Well, frankly, I don't want to do a "Lockerby" so I'm happy they are doing what they feel is necessary. I wonder if they are going through all checked baggage. It's a different world these days. I don't like the idea that someone wants to kill me.

My question is..what type of increased security is being done about the commercial cargo that most airplanes carry. How is this being checked out?

According to their website Virgin Atlantic are waiving any excess baggage charges to compensate for lack of hand baggage

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778871.stm

I checked in this morning at Gatwick for my evening flight to Madrid. Its pandemonium, but the Brits are being wonderfully stoic and polite, God bless 'em.

My flight tonight looks doubtful. No idea if I can cancel my hotels in Galicia if I can't make it out.

Fingers crossed.

Passengers transiting through the UK should reconsider "carryon" only.

Regards Ger

The original "plot" involved secreting explosives in hand baggage and then detonating in flight.

I understand the total ban BUT if hand baggage and screening were up to par <b>in the first place</b> then this total ban would seem unnecessary.

IOW, to be absolutely <b>certain</b> nothing happens we have a total ban.

When will we be less than satisfied with being totally certain?

Dukey - the plot involved liquid explosives. This would not be identified through screening, hence the removal of handbaggage privileges. It bears no reflection on the effectiveness or otherwise of standard screening procedure, rather it indicates the inventiveness of those who wish to attack

heathrow is now closed to all incoming flights that are not already in the air.

all BA flights cancelled until 1500 BST

&lt;&lt;Yes, now, WHAT were all the British posters moaning and groaning about on the other threads-about how silly and burdensome and onerous the TSA security checkpoints were-I can tell you, that there has NEVER been a time where TSA has banned ALL hand carries-however, the imminent threat that is now in place in the UK does require this and other far more stringent security measures to be put in place-so expect lengthy delays at UK security screening checkpoints.

Oh by the way, the UK has ALSO instituted a similar threat level code to Homeland Security's here in the US-so I guess it can't be SO silly, now can it, if the UK Govt. found it necessary to copy the US in this regard?&gt;&gt;

Girlspytravel:

Or perhaps we only put such measures into action when we have hard, solid evidence that a group are planning an attack, in order to cause minimal inconvenience to people the rest of the time?

We are fully aware that we DO have something to worry about, it's just that we don't deal with it in such an hysterical and knee-jerk fashion. It' not our way.

...BA flights involving heathrow, that is.

My sister-in-law had a cousin on that Lockerbie flight. Frankly at this point, if they wanted me to fly wearing a hospital johnnie or just my undies I'd willingly go along with it!

It sure looks like hysteria, even if it is a milder form than the American variety.

Anthony,

It's not hysteria, it's a real threat.

It was going to happpen.

Terrorists don't have the means to directly impact a society through attack, so they depend on fear and hysteria to erode the structure of society for them. Events of recent years have proved that this strategy works.

18 people are being held in custody and questioned. They haven't introduced these measures for a bit of a jolly old jape on a dull Thursday!!

Anthony, I agree with you in principle but I think you'll find that IF there is direct evidence pointing toward a major terrorist attack (up to 10 planes) - then I suspect that most people would think it's OK to introduce these measures without accusations of hysteria.

Better this than 20 planeloads of people exploding over the Atlantic with virtually no chance of recovering bodies, etc.

Actually, the arrest are up to 21 people, all British Muslims.

Anthony GA-- I wouldn't characterize this as &quot;histeria&quot;; as usual, spewing out strong opinions without knowing all the facts. Way to go...

The plot apparently involved liquid explosives disguised as beverage and cream lotions.

The news report I just heard said if you don't have to fly from UK to US today, don't.

It will be interesting to see what impact this foiled plot will have on carryons in the future.

Good luck to those in UK airports today and thanks to good detective work Scotland Yard.

I have to say I'm always rather impressed when they manage to foil these plots...I don't think we appreciate quite how much work the security forces have to do, and how well they do it.

And I actually get rather a lot of satisfaction from knowing that these insane b******s aren't going to get their martyrdom...