On Friday, the United Kingdom relaxed their restrictive baggage rules that limited the size of carry-on luggage. The new policy brings them back in line with the standard policy, a standard-sized roller bag. The dimensions as per the BAA Hearthrow website are 56cm by 45cm by 25cm(9.85 by 17.85 by 22 inches). Musical instruments may now be taken onboard. The traditional personal item that has become present, ie a purse or backpack, is still banned and must be placed inside your piece of luggage for screening if you wish to bring it. If you are on a flight departing an airport in the UK, try printing this handy PDF file.
Effective on Tuesday, in news closer to home…at least for us here at Flight Wisdom, the TSA relaxed its ban on liquids and gels, as reported. Liquid purchased after the security checkpoints can now be brought onto the plane. Most liquids and gels, including toiletries, will be allowed if the containers are three ounces or less and if all of the items will fit into a single, quart-sized clear plastic bag.
We applaud this return to normalcy, although we express concern. From the beginning, we have pointed out the disconnect in declaring a bottle of water dangerous, and the number of items that people have been able to sneak past TSA screeners since the ban was put into place. We are unsure of how this might best be accomplished, and the decisions of the experts seem to be nothing more than the illusion of security.
The best thought we can think of is this: Any item can be used as a weapon by someone. Think of MacGyver…saving the day with a quarter, a telephone cord, and a roll of toilet paper. The idea of common items as weapons is scary, and we applaud securing the cockpit doors, and screening baggage…to a point.
Specifically regarding liquids and gels…if you need more than 3oz of liquids or gels for a trip, you can still check it.
