Brussels to US Flights
 

Has anyone recently flown from Brussels to the US? Their rules for carry on items are very strict. Will I be able to carry on my digital camera, or at least the memory card? What do they mean by "Plastic Carrier Bag"?

At this time, the carry-on rules for Belgium prohibit digital cameras and ipods, though you are allowed a laptop, cell phone, or PDA. And you're still required to put everything into a clear plastic bag (i.e., no actual hand-luggage is allowed except for a laptop case). Some countries are still imposing much stricter carry-on limits than others (Poland is another that strictly limits carry-ons). You should check directly with your airline and see what the restrictions are when you are actually traveling.

It is kind of strange that only AA put up the advisory on its website for BRU->US flights. CO and DL do not have special advisories other than for UK->US flights.

It's on United's . . .

Thanks. I've forgotten about UA's BRU-IAD flight.

Things have changed at BRU....check the latest out at:
www.biac.be/news/index.cfm?lang=en

Excellent news, Mati. I wish the restrictions on toiletries would be relaxed as well, but I'm not holding my breath. I fly to Italy (via London) in early November.

Flew out of CDG2A this morning. AA's desks are adjacent to CO's, and while CO says nothing about plastic bags, <b>AA is providing their customers</b> with clear plastic bags to put their stuff in, <b>inside their carryons</b>.

The reason is that it seems like all US-bound customers are subject to a pad down and secondary screening <b>at the jetway</b>. Our CO flight takes 35 minutes to board about 200 passengers. Very slow. AA may be trying to speed things up at various European airports by do the plastic bag thing.

I'm a bit confused about all of this. I will be flying into Brussels with a layover in London. Do I only have to worry about the TSA restrictions, or will I be stopped at some point during my trip by someone telling me you can't take this or that on the plane?

rapunzil - You will definitely be rescreened in London by UK authorities. According to whatever rule they're applying at that time, and it is likely to be stricter than you get here by TSA.

Thanks RK! I guess I should brush up on what they allow.

I just flew out of BRU to Chicago on Sunday and can confirm that you can take digital cameras as carryon. American is only allowing one carryon and if you are flying them, you are likely to encounter the same bizarre check in procedure we did, first you wait in a security line, then another line to check in, go through passport control, go through security and then yet another security checkpoint where they search your hand luggage to get on the plane.

We had 2 1/2 hours which was enough time to comfortably get to the plane but not a lot of cushion as we boarded shortly after we got to the gate so make sure you have plenty of time.

No plastic bags at BRU, at least not when we flew.

Oh and we flew through Heathrow on the way over and I was absolutely amazed at how painless it was, maybe because of which terminals I was flying in and out of? They can, of course, change the rules but Heathrow regulations were no stricter than the US when I flew on 9/1.