UK security & a woman's handbag
Thread Starter
UK security & a woman's handbag
Flew back to BRU out of BHX with my CEO (that’s the wife) yesterday. At security she was told that she couldn’t go through with her (small) handbag and her (medium) carry-on bag. She was however allowed to put one inside the other. 
Surely a small lady’s handbag should be exempt from the 1 piece restriction. Needless to say, she doesn't have this hassle anywhere else in Europe. Whilst Europe may have come to some form of common agreement about liquids, the rest is still anyone’s guess depending on airport and/or country of departure. Very very frustrating for SLF.
Surely a small lady’s handbag should be exempt from the 1 piece restriction. Needless to say, she doesn't have this hassle anywhere else in Europe. Whilst Europe may have come to some form of common agreement about liquids, the rest is still anyone’s guess depending on airport and/or country of departure. Very very frustrating for SLF.
Too mean to buy a long personal title
The one piece rule that has been in operation in the UK since August is the rule that should now be applied across the EU after the new EU-wide change last week. It does have the advantage of being simple to understand and simple to apply.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: luxembourg
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One-bag rule
At Stansted on October 15th in the appalling chaos caused by BAA's lack of security staff, people were told "Only one bag" before they got to passport control. There were no tables or flat surfaces around apart from the floor (as usual in most airports), so pax were scrambling around stuffing handbags and laptop bags into their other bag. Pointless pointing out to the idiots in charge that the laptop would have to be taken out again when we got to security check.
When we got to security check, laptops and bathroom stuff had to be taken out again.
On the plane, no body minded if you had more than one bag.
What a bunch of circus clowns security are!
When we got to security check, laptops and bathroom stuff had to be taken out again.
On the plane, no body minded if you had more than one bag.
What a bunch of circus clowns security are!
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Ah yes. That one bag per person prior to security screening.
I have a small satchel with the essentials (wallet, pda, ipod, etc) and the nav bag with the lappy etc stashed in it. I play the game. Before getting to security I remove the lappy and that frees up enough space in the nav bag to stuff my satchel in it. Sure, it isn't tidy or elegant but the security folks are "happy".
Once through x-ray I sort it all out and no one says a word as I board the aircraft.
Oh, and of course I can buy a tonne of stuff and cart that on board too.
One bag? One big joke.
I have a small satchel with the essentials (wallet, pda, ipod, etc) and the nav bag with the lappy etc stashed in it. I play the game. Before getting to security I remove the lappy and that frees up enough space in the nav bag to stuff my satchel in it. Sure, it isn't tidy or elegant but the security folks are "happy".
Once through x-ray I sort it all out and no one says a word as I board the aircraft.
Oh, and of course I can buy a tonne of stuff and cart that on board too.
One bag? One big joke.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Hey Mike,
That banana is used to bribe one of the engineers at LCY.
He really does like them.
That banana is used to bribe one of the engineers at LCY.
He really does like them.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: here there and everywhere
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What really p
s me off is the way the open up your handbag and empty its content there, in front of everybody, and when I try to ask them to wear gloves (I used to share a house with a securicor agent and I can tell you where his hands where spending most of their time) I get really strong reactions.
Besides, I do not want the whole airport to see the entire content of my handbag....my work colleagues knew I was pregnant before my other half, thanks to one of those at Jubilee House. 
MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
s me off is the way the open up your handbag and empty its content there, in front of everybody, and when I try to ask them to wear gloves (I used to share a house with a securicor agent and I can tell you where his hands where spending most of their time) I get really strong reactions.Besides, I do not want the whole airport to see the entire content of my handbag....my work colleagues knew I was pregnant before my other half, thanks to one of those
at Jubilee House. MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Too mean to buy a long personal title
How many bags per person do you think the security screeners should have to look at?
Since security staff inspect pax boarding cards, could they not perhaps have the intelligence to identify those with C or F boarding passes and thus the right to 2 items of hand luggage? What is absurd is that Security policies are now effectively overruling airline policies regarding service to their premium clients. However, BRUpax's point is that a relatively small lady's handbag should be exempt, and he's right.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Gobaliser
The one piece rule that has been in operation in the UK since August is the rule that should now be applied across the EU after the new EU-wide change last week. It does have the advantage of being simple to understand and simple to apply.
In my experience, C class pax can still take 2 pcs.
As ever, the UK knows best and is out of step with the others.
Avman
Turkeys and Xmas come to mind.
The UK must be losing a lot of transfer traffic.
The one piece rule that has been in operation in the UK since August is the rule that should now be applied across the EU after the new EU-wide change last week. It does have the advantage of being simple to understand and simple to apply.
In my experience, C class pax can still take 2 pcs.
As ever, the UK knows best and is out of step with the others.
Avman
Turkeys and Xmas come to mind.
The UK must be losing a lot of transfer traffic.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The long-haired CO has just phoned from LGW, due to fly back to CIA this evening. Flying from CIA just two days ago, she was allowed to take a carry-on case plus a handbag. The only plastic bags available (for sale) at CIA were exactly the same as those you put fruit and veg into at Tescos, i.e. tie-up and not ziplock, and in 3-litre size (not the one litre required, apparently) by the new EU law.
No problems, she already had makeup, toothpaste ready to transfer to a clear bag, as instructed, and sailed through security in the middle of the bomb scare that was going on.
At LGW, no deal: handbag only allowed as cabin baggage. What has really galled her tonight, is the attitude at LGW security where her tube of face-fixer was taken away and binned because it was 115ml. However, the operative word here is 'was', i.e. that was the quantity when full and, as she demonstrated to the 'security guard', the tube was over 3/4 empty.
So can anybody tell me, what is the rule on quantity?
Secondly, when is somebody going to start ensuring that security guards apply a modicum of common sense - although this would entail employing people with common sense in the first place.
No problems, she already had makeup, toothpaste ready to transfer to a clear bag, as instructed, and sailed through security in the middle of the bomb scare that was going on.
At LGW, no deal: handbag only allowed as cabin baggage. What has really galled her tonight, is the attitude at LGW security where her tube of face-fixer was taken away and binned because it was 115ml. However, the operative word here is 'was', i.e. that was the quantity when full and, as she demonstrated to the 'security guard', the tube was over 3/4 empty.
So can anybody tell me, what is the rule on quantity?
Secondly, when is somebody going to start ensuring that security guards apply a modicum of common sense - although this would entail employing people with common sense in the first place.
Last edited by Gerontocrat; 23rd Nov 2006 at 15:31. Reason: Phrase missing
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The rules, stupid though they are, are clearly defined by the size of the container. http://www.baa.co.uk/assets/B2CPorta...ules061106.gif
In the US you are apparently allowed to take empty bottles airside, but not at BAA Shopping Malls.
In the US you are apparently allowed to take empty bottles airside, but not at BAA Shopping Malls.
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
Age: 72
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's not just handbags which cause trouble
Mrs gdiphil yesterday went on Ryanair to Dublin and back for the day, out of LGW. Since she loves me so much she bought some Irish whiskey marmalade in a 240 gms jar. Was she allowed to get through security at Dublin? You know she wasn't. I now have to deal with the fallout and I am not happy either. What a silly rule. When she went earlier in the year I got my marmalade. Now I don't. Of course she could have paid extra and checked it in. Quite simply air travel is becoming bizarre. Looks like it is little jars in future such as you get at breakfast in hotels. Oh well. Meanwhile on two trips to Oz this year I think I got a penknife in my hand luggage through Heathrow security both in terminal four last April and terminal three in September. I had forgotten it was there. Flying out of Alice Springs in September I was pulled over and told I have a knife in my hand luggage. Mystified I search the bag and the security bloke was absolutely correct. He rightly seized it. So now I've got no penknife to spread my non existent marmalade. Is this an example of joined up thinking on the part of the worldwide aviation security industry? On another point it was Mrs gdiphil's first trip with Ryanair and she was very pleased with the cleanliness of the aircraft, that it was a punctual trip, reasonable leg room, and pleasant staff. She liked the price too.
Last edited by gdiphil; 23rd Nov 2006 at 17:39. Reason: To correct a wrong impression
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the answer. I've tabled it to herself - still fuming - who inter alia commented: "Clearly a man who wrote the regulations!"
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<<<< "Clearly a man who wrote the regulations!" >>>>
Someone, somewhere (or a committee, or some other beaucratic group of idiots, national, or international) decided that 100 ml containers of liquids/gels in a plastic bag would not contribute to a explosion or other serious damage to aircraft.
So, who, why, where (& when)?? Yeah, I know, "national security threat" - can't tell you! Rubbish!!
Someone, somewhere (or a committee, or some other beaucratic group of idiots, national, or international) decided that 100 ml containers of liquids/gels in a plastic bag would not contribute to a explosion or other serious damage to aircraft.
So, who, why, where (& when)?? Yeah, I know, "national security threat" - can't tell you! Rubbish!!
However, it seems they then gave this information to whoever drafted the regulation: and whoever that was had failed their 11+ Verbal Reasoning and Common Entrance Maths (their understanding of volumes was, shall we say, limited!).
BTW, the long-haired CO also had two, nicely wrapped 970g Christmas Puddings and two jars of mincemeat (still in their security wrap with security seal in place). The two jars were binned by security (no doubt to be retrieved later), but the puds got through. Go figure, as they say.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Brussels
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"The two jars were binned by security (no doubt to be retrieved later),....."
Hmmm... an interesting point; are all of the items confiscated destroyed or are they now "perks of the job"? Will the marmalade end up on the table in the security operatives restroom being spread by the confiscated penknives?!
Hmmm... an interesting point; are all of the items confiscated destroyed or are they now "perks of the job"? Will the marmalade end up on the table in the security operatives restroom being spread by the confiscated penknives?!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: bedlam
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mike Jenvey, absolutely...!!
Its inconvenient but worth proving a point that the same 400ML can be spread through 4x 100ML containers.. I thought the same.
I was stood at LHR T4 downstairs bus stop for Hatton Cross a couple of weeks ago. 2x "temps" (those hired to stand pre-security/departures channel) walked past, seemingly they had just gone off duty and were waiting for a bus also. The 2x lads were bragging to one another about the perfume that they had confiscated that day - and were taking it home... Disgraceful.
Its inconvenient but worth proving a point that the same 400ML can be spread through 4x 100ML containers.. I thought the same.
I was stood at LHR T4 downstairs bus stop for Hatton Cross a couple of weeks ago. 2x "temps" (those hired to stand pre-security/departures channel) walked past, seemingly they had just gone off duty and were waiting for a bus also. The 2x lads were bragging to one another about the perfume that they had confiscated that day - and were taking it home... Disgraceful.
Lady Lexxington
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: The Manor House
Age: 43
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You want stupid, how about this? Today at MAN one of my collegues was asked to take her hair bobble out because it had metal in it! My other collegue was asked to take her hair clip out, so now you have the sight of staff redressing themselves and redoing their hair before leaving for their work ares.
FFS.
FFS.
The Analog Kid
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brecon Beacons National Park
Age: 57
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You want stupid, how about this? Today at MAN one of my collegues was asked to take her hair bobble out because it had metal in it! My other collegue was asked to take her hair clip out, so now you have the sight of staff redressing themselves and redoing their hair before leaving for their work ares.
FFS.
FFS.
"I'm terribly sorry, I'm not doing that; it's ridiculous."
"Well you can't come through then"
"Well, 150 people arent' going to Malaga/Geneva/Amsterdam/wherever then."
How many times do you think you'd have to do this for the nonsense to end? I realise solidarity and putting oneself on the line for the sake of others went out of fashion in the eighties in the UK but "If you tolerate this..."
Cheers,
Rich.