What you CAN bring on the plane

[CdnCarrie]

According to the Canadian Air Transport Security website you are allowed to bring books and small electronic gadgets.

http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/Page.aspx?ID=26&pname=TravellerFAQs_FAQVoyageurs&lang=en

 

[disneyfan123]

So the danger in bringing these items on board would be......a papercut?

Even before all these silly regulations, we thought it was a pain to fly. Now its just plain ridiculous!
THIS is why we don't fly!

Lol, unless it is a book on how to make a hand made bomb.

 

[CdnCarrie]

We fly out tomorrow and my dh just stopped in at the airport to check with WestJet's latest guidelines: (I was on hold for.ev.er when I called and the first three times I was disconnected because "the switchboards are full. Please call again". Click.)

-you can have a diaper bag with enough stuff to change a bum. No rattles. No mirrors or toys. Wow. I pity the foo who sits next to the family with a young baby. That's hardly even fair.

-she said that we could try bringing a Nintendo DS on, but if we get a "grumpy" attendant we'd have to go back and check it.

-iPods are ok.

-We can still gate check the double Maclaren.

-no books, toys, magazines.

-headphones are for sale, don't bring our own kids ones.

Holy smokes. Well, who cares, I am going to DISNEYLAND!!!!!! : D

Why can't we just put the headphones in our purse? They just said that so you will have to buy another pair probably.

How about if I just put my DS's DS in his coat pocket. Is that considered carry on? It's not like he has a whole bag for it. I mean if he was just carrying it.

 

[disneyfreak89]

Lol, unless it is a book on how to make a hand made bomb.

Gee, I never thought of that!

 

[disneyfan123]

Why can't we just put the headphones in our purse? They just said that so you will have to buy another pair probably.

How about if I just put my DS's DS in his coat pocket. Is that considered carry on? It's not like he has a whole bag for it. I mean if he was just carrying it.

Ya I would try that. The article in the Globe and Mail today stated that you can bring "common sense" things. Their example regarding the DS was that if you had a short flight it woudl not make common sense to bring it, but if it was a long flight it would be ok. So those going to Disney should all qualify for the longer flight.

My one question: They are saying that they might make you recheck the item. How do you do that if your baggage is already checked? How do you recheck a DS or a book with nothing to put it in?

 

[Salinger]

The lady in the Globe article isn't thinking logically about travellers' needs for carry-on.

Sure, you may not need to access in-flight everything you bring in your carry-on, but that's not necessarily the point. For me, I'll be bringing my laptop, DSLR camera, ipod and eBook Reader. That's close on $3,000 worth of electronics.

It's not the fact that I need them on the plane, it's that I don't trust Air Canada to ship them in my checked luggage unharmed... if indeed they'd even make it at all!

 

[gilsan]

The lady in the Globe article isn't thinking logically about travellers' needs for carry-on.

Sure, you may not need to access in-flight everything you bring in your carry-on, but that's not necessarily the point. For me, I'll be bringing my laptop, DSLR camera, ipod and eBook Reader. That's close on $3,000 worth of electronics.

It's not the fact that I need them on the plane, it's that I don't trust Air Canada to ship them in my checked luggage unharmed... if indeed they'd even make it at all!

I agree that is my concern about carry on. I want to bring my ipod, laptop, DSLR's (with the extra lens), DS and a P&S camera. I am not about to put them in my luggage and hope they arrive at my destination. It does look like all of the above should be aloud as carry on, but it does sound like you could have a problem if you get the wrong TSA agent.

 

[Lizziejane]

I'm not so worried about whether or not my camera/lenses will be allowed on board with me, (everything suggests that won't be a problem) it's what I'm allowed to carry it on IN that's proving to be a problem. I keep reading "no backpacks", but camera bags are ok. My camera bag is a backpack. Does that mean I need a new camera bag?

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Yes my issue is also my purse is a backpack style.....its my travel purse b/c its so much more convenient.....will that be allowed?

 

[gilsan]

I'm not so worried about whether or not my camera/lenses will be allowed on board with me, (everything suggests that won't be a problem) it's what I'm allowed to carry it on IN that's proving to be a problem. I keep reading "no backpacks", but camera bags are ok. My camera bag is a backpack. Does that mean I need a new camera bag?

Our camera bag is the same, a backpack. I don't go until the end of April so I hope things are more clear then, or that the carry on ban is lifted.

I can't believe it will be permanent. Business travellers, the bulk of airlines business, can't be happy with the carry on ban.

 

[Susie63]

Yes,according to my friend who works for AC, you will need a new bag. My DH's laptop bag is also a backpack and she said it will not be allowed. Even my DD's new Disney backpack she got for xmas will not be allowed We are lucky because he has a few laptop bags at work that comply with CATSA's requirements and I am off shopping today to look for a new bag for DD. We wil pack the backpack's and use them once we get there and on the way back.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Just got off the phone with WJ. There is no problems with me bringing my backpack styled purse along as it's not a full size backpack.


Each of the kids are allowed to bring a small bag which can be a backpack as long as it's not overly large.

 

[2gr8DisneyKids]

Just got off the phone with WJ. There is no problems with me bringing my backpack styled purse along as it's not a full size backpack.


Each of the kids are allowed to bring a small bag which can be a backpack as long as it's not overly large.

Whew! That is great news about the kids and the small backpacks! Thanks for calling!

 

[monkey30]

Just got off the phone with WJ. There is no problems with me bringing my backpack styled purse along as it's not a full size backpack.


Each of the kids are allowed to bring a small bag which can be a backpack as long as it's not overly large.

yahoo that is good to know.

 

[sjerrott]

To my wonderful fellow DISers. It would be so helpful if anyone who is travelling to the US from Canada in the next few weeks could post a quick note about their experience. I've read all the forums but there is conflicting info from post to post, most likely due to the airline workers also not knowing the rules and giving different info.

I'd love to hear from somebody who has actually flown from Can to US to know if they were allowed a book, a DS, a backpack, whatever.

Let's help our fellow Canadians - I'm happy to post on February 6th when we travel.

Susan

 

[Terapin]

We just returned from a YYZ-MCO MCO-YYZ flight and found the security pretty heavy at Pearson.

We carried coats and my one purse, which is neither big nor small, and it was stuffed full. I did get asked at security if my purse contained only essentials, and I responded "yes". We checked in at the AC desk (about an hour wait for a 1645 flight) and were reminded of the rules. The clerk looked at my purse and gave it the go ahead. Our bags were not weighed. We took our bags through to the US security desk for our interview with a US customs slips. There we were asked the usual questions and had our passports and boarding passes stamped and then were able to walk through and drop our bags at a conveyor belt.

We also went through scanners and xray equipment, and they also used the wand metal detector.

Later we were patted down (thoroughly, by same-sex guards) and my purse was thoroughly examined (everything), as well as our coats, just before we got to the gate area. My purse was not stowed on the flight, but we weren't allowed to use any electronic stuff or personal headphones during ascent or descent. AC gave our headphones for free. They also weren't allowed to tell us where were were in the air, and the satellite map was not working.

Once on the ground it was all business as usual and easy-peasy.

On the way home we flew Westjet and found things to be different. Our bags were checked at the check-in counter and we then went through a large area of screening that was busy. We walked through a scanner and our bags were x-rayed, and that was it. It was identical to the other times we flew. We had one security clearance and that was all. In flight there were no restrictions on electronic games, except those that transmit signals, and headphones weren't restricted. The satellite map worked fine. Our bags were not an issue at all, and no one seemed to take any notice of them. On the ground customs (5pm) was fast and easy. Time from landing to being picked up was 15 mins.

Hope that helps!

 

[Lizziejane]

Just got off the phone with WJ. There is no problems with me bringing my backpack styled purse along as it's not a full size backpack.


Each of the kids are allowed to bring a small bag which can be a backpack as long as it's not overly large.

oh man...they really don't like to make this easy, do they?! I mean seriously, what are the measurements of a "full-sized backpack"?! Last I checked they came in about 100 different sizes!

I'd prefer it if they just gave a simple "yes" or "no" answer. Period. No discussion. Instead of all this ambiguity. My "backpack" for my camera is approx. 16"x10"x8". That's not "full size", right? I have another backpack for camera gear that is quite a bit larger, which is why I'd leave it at home this time.

Hopefully, things will calm down or get straightened out before the end of the month.

 

[Lizziejane]

Yes,according to my friend who works for AC, you will need a new bag. My DH's laptop bag is also a backpack and she said it will not be allowed. Even my DD's new Disney backpack she got for xmas will not be allowed We are lucky because he has a few laptop bags at work that comply with CATSA's requirements and I am off shopping today to look for a new bag for DD. We wil pack the backpack's and use them once we get there and on the way back.

ok....this is where I start to get really confused... AC say one thing, WJ another. The problem though, is that really it isn't their call at all. It's the guy at the security gate. And by all accounts, they're being totally inconsistent.

I think next time I'll drive to Fargo, and fly from there!

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

so after jsut reading the 2 questions to hubby of what defines what we can take etc.....small problem- its clear as mud!!! the first question says what a carry on is and that personal items- including the two bags that were not allowed to use- are not types of carry ons as they are exceptions.

go to the next question: it states were not allowed to bring anything on with us except for the above mentioned exceptions.

can you say total mass confusion??? so we can take these items with us, but have no bags aside from purses or those lucky ones of us diaper bags. or sorry a laptop bag....

scroll further down and it says in a different question were not allowed to bring carry ons on board. so im still scratching my head as to what were supposed to place the exception items in!

please oh please let this be resolved by april.

oh does anyone know about portable dvd players?

 

[Tinkermom76]

oh does anyone know about portable dvd players?

there is a place on the CATSA website where you can ask a question. I sent one asking about DS's but it says they can take 5 business days to respond and it's only been 2