Travel Alert

[cornutt]

Hate to intrude on DF with something from the "outside" world, but I know that a lot of DF'ers fly a lot, and I wanted everyone to have a heads up. Here's what I've been able to find out so far:

The British government has broken up a major terrorist plot this morning to bomb trans-Atlantic airline flights. Effective immediately, there are a bunch of new restrictions concerning what you can carry on the aircraft in the UK and the US. The US restrictions are basically that you cannot have any items in your carry-ons containing liquids, pastes, gels, etc. That means no beverages (you can't buy a cup of coffee in the terminal and carry it on). No toothpaste, no lotions, no hair sprays, no cough syrup, etc. There are exceptions for baby formula and liquid perscription medicines only. The rules for checked baggage are not changed; you can still check these items.

The UK is even more restrictive right now. Basically, as I understand it, the only items that British travelers may carry on board are wallets, passports, identification papers, eye glasses (without cases), baby formula and sanitary items, and female sanitary items. Women may not carry their purses on. I don't know if they have changed any of the rules for checked baggage or not.

From the sound of it, if you are in London and are trying to fly to the U.S., don't count on being able to get out today. It sounds like they aren't going to allow any flights from London to any U.S. destinations other than JFK and maybe Atlanta or Miami today. Also, I understand that all inbound flights from other countries to Heathrow have been cancelled today, although I may not have heard that part right. In any event, if you have a flight scheduled to fly into Heathrow today or tomorrow, you had better check with your airline. It sounds like it's going to be a mess there for several days.

Be careful today, folks. If you are flying, be alert for any unusual behavior. If you are an experienced traveler, and your instincts tell you that something isn't right, then it probably isn't.

[mamboqueen]

Kudos to the authorities over there for finding this. I wonder if the flight they turned around 2 days ago (heading to Boston from England) was related.

[fascination]

pro flies tomorrow...this made his day...and dh was going to finalnd until a settlement cam up.....what a nightmare...further evidence that I should forego the trip to the docotr for an anti-anxiety med in order to fly...FORGET that!!!

[Peaches]

Yeah, I thought something was odd when I got off the train this morning and there were cops with bomb dogs everywhere. Hmmm...

Now they've got all of Union Station blocked off, so far as I can see.

And, of course, DH is in Vegas this week...due to fly home tonight. I wonder how that's going to go.

Me...I'll still fly. I figure, when your number's up, it's up. I pay my life insurance premiums. I just refuse to curtail my life that much...there's too much to see and do that I can't drive to.

[mamboqueen]

Yeah, I thought something was odd when I got off the train this morning and there were cops with bomb dogs everywhere. Hmmm...

Now they've got all of Union Station blocked off, so far as I can see.

And, of course, DH is in Vegas this week...due to fly home tonight. I wonder how that's going to go.

Me...I'll still fly. I figure, when your number's up, it's up. I pay my life insurance premiums. I just refuse to curtail my life that much...there's too much to see and do that I can't drive to.

a) The dogs can be unnerving. Didn't have them here in Boston, but I hear the gov called in for the National Guard;

b) Right now, you're probably perfectly safe to fly. Security probably can't be any higher/greater than it is right now.

c) I'm with you. A lady got killed driving through a tunnel in Boston at 11:30 p.m. one night a month ago. They were the only car in the tunnel. Her number, unfortunately, was up. Very sad.

[Peaches]

Slightly OT...

So, they've got all the roads and the circle in front of Union Station completely blocked off to traffic but people can still walk a bit. I mean, there are NO CARS moving around.

It's funny to see the pedestrians who will still stand at a corner and wait for a walk light...

[cornutt]

It's funny to see the pedestrians who will still stand at a corner and wait for a walk light...

Must not be any New Yorkers among them. :D

[chandra]

Ive been hearing that if your going to fly this week, even just within the US plan on getting to the airport 3 hours early. Dont pack anything liquid in your carryon, and they are going to look through all carryons, so better yet, dont carry anything on.

[SDsalsaguy]

Here's the most up to date information I've seen posted...

Due to additional carry-on baggage procedures issued by federal authorities, some airports may be experiencing heavy congestion. Please allow plenty of time for security screening.

Effective immediately, no liquids or gels of any kind will be permitted in carry-on baggage. This includes all beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, perfumes and other items of similar consistency. This policy also includes liquid and gel products purchased as duty free. All liquid and gel items must be placed in checked baggage only.

Exception: Baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is traveling; prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger's ticket; and insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines

Due to these changes, American Airlines and American Eagle will waive excess baggage charges for those passengers who need to check their carry-on bags due to these new restrictions, up to a maximum of two excess pieces.

New UK Carry-On Baggage Restrictions And Travel Policy
Effective immediately all carry-on baggage must be processed as checked baggage for all flights departing from or connecting through airports in the United Kingdom (U.K.). This policy also applies to any aircraft departing the United States traveling to the U.K.

Nothing may be carried in passengers' pockets. Passengers may only take the following items through the airport security checkpoint, in a single transparent plastic bag:
pocket size wallets and pocket size purses plus contents (money, credit cards, identity cards, etc. but not handbags or purses)
travel documents essential for the journey (passports and travel tickets)
prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (a diabetic kit for example), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic.
eye glasses and sunglasses, without cases
contact lens cases, without bottles of solution
for those travelling with an infant: baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger) and sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (wipes, creams, disposal bags)
female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed
tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs
keys (but no electrical key fobs)No liquids, gels or other items of similar consistency are permitted to enter the sterile areas except for a) baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is traveling; b) prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger's travel documents; c) insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines. This also includes liquids and gel products purchased as duty free.

All U.K. transiting passengers will be required to check any carry-ons they bring to the airport regardless of origination. Passengers who have already departed the US and will be connecting in the UK will not be allowed to use the transit area in the UK airports and will be routed back to the ticket counters to check their carry-on luggage.

[SDsalsaguy]

The actual TSA posting in the US is as follows... (http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/threat-change.shtm)

Threat Level Change for the Aviation Sector

Threat Level Change for the Aviation Sector

In response to a serious terrorist threat to international aviation security, the Secretary of Homeland Security has elevated the Homeland Security Advisory System Threat Condition to Severe, or Red, for all commercial flights from the United Kingdom to the United States, and to High, or Orange, for all other international flights and all domestic commercial aviation.
There are approximately 106 flights per day between the United Kingdom and the United States. Although numerous arrests have been made in the U.K. to disrupt and neutralize this threat, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking a number of heightened protective measures to ensure the continued safety and security of our international and domestic air travel.
Protecting the Aviation System. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will be implementing a series of security measures – some visible and some not visible – to ensure the security of the traveling public and the Nation's transportation system. TSA is immediately implementing following changes to airport screening procedures:
NO LIQUIDS OR GELS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED IN CARRY-ON BAGGAGE. ITEMS MUST BE IN CHECKED BAGGAGE. This includes all beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, tooth paste, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency.
Exception: Baby formula, breast milk, or juice if a baby or small child is traveling; prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket; and insulin and essential other non-prescription medicines
Beverages purchased in the sterile area must be consumed before boarding because they will not be permitted onboard the aircraft.
Passengers traveling from the U.K. to the U.S. will be subject to a more extensive screening process.Some measures will not be visible to the public. In light of the elevated threat level, the Federal Air Marshals Service (FAMS) will provide expanded mission coverage for flights from the United Kingdom to the United States.
These measures will be constantly evaluated and updated when circumstances warrant. DHS and its components have coordinated closely with the air carrier industry, airports, and state and local stakeholders to implement these significant, but necessary, security measures. The traveling public can assist these agencies in carrying out their important security duties by:
Packing lightly, without clutter to facilitate easier screening.
Check with your air carrier well before your flight departs for information on when you shoudl arrive at the airport.
Cooperating with TSA personnel at all checkpoints and gates because TSA Security Officers will be checking carry-on baggage at the gate.
Being attentive and vigilant to any suspicious activity.Protecting U.S.Borders. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will increase enforcement efforts in international arrival areas including the use of advanced targeting tools, special response teams including baggage and aircraft search teams, baggage x-ray equipment, specially-trained canine units, and explosive detection technology.
DHS has also mandated that all flights from the U.K. transmit passenger manifest information for intensive screening prior to departure from the gate. In addition, passengers on these flights and all other international flights will be subject to heightened inspection upon arrival in the U.S.

[mamboqueen]

I just read somewhere that the "plan" was to detonate a bottle of sports drink that was being brought on the plane. And the clever little plotters actually "fixed" the bottom of the bottle to put the liquid explosives in a separate compartment which was separated from the actual drink just in case they were asked to take a sip of the drink. Then, they were going to somehow ignite it using a camera flash.

I think we're all going to have to resort to flying naked and bagless. Won't that be fun??

[Anna]

My goodness, it's scary and I understand the need for safety but some people are going to have miserable UK->US flights with no bottled water, no books, no laptops, cranky teddy-bear-less babies,... thank goodness I'm not flying any time soon!

[SDsalsaguy]

Yup. I'm just glad that my flights over the next several days are all domestinc ones!

(Although, on second thought, my connection through DC on Saturday might be interesting... :?)

[apostle]

This would hurt our team's travel plans; we are all going to be smelly, frizzy-haired, and dehydrated individuals when we compete!

[Twilight_Elena]

Oh man. Thank God they caught them on time. It would have been a tragedy. :?
My girl friend is flying back to UK in late September, I wonder if she will have a safe flight. :?

T_E

[mamboqueen]

They usually go overboard (no pun intended) on security right after something like this happens...which means the odds are usually with you (the traveler). Apparently this was to happen on the 16th of August (happy birthday, Madonna!). You have to just wonder how many hundreds/thousands of people are going to be able to live past that day because this was averted.

[Anna]

And anyways as dramatic and horrible terrorism is, your odds of surviving a flight are probably still much higher than surviving a road trip of the same length...

[mamboqueen]

I'll rephrase that. Your odds of getting into a plane crash are much lower than getting into a car crash. Your odds of surviving a car crash are greater than surviving a plane crash. I think.

[Medira]

From the sound of it, if you are in London and are trying to fly to the U.S., don't count on being able to get out today. It sounds like they aren't going to allow any flights from London to any U.S. destinations other than JFK and maybe Atlanta or Miami today. Also, I understand that all inbound flights from other countries to Heathrow have been cancelled today, although I may not have heard that part right. In any event, if you have a flight scheduled to fly into Heathrow today or tomorrow, you had better check with your airline. It sounds like it's going to be a mess there for several days.

Be careful today, folks. If you are flying, be alert for any unusual behavior. If you are an experienced traveler, and your instincts tell you that something isn't right, then it probably isn't.

My cousin is supposed to fly out of Heathrow back to Toronto today...I'm worried...