Air travel restrictions
August 12, 2006
The reaction to the recently-discovered plot to take down a number of transatlantic flights seems to be going overboard. My wife is British, and was scheduled to go over to the UK next month. I’m not sure she’s going now - and that’s partially due to the new travel restrictions. “No carry on luggage” was probably the tipping point for her, as she carries much of her trade show stock in hand luggage (it’s too delicate to be thrown in checked baggage, and too expensive to ship it all fedex/ups).
While I realize non-UK flights are not as restrictive as the UK flights - US flights still allow hand luggage - I have to wonder why, if ever, these restrictions will be lifted? If there really is a concern about hair-gel containers being able to carry/conceal explosive material, why do we let them on the planes now? Why do we not restrict these on US flights today? All this hype will give people ideas about new ways to sneak things on planes they shouldn’t have, and will eventually be used against flights which aren’t as restrictive. So, why not nip it in the bud now?
Taking it one (admittedly large) leap forward, why should we even be allowed our own clothing on planes? Someone will surely be able to devise a way of smuggling something dangerous on-board embedded in to pants or socks or something. The safest way to ensure against this is to require all passengers to strip off and wear airline-provided jumpsuits of some type. I know this sounds far-fetched, and it might be, but if this comes to fruition in 10 years, you read it here first 
http://www.baa.com/alert_media.html has more info on what’s banned on UK flights. I would assume these are banned on flights to/from the UK, not solely internal.
“Keys (but no electrical key fobs)”
What on earth do you do with your car door key opener when you park at the airport and go to get on a plane? Check it in with your luggage? Luggage that is lost, damaged or stolen an alarmingly high percentage of the time? Luggage that can not be locked or protected from intrusion?
“tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs”
Whew! Glad I’m allowed to bring a tissue on the plane!
That’s not a full list, of course, but not far off. What missing? mp3 players, laptops, cell phones, books, magazines, toys, and more. What on earth do you do on a plane for 9 hours without a book, magazine, or listening material? What will the travelling kids do without entertainment/food/snacks/etc for those same 9 hours? Annoy the heck out of you and me, for starters, and we’ll have no books to lose ourselves in…
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