luvtotravel

My friend got home (Los Angeles) last night from Rome and reported some disturbing information -- at least disturbing for me.

They flew business class via Newark. At LAX they were not permitted to board with reading material or electronics. They were not permitted to carry on a bag -- everything except my friend's purse had to be checked.

In Rome, for the return flight, they were not permitted to bring back anything liquid, cream, etc., NOT EVEN IN CHECKED BAGS! Along with lots of other people, they had to throw away all the food products and perfumes they purchased along with their toiletries. The authorities went through their bags thoroughly (that's a good thing), and it was all confiscated.

janisj

How "reliable" are these friends? Do they tend to exaggerate or embellish?? I ask because in ALL the reports of flights since the latest security changes - no one has mentioned have liquids banned from checked bags. Even in England where the most stringent rules apply.

WallyKringen

Your friends' report is not correct - just go see yourself at www.alitalia.it where there is a special NEWS notice (in Italian of course) for passengers flying to the USA, to the UK, and to Israel that says nothing about checked luggage but states - for cabin carry-on:


I'm translating the key sentence "non possono portare liquidi, gel o aerosol in qualunque quantità in cabina." - cannot carry liquids, gel or aerosol in whatever quantity in the cabin.

21/08/2006

Informazioni per chi viaggia in Usa, Gran Bretagna e Israele

I passeggeri diretti negli Stati Uniti, Gran Bretagna e in Israele, non possono portare liquidi, gel o aerosol in qualunque quantità in cabina.
Sono incluse bevande, shampoo, lozioni, creme, gel per capelli e altri prodotti di analoga consistenza.
Tutti i prodotti citati potranno essere trasportati nel bagaglio imbarcato in stiva.

Fanno eccezione:

* i contenitori con latte ed il cibo in piccoli contenitori, per i passeggeri che viaggiano con un neonato
* le medicine con prescrizione medica e quelle senza prescrizione purchè non eccedano i 120 gr per confezione
* le medicine per diabetici con prescrizione ma non oltre 240 ml per confezione

Per ulteriori informazioni ti invitiamo a contattare il numero unico 06 2222

[end quote]

And on the official website of the Rome-FCO airport it says the following, with a link to the downloadable PDF file:


Aeroporti di Roma informs passengers that, due to recent terroristic alarms, E.N.A.C. (Italian Civil Aviation Agency) has introduced new conditions about hand luggage on flights leaving for United States, United Kingdom and Israel. For further information, please visit the web site http://www.enac-italia.it/Informativ...agosto2006.pdf

That pdf states further that passengers may take such items on board if they have been bought at establishments beyond the security check, and - again - there is no prohibition on such items being carried in checked luggage. The rule is posted to be in effect until Aug. 30 when it may be rescinded or amended.

LoveItaly

Well here we go again, a traveller has an experience and others say they didn't.

Is there any possibility that there was some kind of security problem and consequently new restrictions were put into force?

I assume that the flight from LAX to Newark was on Continental luvtotravel?

I sure do not know if the friends of luvtotravel are "reliable" or tend to exaggerate or embellish but I would think (at least in the case of my friends) if I was told this I would believe that it was true and it was due to some security reason.

Luvtotravel, if you are going to be flying shortly I would call your airline and/or your airport and find out exactly what the rules are. If you are not going to be flying in the near future I wouldn't worry about it, I would anticipate that the rules and regulations will be changing constantly depending on what is happening in this confusing world of ours.

rkkwan

It's clearly not the rules. But these days, anything can happen to any flights. Just in the last few days, a few flights were diverted for whatever reason, and then there was just person who had explosives residue flying between Buenos Aires and Houston - and the authorities decided to rescan all the passengers who were on the subsequent Houston-Newark flight, <b>which that guy or his luggage wasn't even on.</b>

And I've read all kinds of reports of &quot;irregular&quot; stuff when it comes to security screening going on all around world on all airlines. So, anything can happen.

But it's not the rules.

luvtotravel

My friend is a mature, intelligent businesswoman. She did not make this up. It wasn't just her and her husband, and her husband is really mad about the $150 bottle of cologne they took from him. They assumed they would be able to put the cologne, the pesto, the olive oil, and other purchases in their checked bags. Yes, they did fly Continental. We joked about what happens to all this booty after the passengers are gone.

I did say this was disturbing to me. Not once have I hesitated to travel until now, not even right after 9/11 when the airports were empty. I'm afraid to fly, but it is more about mechanical failure than terrorism. I must travel frequently for work and will continue to do so. But I'm not so sure about the personal travel. It's just getting so difficult. I'm getting larger and the seats are getting smaller, and I'm out of frequent flyer points for those privileged seats up front.

I understand the need for security, but dread the trip through the security points where I have to take my shoes and jacket off. Didn't I read on one of the posts that now we are not allowed to wear gel bras -- now, how will they know what's in our bras? Now the rules are that we can't bring bottled water onboard -- I always travel with bottled water (well, did). They no longer provide food onboard for domestic flights, but we can't bring food with us (or can we?)

I always travel with carry-on, even for two weeks in Europe. That's now greatly restricted. For those over night business trips I can probably bring on a change of clothes in a small bag, and people are going to have to get used to seeing me with limited make-up, if any, and I need it .

For international travel I'm not sure when I'll be able to bring my camera onboard with me or if I'll be required to check-in, along with my ipod. If I don't trust them with my clothes, I sure as heck don't trust them with my camera and ipod.

I know I'm venting, but I can't imagine who else would understand my frustrations as much as those of you who are dealing with the same things. Will I travel overseas again? I just don't know and it's breaking my heart. The rest of you seem to be dealing with this so much better than I am. Thanks for listening.

luvtotravel

I forgot to mention that I would never put olive oil in my checked bag -- I have visions of what that would mean if the bottle broke. Not a pretty sight. I like to stick to things like silk scarves, but that's for another thread.

LoveItaly, how did you know they were traveling on Continental?

LoveItaly

How did I know it was Continental luvtotravel, because of the airports you mentioned. Continental's hub is Newark.

Try not to panic. We are living in strange times. Somehow we will work everything out luvtotravel. For sure flying is not fun anymore and it has not been for quite awhile. And even though we know the rules we can get to the airport and find that suddenly the rules are changed so we need to be flexable and expect that unexpected. Or that is the way I am looking at it.

luvtotravel

Thanks, LoveItaly.

Dukey

I assume this was an isoltaed incident since there is nothing on the Continental Airlines website indicating this is &quot;the norm.&quot;

I woulnd't assume this is going to happen to you if you fly and we have no idea how long the current restrictions will be in place.

Carrybean

Sorry about your friends' experience (and I didn't doubt the story.) I hope things will eventually settle down to consistent rules but individual inspectors sometimes will interpret rules based on info passengers aren't always privy to.

bellastarr

luvtotravel,
I stringly agree with luvitaly's statement that it's important to try not to panic. I must say, when the news of that awful Kentucky plane crash broke, I spent all of yesterday on the very edge of my seat because my sister in law and my 6 year old niece were traveling in Kentucky this weekend, until I found out last night that they had decided to drive!
My goodness, we live in such luxury. I sheepishly admit that I was given an ipod months ago, and have never opened the box yet! So I know one can esily travel without that. I'm leaving on Friday again for Italy. And my bag will be spartan. Because of these new rules, I probably will purchase items while there that do not involve liquids so as not to have to stress out about it on the flight home. The shopkeeper in italy who loses the sale has more reason to be upset than I do, because it affects his/her profits. I might even mail things, just to experience the comical, crazymaking labyrinth of the typical day in an Italian postoffice, which is enough to make these new airport security scenarios look tame by comparison!

I have had to remove my shoes on most flights since the Richard Reid episode a few years ago, that's not new. Or maybe I am missing something?
And because I wear a bra with underwires, I have always experienced being double checked and occasionally asked to remove my jacket so they could figure out where the signal was coming from.
Don't let a sense of dread over these necessary procedures invade your love of travel!
I am sure your friends' story is credible and it sounds like they had a really irritating experience, but it's not the norm.

Sher

I think the most upsetting thing is that even if we follow all of the rules (they seem to be changing minute by minute), we are not assured that at the very time we go to check in something that we thought we had prepared for happens.

We are flying tomorrow domestically and I have been reading everything to try to be prepared.

The real test will come in October when we plan to fly internationally.

I hate that this current situation makes me anxious. That is the worst part for me.

rkkwan

LAX-EWR is a domestic flight. I want to know <b>who</b> at LAX banned your friend from taking anything on board. What about all other passengers.

If she wants to know what exactly went on, post on Flyertalk.com's CO forum and stated as clearly as possible, including flight date and number. There is a high-level CO rep there who can find out for her WHAT exactly happened, like WHO ordered the ban on that flight.

olive_oil

As disturbing as the &quot;no liquids&quot; rule appears, it pales in comparison to NO READING MATERIAL.

Did I read that right? No books or magazines? Say it ain't so!

jabez

I'm not saying that this reported incident may have happened, but I have my doubts. I would normally never say someone was this misspoken, but this kind of information can really upset some travelers for no real reasons.
If it were only one airport, then I'd assume that it was an exception and the security agent didn't know the rules.
It is possible that she is one of the unluckiest travelers. If so, everyone needs to know that what allegedly happened to her is not the norm.
This traveler stated that she was not allowed any carry ons from LAX.
Continental does ,indeed, connect through EWR. The key word is &quot;connect&quot;. Her flight to EWR was not international and LAX has no rules in place that would not have allowed carryons. The only exception would have been if they were heading out Aug. 10, when the newest terrorist plot was announced. The first day ,or so, there was tighter security that doesn't apply today.
As far as Rome, since it just happened, it would seem that she was chosen to be the exception to the rule.
FCO does have tighter security than the USA for flights to England and the USA. Aug. 31 is the date they hope to relax them some.
These requirements ,however, are related to carryons. AT FCO (not LAX) she probably wasn't allowed any electronics and possibly no reading material (although if in a clear bag,they should be allowed.
There is NO RESTRICTIONS concerning the checked bags. This is true with every airport in the world.
I suspect there's been a communication brealdown here.
For those interested in keeping up with restrictions you might try:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=222

janisj

When I asked if this friend exaggerates I wasn't saying it <i>didn't</i> happen. But I have a friend who says &quot;Oh God, it was awful. We had to wait in line 2 hours and it was so hot&quot; when come to find out her husband tells us it was really only 35 minutes.

It could be a semantics thing - but &quot;<i>They assumed they would be able to put the cologne, the pesto, the olive oil, and other purchases in their checked bags</i>&quot; sounds like they were planning on placing the liquids in their checked bags after they got to the airport. Perhaps that is the problem - that they waited too long and missed the opportunity to switch the items.

This is second and we can't be sure what actually happened. But the suggestion to post on flyertalk is really good. They will sort it out for you.

janisj

oops - should be &quot;This is second hand and we can't be sure . . . . &quot;

Maddy

luvtotravel thank you for posting this report. I know this doesn't change anything in terms of making your flight any easier, but at least know that you definitely aren't the only one feeling perturbed about the uncertainty and hassle of flying with the new restrictions.

I've been following all reports from recent travelers closely to see what is actually happening as I have an international flight next month. I have specific concerns about medical stuff that I must have onboard with me. Even though I'll have a prescription and that should suffice, I can't help but worry that I may have a problem anyway. I've just seen too many individual reports of problems. And I know better than to think that citing a TSA rule is going to make a bit of difference when the screener says something can't come on.

And foreign airports are not necessarily going to have the same rules, or lists of exceptions, or interpretations. Your report is one example, but I have seen others. In my case, I'll be flying home from Portugal and have heard from others who returned since August 10 that security is extremely tight with multiple checkpoints and patdowns. As I absolutley do mind being pawed by strangers, it definitely takes some of the glow off my upcoming vacation.

You received good advice about the flyertalk board. In addition to the forums for individual carriers, there is a travel safety/security forum that is a good source of up to date information. Look for the &quot;TSA adjusing prohibitions thread&quot; - there are posts on there from Bart, a rational, reasonable TSA officer who has been providing updates to the rules and answering questions.

Barbara_in_CT

My first thought was that they were robbed by security--afterall there was a lot of confusion about the rules and they thought they could get away with it.