Baggage restrictions relaxed at airports
Passengers flying from all UK airports are now allowed to travel with one carry-on bag.
BAA has relaxed restrictions following the government’s decision to reduce the terror alert from critical to severe.
Passengers will now be allowed to bring permitted items in one cabin bag, which should be no bigger than 16cm by 35 cm by 45 cm. This is equivalent to a small laptop bag.
Cabin baggage must not contain any cosmetics, toiletries, liquids or drinks.
However, cabin baggage can contain electronic equipment, including laptops, prescribed medicines in liquid form eg. diabetic medicines, baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the parent).
Once in the departure lounge passengers may purchase any item in any store and take it onto the aircraft as normal unless travelling to the US.
Travellers to the US will not be permitted to take any liquid or gel items purchased in the departures lounge into the aircraft cabin. All food or beverage items must be consumed before boarding.
BAA said it has already implemented the recommendation to reduce passenger hand search to 50%, which has improved flow at Heathrow.
British Airways said it would still be cancelling 20% of its flights from Heathrow today at the request of BAA. It said domestic services would also remain limited from Gatwick.
BAA has come under fire from airlines over the way it has handled the security alert. See separate story.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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