Hand baggage restrictions

[Pluto]

Can anyone tell me whether you can take a book in your hand luggage when flying to US.

I really can't face a 9 hour flight without my book, and will need it even more this year as we are flying Charter - with no choice of films!

[Sniff]

I believe books are OK as long as they fit in the reduced hand luggage size

The Department For Transport site has the latest info
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/group...ut_612280.hcsp

[Katys Grandad]

I'm sure you can take books as long as they fit in the small carry-on bag currently permitted.

I heard on the radio today that the carry-on bag size would probably be back to normal "within weeks". Frankly, the UK government is now looking a little stupid being so out of step with virtually every other country's carry-on restrictions.

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:I'm sure you can take books as long as they fit in the small carry-on bag currently permitted.

I heard on the radio today that the carry-on bag size would probably be back to normal "within weeks". Frankly, the UK government is now looking a little stupid being so out of step with virtually every other country's carry-on restrictions.[/quote]

Agreed.

The Frequent Flyer forums are full of complaints from those transiting through London.

Currently they can fly from virtually anywhere in the world to London with normal size cabin luggage. When they get to London they have to check those bags in the hold for their onward flight to Europe etc.

Many are looking to see if they can transit through other European cities(e.g. Paris, Franfurt). This means BA and Virgin are the airlines that will lose passengers and Air France, Lufthansa etc gain them.

Once again the UK Government takes carefull aim - and shoots itself in the foot!

[Jill]

On the news today was a report from one of our local airports. Surprise, surprise anyone with a small plane available for charter at the moment is raking it in. Companies are hiring the planes for business trips to europe as the current restrictions on hand luggage size and what you can and not carry do not apply. There is also an increase in families holidaying in Europe hiring them to take them abroad rather than face the same restrictions.

[ShirleyD]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:I'm sure you can take books as long as they fit in the small carry-on bag currently permitted.

I heard on the radio today that the carry-on bag size would probably be back to normal "within weeks". Frankly, the UK government is now looking a little stupid being so out of step with virtually every other country's carry-on restrictions.[/quote]

Agreed.

The Frequent Flyer forums are full of complaints from those transiting through London.

Currently they can fly from virtually anywhere in the world to London with normal size cabin luggage. When they get to London they have to check those bags in the hold for their onward flight to Europe etc.

Many are looking to see if they can transit through other European cities(e.g. Paris, Franfurt). This means BA and Virgin are the airlines that will lose passengers and Air France, Lufthansa etc gain them.

Once again the UK Government takes carefull aim - and shoots itself in the foot!
[/quote]
As after 9/11 there has been an excesive continued reaction by the Government, many of their decisions were comercial and as now didn't make any sense. Why were we banned from eating with blunt metal knives and forks, but allowed to take a glass bottle of duty free onboard?
I have no problem with enhanced security and feel anyway, our security is very good, but what difference does the size of a bag make...unless they are covering for the shortage of staff at BAA airports after recent cutbacks and why can't I take a lipstick [msnmad]

[SDJ]

We travelled from Exeter to Verona, Italy last week. The night before I phoned the airport and asked about lipstick and was told not allowed. Being a good girl, I did not put any in my hand luggage, but what I did do was get 2 business cards and put a smear of vaseline between them. This just kept my lips moist for the not too long journey. However, waiting to go through security, I saw a girl put lipsalve on, then put it in her pocket. She went through - no questions asked. When I went through, the security lady was doing my pat down so I asked her why had they allowed someone to go through with lipstick. She said 'oh, the rules may have probably changed'. I told her that at 2100 the previous evening the rules were the rules. My point being, if the security staff don't know the rules - are we safe or not?

Travelling back yesterday, the airport staff in Italy did not even ask us the normal 'has anyone given you anything to take on board' and no mention of what we would or could not take on board. It made me very uncomfortable that security was so lax. Terrorists could be anywhere, not just in London.

Sandra

[Cruella DeVilla]

When I flew from Manchester last week it was all very tight but bearable, the only thing I missed was my lipsalve/lipstick and had dry lips when I arrived after an hours flight to Koln but when I flew back into Manchester on Sunday night I had two cans of coke, lipsticks, vasaline, face lotion, gel headache tablets and a gift box containing 12 mini bottles of Asbach!

I think it will be back to normal in the near future with maybe just some restrictions on the US flights remaining.

[steph_goodrum]

Last week (Friday) there was no problem taking laptops, phones, camers, books etc on Virgin. Hubby did remember at pre boarding bag check (that was more thourough than initial security check, the bags were xrayed but not checked there) that he had a tube of prescribed hydrocortisone cream on him in his medication but no label, he mentioned it to the Virgin guy who said that will fine just put it back in (but did ask him to take a puff of his asthma inhaler - bit strange really as I'm sure they aren't medically trained and for all he knew it could have made my husband overdose his medication (esoecially had it it been the steroid one rather than salbutamol.