Musical Instruments & Laptop Bags

[Jordan D]

I realise there is a thread on aviation security above on this forum, and having read through that and been given some conflicting information, can I ask for help.

Am flying STN-EDI on Monday am, and wanting to know what I can take: I will be carrying my laptop in a standard laptop bag, and am wanting to take my flute in its separate case.

The DfT (on this link (http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_about/documents/page/dft_about_612280.hcsp)) state I can take the the flute as a second item of cabin baggage.

BAA Stansted towards the end of this link (http://www.stanstedairport.com/portal/controller/dispatcher.jsp?CiID=76bb00df152dd010VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&ChID=71b800df152dd010VgnVCM10000036821c0a____&Ct=B2C_CT_GENERAL&CtID=448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____&Ch=Frequently+Asked+Questions&ChPath=Home%5ESTN%5EAirport+Information%5ESecurity+Control%5 EFrequently+Asked+Questions&ChIDPath=caf397dc2eb12010VgnVCM100000147e120a____^4cf597dc2e b12010VgnVCM100000147e120a____^967797dc2eb12010VgnVCM1000001 47e120a____^26569ccef2532010VgnVCM100000147e120a____^71b800d f152dd010VgnVCM10000036821c0a____) state the same thing.

Easyjet's representative at Edinburgh was distinctly unsure of what the rules were and their website was also not clear.

Can someone help me?
Thanks,
Jordan

[Globaliser]

I think that the DfT rules (applied by BAA) are the maximum that you are allowed to take through the security checkpoint. That's an airport thing.

The airline may have more stringent restrictions applied by itself. For example, despite the fuss that RYR made, it's limiting the size of cabin baggage to less than the maximum size allowed by the DfT/BAA. So, in theory, the DfT/BAA would let a maximum size bag through the security checkpoint, but RYR might stop it boarding.

So I think you need to find out from EZY exactly what their own cabin baggage limits are. But if you're only carrying a laptop and a flute, I would have thought that you could easily get both of those into one bag that's within the DfT/BAA maximum size.

I'm thinking something like putting them both into a big M&S carrier bag ...

[lexxity]

Jordan (nice to see you BTW) do you have a smallish trolley bag that would fit in with Easyjet's cabin rules? You should be easily able to fit your laptop and flute in that.

[SXB]

Jordan, Lexxity has the right idea.

From a security point of view laptops should never be carried in laptop bags, you may as well put a sign on the bag saying "inside is an item worth €2000" I use a semi rigid rucksack which protects the screen but the bag itself is non descript. Most crime involving travellers is opportunistic so if it looks like there isn't a tasty picking they move onto someone else.

[Tolsti]

I went out from LGW-AUH Friday morning with a laptop bag and an SLR sized digital camera being carried seperately. I was told that that counted as two items so I had to cram the camera into the laptop bag (just)

[Jordan D]

Noted - unfortunately the laptop bag (and the accompanying reading matter for a Uni student!) has come down from Edinburgh so needs to get back up there ... not sure if there is a bad that would fit both - the flute case is longer than the laptop/laptop bag.

SXB - noted regarding the laptop bag: I make a point of not actually putting the bag down from security to it being at my feet on the aircraft. But an important message nonetheless.

Any advice from anyone at STN or EZY?

Jordan

[Jordan D]

As an addendum to this, having just flown the leg in question, there are no problems with having a separate music (flute) case in addition to a laptop bag ex-STN, in my experience. I thought I might have to tell one over-bosy BAA worker the rules set by her airport, but thankfully she was relieved by a much more friendly lady, who knew the rules much better!

Thanks for the advice above,
Jordan