Prepare as carefully for airport security as you do for your flight

Hard to keep up with airport security. Last week it looked as though we may be entering an age of “lighter touch” security when Martin Broughton, BA’s chairman, and Mike Carrivick, chairman of the Board of Airline Representatives, among others criticised current measures. However, with the weekend’s events, travellers may start to experience even more rigorous security measures.

Whatever measures are implemented in the coming weeks, fliers departing airports in the UK have a few things to remember to get through security - and onto the flight - as quickly as possible:

• Wearing slip-on shoes, or at least shoes that you can quickly and easily remove or put back on, will save time.

• Avoid belts, braces and so on containing metal parts: these will have to come off to pass through security. If this isn’t possible, then try to wear garments that will stay up without them!

• Put all your keys, spare change and anything else you are carrying in your pockets into your hand-luggage, if you have any, to be x-rayed. With it all collected in one place, you’re less likely to lose anything and will not end up rummaging around at the last minute.

• Don’t forget what’s in your carry-on bag. Hand cream, mouthwash, a bottle of water. If the security officials discover it while scanning the bag, they will need to put it through the machine again, slowing you down.

• While there’s no maximum size for a piece of hand luggage (the Department of Transport did away with that at the end of April) use common sense and check the size limits with the airline and airport before you travel.

• Have your boarding pass and passport in your hand before you get in the security line. You don’t want to fumble for them while all around you are shuffling impatiently.

• Have your laptop and electrical items easily accessible. They will need to be screened separately. Note that tablets such as the Apple iPod are likely to come under the same classification as laptops and require separate screening, as will netbooks.

• If you need to carry medical equipment, ensure you have a letter from your doctor or medical professional stating it is essential for your journey.

• If you are travelling with children and have a buggy, beg or borrow a pushchair that folds up easily.

• Pack liquids in your hold baggage if you can. If you do need to bring liquids on board your flight, make sure they are in containers that hold no more than 100ml. It’s the container that’s important, not the quantity of liquid inside. If there’s only 90ml of liquid in a container holding 200ml, it will be confiscated.

• Make sure you have containers in a re-sealable plastic bag that holds no more than one litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm.

• Parents and guardians of tiny travellers are allowed to take more than 100ml of liquid, sufficient for the journey. You may be asked to taste the food.

(Creative Commons image: James Cridland / Flickr)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 at 11:34 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.