Books on Board?
 

The list of allowable carry-ons that I've seen does not mention books. Will we have to endure 19 hours of flying without something with which to entertain us?

At this time, books are fine, gels and liquids are the focal point. See TSA's announcement and statement re the banning of gels and liquids:

www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/threat-change.shtm

sunshine - I am so sorry to tell you this, but because of what's happened, you can no longer cut out the middle pages of your book and hide your booze in there anymore. Sorry!

Or your mouthwash, or your facial cream, or your toothpaste.

Instead, to pass time, you have to bring a real book and really read it.

Yeah, but what about those canes with the flasks hidden inside? I was going to buy Wally one for Christmas so he'd fly AA again.

Darn! But I can use some medicine -- maybe I can bring high alchohol percentage cough medicine.....

Haven't had my morning coffee yet. I meant that some cough medicines have a high percentage of alchohol -- maybe I can bring some on board under the medical exception ......

I'm living in Cairo, Egypt and I focus on the Cairo-London-Seattle route on BA. Yesterday I hear that the Brits have banned all carry ons with limited exceptions for baby's milk, car keys, travel docs, etc. Books are not on the exception list.

Today I heard that all carryons are banned on British flights on the US station ABC.

So I guess it depends on where you are flying.

I think I have hijacked my own site. Anyway, this is from NYTimes.com:

"A British Airways spokesman, John Lampl, said passengers traveling on the airline to England from the United States were not even being allowed to bring books on board. Mr. Lampl said that the same restrictions applying to British Airways flights originating in England — stricter than the new United States security measures — were being imposed on British Airways flights to England."

Are there any solid forms of alcohol?

sunshine - You can't carry anything except basically your passport in a clear bag, if you're flying through the UK, <b>for now</b>. Most expect the restriction to ease in about a week.

Wally, my grandmother's Christmas rum cake was 200-proof, albeit more or less solid.

Wally: YES!!!!

http://www.presschem.com/Neopentyl%20Alcohol.htm

And remember: whatever doesn't kill you, makes you better!

What about VAT refunds when leaving London? I asked this on the Europe board but no answer so far.

You have to show the item to someone &amp; have them stamp the form which you then drop in the mailbox. Now everything has to be checked so you wouldn't be able to get the form stamped. Wonder how that will work?

I am sure the VAT man will be understanding, under the circumstances.

Carrybean, you go to the customs window with your luggage, have the form stamped, drop it in the mailbox, then proceed to check in.

The VAT man is after the check-in process. The bags would already be checked &amp; the VAT items wouldn't be allowed on the plane. Oh well, it'll just curtail my shopping which is a good thing unless the system changes by the time I take my next London trip. (I was talking about LHR, by the way.)

Hey, maybe the FA will read to us if they won't allow us to take books on board. That ought to put us all to sleep. LOL

Hmmmm. Someone on another thread suggested buying books at the airport stores after check in. Will this work? Somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind, made even darker by the rotgut solid alcohol mentioned in this thread, I have found a memory of two searches (at least in Britain) one at the check point &amp; another at the gate. Soooo, if you bought a book after the checkpoint they would still take it at the gate search, yes?

You cannot bring anything <b>onboard</b> any flights out of the UK, period. Not just going through primary security, as there are secondary posts again at the gates, from what I understand.

Can't imagine flying without a good book. Guess I'll have to resort to Xanax (lots)!

And oh how I'll miss my saline spray.

:-(

From the Heathrow airport website:

&quot;Passengers will be able to purchase items from the departures lounge once they have passed through security and carry these onto the aircraft. However, if you are travelling to the USA, you will be able to purchase goods for consumption in the airport but no additional items, other than those on the list, can be carried onto the aircraft. These passengers may be subject to a secondary search at the departure gate before boarding. Any items not on the approved list will be removed.&quot;

http://tinyurl.com/f93tb

It sounds like you can buy a book once past security and bring it on board as long as you're not flying to the US.