I'm so confused. All my research (including airline website) states a purse is counted as one carry on item thereby limiting a solo traveler to take anything else. However, someone recently traveled stated that they were able to take suitcase AND purse. Have the rules been changed or was she lucky?

If you are leaving from England, only ONE peace ( until you pass the security), handbag has to go into your carry on.

UK - one piece when you go through security when departing, period.

Most places else - one carryon plus one personal item.

<<< If you are leaving from England >>>

If you are leaving from a UK airport - Salmond hasn't done UDI yet

sorry, one piece (not peace)
even if it is just a transfer ( you are still leaving the UK)

We flew out of Italy, France, JFK on Delta/Air France/Jet Blue and I was able to carry on my purse as well as a 22" roller bag.

From the US to France via Air France and back again I carried a purse plus a travel case. No problems.

it is the rule ONLY when leaving Britain. You can carry your handbag and a carry on when leaving from other countries - for now.
At Heathrow, they even took our ummbrela away.

The rule was supposed to be enforced also in the rest of the EU on early May, but it has been delayed...which doesn't seem too weird talking about airports.. LOL

The UK rule is worded very strangely but essentially it means:

1 - start journey in UK and depart UK = 1 piece only including handbag

2- start somewhere else and end journey in the UK (no onward transfer to another flight in the UK)= 1 piece + 1 personal item such as a handbag

3 - start somewhere else and transfer in the UK to another flight with journey ending either in the UK or outside the UK = 1 piece (including handbag)

4 - If you are travelling with babies or children, each baby or child is entitled to one cabin bag (which can be carried by parents)

And how does this make us safer?

(Do we know terrorists bombs require two bags? LOL!)

The idea is having FEWER bags screened. So presumeably to speed up the process and more thorough screening. I know some want to complain about anything to do w/ airport security - but this one actually makes sense to me.

I suspect it is not a matter of safety but rather to facilitate a faster security check.
Once you have passed it, you can take your purse out ( or whatever else you have stuffed into your carry on).
Also, you can purchase all kinds of items duty free and board the plane with several bags.

"Once you have passed it, you can take your purse out ( or whatever else you have stuffed into your carry on)."

See here's where the logic fails.... ask ANY of the screeners. It's much easier for them to see what's in your bag if it's NOT stuffed. If it's stuffed full they actually are MORE likely to have to do a hand inspection or run it through several times. So by limiting you to ONE bag what they have done is actually make the ONE bag harder to read and thereby probably increased the time required.....

It's not a biggie to me. I know on my return I will check anyway since I plan to buy some perfume in France, but I find it one of those useless security measures.

Remember to take off your shoes, belt, watch, and anything else that may set off the alarm, including that prosthetic leg to replace the one you lost in the war on terror. Empty out your pockets and smile for the camera.

Now if they'd only allow us to prance naked through the airport!

And wear bras that don't have metal thingajigs that hold the straps in place.

Remove your glasses if they have metal frames.

If you are old enough to have certain metal fillings in your teeth, make sure you get those removed before you travel.

I really dislike going through the British airports - once had a huge fight with them because I was carrying a bag of pistachios and a small carryon bag. TWO items, they said...grrrr!

I'm a little nervous about going through security this time because of the knee surgery I had done last May. They give you a small card (credit card sized) to show if you do set off their alarm. Guess I'll find out if that is sufficient next August.

Just remember the US Congressman who was stripped searched last year because his double hip replacement set off the alarms and TSA wouldn't let him though, even with a Congressional ID.

Where does that leave the rest of us as paranoia runs deep?

Kate - soooo, If we go from US to LHR on British Airways and transfer to a BA plane going to CDG, then will we have to go through security at LHR? (and therefore would have to conform to UK rules) or would we just stay in the BA terminal and not go through security (and not go by UK rules)? Thanks

(Reminds me of some incomprehensible math word problems in school .. If Sam is flying east with one piece of luggage and Cindy is flying west and both go through JFK on a Wednesday, then how heavy is Francine's handbag?)

<<< I suspect it is not a matter of safety but rather to facilitate a faster security check. >>>

Unfortunately the UK government forgot that as soon as people set foot in an airport they lose their ability to count