Carryon to Heathrow from LAX?
 

We're flying from LAX to Heathrow on United Airlines in 1 1/2 weeks. What's the scoop on carryon luggage? We'd hoped to carry on a small bag (within published limits) and a daypack each. No liquids. We thought this would be O.K., but tonight's news showed folks flying from New York to Heathrow with just a plastic bag full of essentials. They had to check the rest. I know this is what we'll encounter on the way home from Heathrow (have to check everything) but I thought we could carry on going into Heathrow. Does anyone know the truth?

Thanks JandaO. I'm following that string, but so far no answer to my question. Guess I'll just have to wait a little longer for more folks to gain experience.

It depends on your airline , not TSA, regarding carry-on. Check United's site

Lirope-you're flying on United, an American carrier to London-which means, you CAN carry on electrical items, and other reading materials, make-up- and other items, as permitted/prohibited by TSA here in their updated list:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...new-items.shtm

Now, have you checked United's website? Even though you will be able to pass through the LAX screening checkpoints with the daypacks you describe, you need to check UAL's website to see if they are imposing any additional restrictions prior to boarding-which I don't think they are.

Also, LAX website refers you to TSA, so you should have no problem carrying on your small bag and a daypack filled with items that are consistent with the TSA regulations.

liriope:

I'm in the same situation leaving in 8 days from LAX to Heathrow on British Air. They've told me to just keep looking on line for updates.

If you are traveling to UK only, then it's mostly business as usual for flights departing from US, except the "liquid fetish", but if you are just connecting in UK to another flight, you will be required to check in ALL baggage. Any traveler just connecting in the UK has to check all the luggage at the moment, but assuming that somehow you got it through, here in US, you would need to go through immigration and customs in UK and check any of your hand luggage for the UK-? flight. Too much hassle IMHO.

I'd keep an eye on the internet, then double-check with your specific air carrier one day before you fly.

I'm flying United via Chicago to Manchester next month (from Portland). So, I'm checking the United website, too. I think everything but liquids are okay (I'll just check them). However, I am prepared to get to Chicago, and have to surrender the carry-on (or maybe have something else confiscated) when I arrive there. Who knows what might happen while I'm in transit that makes them tighten the rules? Just a thought.....Keep monitoring those websites! :)

Thanks everyone. I've been doing what you've suggested - monitoring websites, checking w/airline, TSA, etc. I believe we'll be successful with our plan to carry on from our local airport, a 45-inch (total bag measurements) bag (see www.onebag.com) with a daypack. I believe we'll get this luggage onto UA at LAX. When we get to Heathrow, we'll have to check everything except perhaps my daypack, which is smaller than my husbands'. Probably have to check everything at Heathrow for our return. That's much less worrysome: I don't care as much about lost luggage on my way back as I do on the trip over. I've got clothes at home; I don't want to spend half my vacation shopping for cheap clothes and having my bags chase me: been there, done that!

Thanks again.

See if you can check in on-line. The drop-off lines are MUCH shorter than the standard lines.

I wanted to use a check-in machine for British Airways at Seatac. They didn't have one. I ended up waiting 1 1/2 hours in the very long standard line. People who had checked in on-line waited 10 min.