flights.

If that means sitting down an hour before the final approach, so be it.

Me too, I don't mind extra searches and taking of shoes etc however I don't see how making people sit down for the final hour will make the flight safer (it will be difficult to enforce, I have seen many people ignoring instructions on a flight when told it sit down when the seat belt sign is on), the person should of been stopped before boarding the flight.