Hand Luggage - One Bag Rule Already Relaxed?

Voyager2002

LB1985 wrote: »

I largely disagree with that. The machines and staff coped before the one bag limit was put in place...

Yes, but scans were fairly superficial and there was a significant risk that passengers could smuggle fluids on to the aeroplane. Rigorous searches of each bag take a little longer, hence the new rules on the number of bags.

Call_Centre_Guru

Still in place at Gatwick last week I dont think EMA is a BAA controlled airport so that might be the reason why.

LB1985

The rules are laid down by the Department for Transport (DfT) and should apply to all UK airports. There is talk of the (pointless) rules being changed in 2008...

luci

The one bag rule is set to be relaxed on 7 January, but only at airport which have the new scanners which can scan the bags quicker and more thoroughly.

However I called Aberdeen Airport and asked if they would have these scanners and be relaxing the rules and was told that their scanners (presumably not new) would be OK.

I won't find out if this is the case until we fly from there in April. We are flying from Edinburgh tomorrow before the change comes in.

soolin

Flew out from Gatwick 10 days ago and the one bag rule was very strictly enforced and a lady in front of me at the scanning thing was turned back and told to dump some of her items as she had a large cardboard box as well as a rucksack.

However coming back from Cancun yesterday there was no enforcement at all. people were barely able to struggle under the weight of the various bags, cases, cameras etc that they were carrying through. One family appeared to have their main suitcases with them and were waved through security with no problem..I'm just pleased I wasn't sitting near them on the flight as they must have taken up several overhead lockers.

LB1985

soolin wrote: »

However coming back from Cancun yesterday there was no enforcement at all. people were barely able to struggle under the weight of the various bags, cases, cameras etc that they were carrying through. One family appeared to have their main suitcases with them and were waved through security with no problem..I'm just pleased I wasn't sitting near them on the flight as they must have taken up several overhead lockers.

The rules only apply to flights departing the UK. The sooner they are relaxed, the better!

soolin

I don't want the rules relaxed though, I am happy with one good sized bag, what else can I possibly want to carry on a flight? I've had too many experiences of sitting near people who take up every bit of overhead storage with their stuff leaving me to either sit with mine by my feet for a long haul flight or even worse have it stowed at the other end of the aircraft by the stewards.

ali1972

I flew from Heathrow to Frankfurt and back a couple of weeks ago and the rules at Heathrow were still strict. I saw some poor person have to throw an entire box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the bin at Security - I did feel for them because I was behind them at the bag check in queue and it looked like no-one told them they would have to put them in their hold luggage. However, I find they do offer more advice at airports other than Heathrow.

Like the poster above I agree that the one bag rule does mean that there is some room in the overhead lockers these days. I'm just glad that laptop bags are soon to be allowed in additional to my humble handbag - because the size of some people's one piece of hand baggage sometimes takes the proverbial!