SECURITY - Revised Uk Rules (14 Aug 2006)

[IB4138]

My wife had her handbaggage refused at Blackpool yesterday at security, because of the medication she was carrying, in tablet form. Firstly, the two boxes of tablets she had did not have a UK pharmacists label stuck on the side of it, as it would have if dispensed in the UK from a UK doctor's prescription. Being a Spanish resident, the required label does not exist on her medication. Here labels are not slapped on the side of medications by chemists, ( another waste of money by the NHS) as they are dispensed in the original box, in quantities as supplied by the drug manufacturer, complete with their instructions. Secondly, because she requires a smaller dose of one medication than is available in these tablets in Spain, she carries a small bottle with a few of these tablets cut into fours, for immediate use, when required. It is not sealed and the contents can be inspected, which they were.That was a total no no, baggage had to be checked in. The medication could have been required on the journey, but that cut no ice, and one medication comes, with a price printed on the box of €101.

These muppets at Blackpool need to wake up. Every country does not have the same draconian rules and labelling requirements for drugs on prescription as the UK. I did not think there was a ban on taking medications in your hand baggage in tablet form. Clearly at Blackpool there is.

Is this how Blackpool wants to attract more passengers?

[ShedsRus]

Malaga & AQ

This may not be the right forum for this but I'm sure Mr Moderator will put me right.

I'm a GA pilot and very frequent SLF. Ref the two 'Arab' wallahs slung off a holiday flight 'cause the pax didn't like the look of them.
Surely the pilot is in charge of the flight. Once the pilot had satisfied himself that the two had passed security and did not pose a threat then he could have allowed them to travel. Those bucket and spade merchants (probably related to those who beat up a paediatrition (excuse the spelling) 'cause they couldn't tell the difference between her and a peadofile (again exthespell)) should then have been told that the 'arabs' were travelling and if they didn't like it they could make their own way home.

I just feel that because the Govt have gone OTT, nobody trusts them and the measures - as has been mentioned here are so inconsistent) everybody is s****t**ng bricks every time they see a Moslem.

Thanks for reading. Hope I haven't offended anybody and that I can have a reasoned answer

[Bangkokeasy]

I had the unpleasant experience of boarding a flight from LHR T3 on Saturday. I will go out of my way to avoid such an experience again.

I have absolutely nothing good to say about BAA. It took nearly an hour to get through the procedures - and I was travelling A class. The poor cattle at the back were taking hours. And of course, finally reaching the security checkpoint, one machine is not in use!

I have passed through about 50 airports since 9/11 and there is nowhere which is more of a shambles than LHR (OK, possibly LAX comes close).

If it is really necessary to impose these restrictions (and I beginning to severely doubt that), then suficient resources MUST be allocated to the job. It remains a national disgrace that SLF are subjected to the infuriating mess that is LHR. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!!

[DON T]

RYANAIR NEW CHECK IN PROCEDURES

Visit: http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/notic...=060822-ASP-EN

[Globaliser]

Originally Posted by DON T

RYANAIR NEW CHECK IN PROCEDURES

And see existing thread here.

[BellEndBob]

My view, and I don't care who I offend, is that the real reason it is a shambles at UK airports (especially LHR) comes down to the simple fact that the individuals who are checking your bags, unable to think on their feet, unable to make sensible decisions are doing that job because they are unable to get gainful employment elsewhere.
If you are going to have security, then do it properly. Policemen and other security 'specialists'. Sensible profiling is also a part of that process and, whether you like it or not, that means stopping far more Middle Eastern gentlemen than little old ladies and kids.
We are, however, a very liberal society and so it is probably only a matter of time before we are treated to yet another 'News Flash'.

[TightSlot]

Originally Posted by BellEndBob

My view, and I don't care who I offend...

It's never wise, in my experience, not to care who you offend

Would those same individuals, if properly trained, paid and given a degree of empowerment perform their tasks better and more efficiently? I don't know the answer to this, but it seems a reasonable question to ask.

[BellEndBob]

Yes, I believe they would. At the moment however, they are a cheap labour force that helps BAA create the illusion that security is tight and 'grown up'.

[Man-on-the-fence]

BBC Link

So it seems the hand luggage rules may be realxed in the near future (hopefully in the next two weeks for me) but still no liquids. I can probably live with that I suppose.

Two questions though. I have checked the BAA Website and that of my carrier (United) and I cannot see anything that specifically forbids them, but can somebody let me know if cameras are allowed on board in hand luggage (subject to the size restrictions of the day).

Also, I have to keep a Salbutamol inhaler with me for Asthma. I have just had a new prescription made up and I now have the prescipton labels attached directly to the inhaler (usually attached to the box). Is this likely to be enough or will it cause problems if I have them at all (to not have them will cause me problems).

Any help much appreciated.

[Bangkokeasy]

I know it is tempting to have a go at the security screeners for supposed unqualified ineffectiveness, especially after having queued for hours for your couple of minutes of scrutiny. However, I have to say that I have not seen anything at LHR to suggest that these people are inadequately trained or not doing their jobs; actually being screened doesn't seem to take much longer than anywhere else and the screeners are not letting their standards slip. For instance, a few in front of me, a toddler walked through the scanner while still holding his rattle, which was spotted, carefully removed from his fist and x-rayed (rather well handled, I thought, avoiding the expected tantrum).

The issue is that of inadequate resources applied to the task. Compare this to other airports where there are no queues and you will see what I mean.

I am therefore, polite with the screeners, performing their job under tough circumstances. On the other hand, for the crime of needlessly infuriating millions of travellers, the responsible management should be shot, poisoned, hung, drawn, quartered, buried in excrement and made to re-live the experience for all eternity.

[BellEndBob]

Bankokeasy

They took a rattle off a toddler and X-Rayed it.

I rest my case.

[Bangkokeasy]

With hindsight, perhaps not the best example.

However, he was brandishing it in an extremely intimidating manner...

[radeng]

I came through T4 a week ago. Security people were more than a bit fed up -comment "I'll be glad when we get back to normal'" I asked why there weren't more people and he said they can't get them. So I asked if they could if BAA would pay better. ' Ah' he says, 'Now you've the hit the nub of the question. But they can afford lots of managers!'
I think my advice is 'Don't fly unless you really have to. Avoid flying to the UK or the US unless you REALLY REALLY have to. If possible, avoid carrying a computer'.
All of which advice is totally useless if you travel as much as I do on business!
But if people stop flying and BAA profits go down, they may get some backsides kicked enough to realise this travellers misery can't go on. meanwhile, BAA appear to be trying to wreck the UK airline business.

[10secondsurvey]

Originally Posted by Bangkokeasy

for the crime of needlessly infuriating millions of travellers, the responsible management should be shot, poisoned, hung, drawn, quartered, buried in excrement and made to re-live the experience for all eternity.

Bangkok, you are so correct with this view. The main issue is a failure on the part of BAA management to fully invest in the required number of personnel, with the correct training.

In light of events over the last five years or so, every Airport security operation should be set up with the capacity, management and skill set to handle crisis periods such as this, without introducing massive delays into the system. BAA can't say they were not warned.

Here's a question for the geniuses at BAA - 'do you think something similar may happen again within the next five years? If so, what plans are you making to avoid the fiasco we have just seen?' More shops?

I really think BAA management needs a good kicking, and if they fail to improve, then we could adopt your proposal. There would probably be a long queue of FF's keen to assist you.

Never forget, every time we fly, we actually pay for these BAA management clowns.

[Final 3 Greens]

10secondsurvey

I strongly object to your comparison of BAA management to clowns.

Clowns are highly skilled professionals who create a superb illusion of stupidityand incompetence.

[PAXboy]

F3g Thanks, that cheered me up.

When I went through LHR 8 days ago (Hhmm, did it feel like Eight Days A Week???) most of the extra people security people that I met were office staff pulled in to help and were smart, polite and intelligent. Most security people are not, for the same reason that the hapless soul sitting in the security office on night duty at a factory or other location - people will not pay good money for the job. They consider it a non-job that anyone can do and pay a pittance. The human desire to save (and therefore make) money will always prevail.

[Haven't a clue]

Isn't the next stage to create a suitable vocational qualification for airport security personnel requiring attendance at an approved course for an approved period (such course to include not only security screening practice and technique but also customer service and queuing theory) followed by a suitable practical test and written examination. Security staff at UK airports will need to be so qualified within say the next three months. Sounds like a smart move a beaurocrat at DfT might think up, but such an approach would lift the standards and thus pay for the job and improve the process no end.

Of course it would cost money, but that would be passed on to the fare paying public as the government continues to refuse to accept any financial responsibility for their actions.

It would also give BAA an excuse for their poor performance over the next few months - "All our staff are on training courses.."

On a more serious note I passed through IOM, LPL, LCY and LGW over the last two weeks. Everyone was polite, the queues were perfectly acceptable and I had no cause to complain. Thank you all.

[ShedsRus]

Cameras et al

Having left those two 'Arabs' (who turned out to be Indians talking hindi, or Pakistanis talking Urdu, depending on which journalist is reporting the "facts" (ha ha) I would like to move on to the restrictions being placed on my human rights. I have a camera bag which meets the dimensions in all but one vital aspect - it's not tall and slim, it's squat and wide. THat was is just handy for the extra shirt and pants required for a weekend away. Poked it at BA BHX the other day and was told to try it in the MD (it was blatantly obvious it wasn't going to fit). Told in no uncertain terms that was not acceptable and, if I tried to get it through, it was in the hold. Not with 3Ks worth of cameras, a 12.50 shirt and 3.50 knickers in it it's not!!
I, therefore, informed them that - until commonsense prevailed my modest 5 - 6K per annum I spend with them (Plus the money spent with other carriers) would be spent on driving, or entraining, to the Continent to fly with those same carriers probably at much cheaper fares even allowing for the extra travelling.
You will not be surprised to hear that their concern was underwhelming.
Before air transport, in the UK, goes the way of the dinosaur will somebody tell me how we can get some commonsense into this.
Terrorists, by their very mindset, will not be diverted from their path (See Olympics Munich, Underground Tokyo etc) so the best we will ever do is minimise their effect. By inconveniencing everybody on the planet we are doing their work for them.

[1DC]

Doesn't seem as if the lesson has been learned yet.
Young daughter came home from Oz yesterday, no problem MEL to LHR.
She then missed her flight from LHR to MAN because of long queues at the T4 to T1/T2 transit security point.
She would have been ok if all the x ray machines were being used, but no, only one in operation.
The customer will only be messed with for so long and then they find an alternative....

[derekl]

AArrrggghhh!

I dread the arrival of the bomber who plans to use explosive underpants. Then we'll all REALLY be in trouble.