A co-worker is asking me if you can take a purse and a clear plastic bag on the plane. I don't know? She is leaving on Saturday.

Who knows what the rules will be Saturday, but today, the point of the clear plastic bag was to replace the purse.

As for books -- or anything else -- people seem to be having a hard time grasping that what is causing the enormous delays at international airports is the tedious process of doing a thorough security check on every individual and their belongings.

The less you carry, the less guards have to examine.

People are being so whiny, it's truly annoying.

It just amazes me how easily and quickly people will accept these ridiculous carry-on restrictions with the "well, if it makes me safer...." shrug. But the thing is, it doesn't make us safer.

If today proves anything, it's that terrorists are caught with good police/intelligence work. They won't be caught at the securtiy check-in at the airport. All these restrictions are just smoke and mirrors to cover the governments' and airlines' butts.

For a complete list of what you can and cannot take check out the topic 'US-UK Terrorist Plot'. It has over 100 responses already. It appears women are reduced to a zip lock baggie, period. No purses. You must check you cameras, laptops, key-fobs, etc. in UNLOCKED luggage. This is the first trip I will have ever taken that I will be documenting a complete inventory of my luggage and emailing it to my daughter before I depart in two weeks for the UK. I don't quite get the book thing, and it is a little frustrating because that is when my husband and I review where we are going to stay, what we will visit, etc. But the only logical answer is the poster who said it is just one more thing out of the way of the security checkers and it keeps the lines moving. The 8 and 1/2 hour flight really isn't that at all. When you live 1 1/2 hrs from the airport, and you have to check in two hours prior to international flights, add on these new restrictions, you have now made your trip at least 12 hours, and when you leave after work, you've already been up 12 hours, so for some of us 'not so young anymore' it is a very long trip. Seriously I think my husband and I will try meditation, it sounds like the only thing they can't restrict. May you all have safe and enjoyable trips, business or pleasure.

Once I flew on a cessna with my father who banned me from bringing books onboard because we were already heavy and planning to land on a small 1000 foot coral runway. If I snuck my tax textbook on board then, you can be sure the people behind me will be waiting while the guards examine my choice of reading materials next week Reading is not a luxury. Even for a short 8 hour flight.

Some people never grow up, and some people can't be alone with their own thoughts for 8 hours, I realize. They might actually see themselves. I don't blame them for trying to escape that possiblity. The view from here is pretty unappealing. There is a ripe and vivid word for such people, but I guess you can't post it on Fodor's.

I'm glad I took my major trip already. I was advised by the airlines last year that I should bring my own food as they could not guarantee that the food would be peanut or nut free.

So I brought bagged tuna for protein and a few other things. I guess if I were going to Europe this week, the day of my flight would be my opportunity to fast.

But it takes a strong will to hold to that when everyone else is eating and you are fasting. I suspect at least some people with allergies will be tempted to eat some mushy entree (of God knows what!) and hope their Epipen solves
any problems.

Diabetics have their own issues with a ban on taking food as well.

Final thought: Time to the airport, transfers to the East Coast, and then the flight over, that is easily 16 hours, not 8 hours as mentioned previously.

Aussies have a 23 hour flight to London - the only break is a refuel at Bankok.

Yeah, you have the marathon! When I did the backpacking thing, the Australians always stayed in Europe the longest.

My brother just went back to South America. When you add up his in air time and layovers, it was 30 hours start to end. And the US to Asia (or Down Under) can be long hour flights too.

Reading material
Drugs
Would love to bring the contact lens solution, but guess I'll have to "roll my own."

Well, we've all had a lot of information to absorb the last few hours. I checked the TSA website again, and it appears that if you are travelling FROM the U.S. TO the U.K., you are allowed carry-on luggage. We just can't take liquids and gels. But on the return flight FROM the United Kingdom TO the U.S., it's down to the bare basics, because we have to follow the U.K.'s rules.

Does anyone read these directions differently? It appears the flight out could be more comfortable than I thought.

I am flying to Boston from Switzerland via Milano in three weeks and bought myself a clear plastic purse last night. I have no problem with their restrictions (now I don't have to bring over all the foolish heavy stuff I promised people). But can someone tell me how they are going to stop a person from just putting gel or chapstick in their pocket? Are they going to make us turn our pockets inside out? I hope so...

I read they were checking people's pockets. I suppose you could always try to be a test case and see if you can hide your lip balm, and live with the results of doing so.

5alive: "Yeah, you have the marathon! When I did the backpacking thing, the Australians always stayed in Europe the longest."

- and there were usually years between trips to Europe! In my case 33 years. It's changed though with relatively cheap air fares.

A silver lining; no one banging me with cabin luggage and no one screaming into a portable phone.

change of clothes, books, ipod.....and I can live w/o change of clothes (as long as they don't lose my luggage), I haven't always had an ipod, and I can't find anywhere it actually states I can't bring a book....Books are 3rd if it's true- if not- How dare you take away my nalgene???

Ann k- Absolutely- who? me? Hold up the sec lines so I can take a book? Well, pal, how would you like to sit next to me on that 8 hour flight w/o a book??? OK. <evil laugh>

And nessundorma- I'm with you, to a certain extent, but your last post was just a biiiit hostile....

RufusTfirefly- oh, they almost always have water- just expect the FA's to act very, very put upon....takes a brave person to ask for an extra beverage

missypie- LOL....

Additionally- is there anything stopping you from taking the trains to Paris and flying out of there?

Just curious....

>Time to the airport, transfers to the East Coast, and then the flight over, that is easily 16 hours, <

At the time of my first visit to Europe, it was about 24 hrs in the air.

Interesting comments about the chapstick and lip balms. I have heard they are putting something that is addicting in it. I'm addicted, too.

These problems are so easily overcome:

- wear 2 or 3 sets of clothing so you'll have spare outfits if your bag is delayed/lost
- put a chip of gloss or chapstick in a baggie and secure underneath your clothing
- photocopy some magazines or books and stuff the paper down your pants

I haven't figured out how to address 'no water bottles', give me a few more minutes...