Business Travel
Note: Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried WITHIN (i.e. in) the two items of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be x-ray screened. Cameras, (including digital, small electrical items such as mobile phones, MP3 players and gameboys can remain in the bag for screening. However, all laptops and large electrical items must be removed from the bag and placed in a separate tray. Pushchairs and walking aids are permitted but must be x-ray screened.
Before security: All shops and catering outlets are open to all passengers, but any liquids and gels purchased must be packed into your luggage for check-in. Any other purchases must fit into your hand baggage.
Hand baggage restrictions
Passengers are permitted to carry up to TWO items of hand baggage, no larger than the specified size, through the airport security search point. The dimensions* are as follows:
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56 centimetres long (approximately 22 inches)
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45 centimetres high (approximately 17.5 inches)
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25 centimetres deep (approximately 9.85 inches).
* This is the maximum bag size allowed through security. Smaller bag sizes may apply depending on which airline you travel with, believe it or not. Contact the airline, airport, your Uncle Fred in Barnstaple, anyone. Just not me!
Once through security: All shops and catering outlets are open to all passengers. If you are travelling to any destination, including the USA, then you can take ALL items purchased, including liquids, in the departures lounge into the aircraft cabin.
Wheelchairs are permitted but must be thoroughly searched.
The following rules will be implemented and apply to all liquids you wish to carry through an airport security checkpoint
All liquids must be in individual containers not greater than 100ml capacity
Only one bag per passenger is allowed. The bag must be clear and re-sealable, such as 'ziplock' bags or bags with pressable seals. Larger bags or bags that are sealable, such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed
Each passenger must remove their clear plastic bag from their hand baggage and place it in on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening
Liquids in containers of more than 100ml capacity can be packed in your checked in baggage
All containers must be placed in one transparent re-sealable transparent bag, no larger than 20cm x 20cm 8" x 8" in size. The containers must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be fastened closed
Taking liquids through airport security
Examples of liquids carried in a clear plastic bag..... Yes, really!
The Australian Government has introduced even more restrictions regarding liquids/gels/creams carried in passenger hand baggage with effect from 31 March 2007 for both arriving and departing passengers.
The South African Government introduced restrictions regarding liquids/gels/creams carried in passenger hand baggage for arriving and departing passengers with effect from 2 April 2007.
The rules are in line with those in place for UK, EU and North America, i.e. 1 litre clear plastic resealable bag, measuring max 20cm x 20cm with individual containers not exceeding 100ml. Therefore passengers boarding at London Heathrow will already be compliant by default with the UK regulations. In addition, restrictions apply to the purchase of Duty Free goods containing liquids for passengers departing for Australia or South Africa.
Australia
Passengers travelling London Heathrow to Sydney can only purchase duty free goods on board during the Bangkok/Sydney sector and/or on arrival in Sydney at the arrivals duty free shop. Any other duty free goods containing liquids cannot be carried into Australia. Again, on London Heathrow to Sydney you can only purchase duty free goods during the transit in Singapore (items will be delivered to the gate in a Sealable Tamper Evident Bag approved by the Australian Government), on board during the Singapore/Sydney sector, and/or on arrival in Sydney at the arrivals duty free shop. Any other duty free goods containing liquids cannot be carried into Australia.
Passengers who are making direct domestic connections in Sydney to Australian destinations will be allowed to carry duty free goods, as purchased in the manner specified above, through security checks prior to boarding their service. Passengers who are making direct international connections in Sydney to international destinations will not be allowed to carry duty free goods through security checks. However they will be allowed to make purchases at the departure duty free shops.
South Africa
With regard to duty free goods containing liquids, restrictions also apply to some categories of arriving passengers. Passengers ending their journey in Johannesburg or Cape Town can carry duty free goods containing liquids. (Stay with me, now!!) Passengers transferring in Johannesburg or Cape Town to South African domestic services can carry duty free goods containing liquids. Passengers transferring in Johannesburg or Cape Town to international services should not carry duty free goods containing liquids as these will be removed at the transfer security point. You are now permitted to scream loudly. If you understood all this first time around, you're a better man than I, Gunga Din!
Well, you lucky, lucky people - you are now to be trusted to take TWO bags into the cabin. Well, at least some airports will allow you to take two, the airline might not. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GATWICK where the "one" restriction still remains. Unless you are on a conecting flight through Gatwick in which case you are allowed two. British Airways WILL allow two pieces of hand baggage, but not from Gatwick. And No, I don't know which airlines will only allow one bag and which two. So, just fly on BA, Brit. Midland or FlyBE and you should be fine! Ryan Air and SqueezyJet are still "one-baggers". Unless, of course, it's a Friday and the Moon is blue.....
Ireland. With regard to duty free when entering Ireland, bottles must have their description in Gaelic and must be no more than the height of a leprechaun. Guinness may only be imported on a Tuesday after midday and Whisky on the second Thursdays of January, April and October and the first Wednesday in June. All plastic bags must be in resealable bottles and must be carried on a length of string slung over the right shoulder (not left). All laptops must be wrapped in last Sunday's copy of "Prune Growers Monthly".
air travel - size of bags - handbaggage size restrictions - air travel luggage size
Approved 2-baggers airports (not airlines!) are: Aberdeen, Benbecula, Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, London City, Manchester, Newcastle, Plymouth, Prestwick, Southampton, Southend (eh?), Stansted, Stornoway, Sumburgh and Wick. Half of which you probably never knew existed!