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Airport Security – Limited Hand Luggage Permitted in Cabin

Airport Security – Limited Hand Luggage Permitted in Cabin

Please Note (2nd November 2006 Update) – The Department for Transport has announced further changes to the UK’s aviation security measures, notably increasing the size of cabin baggage that can be taken onboard an aircraft, relaxing the restrictions on musical instruments, and allowing limited quantities of liquids in the cabin. The changes will take effect from Monday 6th November 2006.

The full update to the Airport and Airline Security Regulations can be found on TheTravelPage.co.uk main site.

The summary below has therefore been superceded, and we strongly recommend you follow one of the links above for the up-to-date position.

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With the threat level of all civil aviation having been reduced to ‘Severe’, limited hand luggage is now permitted in aircraft cabins. However, this does need to comply with strict rules over the dimensions of the baggage, and liquids continue to be on the prohibited list with the only exceptions being baby milk and liquid baby food along with essential medicines.

All laptops and large electrical items (for example, large hair dryer) can be carried in hand baggage, but must be removed from the bag and placed on a tray so neither item obscures the other during screening.

In detail, the revised requirements are as follows

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The following arrangements apply to all passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and to those transferring from international flights at a UK airport.

These measures remain under review.

Cabin Baggage

Each passenger is permitted to carry ONE item of cabin baggage through the airport security search point (NB Subject to the bag dimensions set out below, a bag or bags contained within a bag may be deemed to be one item of cabin baggage).

The dimensions of this item must not exceed a maximum length of 45cm, width of 35 cm and depth of 16 cm (including wheels, handles, side pockets etc).

All items carried by passengers must be x-ray screened.

No liquids of any type are permitted other than the following items:

• Essential prescription medicines in liquid form sufficient for the flight as long as verified as authentic.

• Baby milk and baby food sufficient and essential for the flight (the contents or bottle of each jar must be tasted by the accompanying passenger).

The definition of liquids includes gels, pastes, lotions, liquid/solid mixtures and the contents of pressurised containers, e.g. toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam, aerosols, etc.

To help reduce any delays through search points passengers are encouraged not to include items capable of containing liquids (eg bottles, flasks, tubs, cans, plastic containers etc).

All laptops and large electrical items (e.g. large hairdryer) must be removed from the bag and placed in a tray so that such items neither obscure nor are obscured by the bag.

Pushchairs and walking aids are permitted but must be x-ray screened. Wheelchairs are permitted but must be thoroughly searched.

In addition to the above, passengers boarding flights to the US and items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, will be subjected to secondary search at the gate. Any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger.

The Department for Transport says it will work closely with operators to introduce these new arrangements, seeking to keep disruption to passengers to a minimum. They say they will keep these measures under review.

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We recommend all travellers leave extra time for check-in and security clearance at UK airports

TheTravelPage.co.uk will continue to monitor developments