You know, it’s not like a it’s a big secret that liquids are banned from aircraft at the moment. Some people apparently just don’t get the message. Now, as for my opening comment, we have this little factoid:
Whether you like it or not, people who “look Muslim” are getting looked at much more closely than other people. Perhaps that has to do with the fact that virtually all of the terrorists implicated or known over the past few years have been… tada! Muslim! But let’s not pay this little nugget any mind, that’s a matter for another time. No, let’s just say that this woman was, at best, colossally stupid to think that it wouldn’t be noticed. Of course, I’m going from the position that she is simply stupid and not malicious. It may not turn out that way, although it almost certainly will, so it’s the right thing to do.
Regardless, the point is that the word is out: don’t bring liquids, because they will be confiscated, you will be detained, and you will severely inconvenience and panic every passenger waiting for their flight. That is what is known as “uncool”, and will not put you at the top of anybody’s Christmas card list. Especially since this is common knowledge among anybody with a TV set, radio, or a computer with Internet, i.e. virtually everybody in the United States. And even if we assume that none of the above applies to you, that you are so devoid of contact with the rest of the world that you simply have no idea, it’s posted everywhere in every airport in the world!
The amount of stupidity in the world is utterly astonishing. This is simply the most recent display. Alas, it won’t be the last, much to our collective sorrow.
This woman had four bottles of liquid. Two of them tested positive by the screening “puffer” machine and confirmed by bomb-sniffing dogs. Later reports say the two bottles have traces of nitrate residue on the outside that could come from any number of sources. The woman also claims to have a valid reason for trying to bring these bottles on-board but that hasn’t been released yet.
Wait. I’m probably going to get branded an idiot for this, but is it really the case that any and all liquids are banned on planes these days? Just in the US or in most countries? How recent a development is this? Does it only apply to hand baggage or to checkin luggage as well?
When I left Russia in late 2004 I had two bottles of vodka (so clearly visible on the X-ray that I was amazed; I had no idea it would look like that) in my checkin luggage, but no-one said anything. This in a country that required one X-raying and metal detector to let me into the airport, another to let me check in and a third to let me board. Oh, and then a fourth at my destination.
Yep, it’s true (at least on planes leaving from here). Mainly due (well, not due. This is the excuse, anyway) to the terrorist plot with the blowing up of many planes just recently.
You’re only allowed needed medecine (like insulin) if you can show it’s actually that (i.e., you’ve got your proscription, it’s in a medical bottle) and milk for babies, which has to be tested. Nothing else; no hand lotion, no sun cream, nothing. I haven’t heard anything specifically about alcohol, but considering the greater potential for use in an explosive I think it’s safe to say that’s banned too.
No longer true, at least as a blanket statement. With the exception of America-bound flights, liquid items purchased airside can now be taken onboard when departing from the UK. And we’re the ones who started this whole fuss
Whut ? We flew out of Brussels a week ago, when the brouhaha was at its highest - as in, one see-through plastic bag per passenger as carry-on - and for all the tubes of face-lotion-of-doom being confiscated, I did not notice any panic anywhere. The main inconvenience was the marvellous combination of customs/immigrations documents and confiscated pens.
There’s liquid. The security agents ask you to check it or throw it away. You do so, then you board. Panic ? Severe inconvenience ? Humbug, says I. This was only an incident because the bomb-sniffing dogs found nitrate traces on the outside of the bottles. And because there appears to be a hair trigger on the panic button in West Virginia.
From what I read, for most routes involving the USA, it has been relaxed now to allow a small amount of liquid nonprescription medicine that may be needed aboard (cough medicine, eye drops), subject to inspection and test.
Alcoholic beverages and perfumes bought at the duty free airport shop are allowed as long as they are unopened and delivered directly from the duty-free shop, by their personnel, to the gate of the aircraft – that is, they must not be in the passenger’s control.
The hyper-restrictions are still up for the UK-US routes.
