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Cheap Flights Bookings>Information>Airport Security Checks

Airport security checks are getting longer - Please Be Patient

All airports are bustling with millions of travellers and millions of bags and millions of potential security risks.

Leading airports, such as Gatwick and Heathrow, have the vast majority of travellers, with approximately 50% of all UK travellers going through these 2 major airports.

Figures estimate that the larger airports have approximately:
Heathrow:67 million passengers
Gatwick:38 million passengers
Stansted:24 million passengers

Considering our population is only 56 million, this highlights the sheer volume of travellers, that there are over 20 leading airports in the UK.

Luggage security is now one of the most important aspects of international travel as most travellers take 2 suitcases and hand luggage, which makes the sheer task of screening and managing a phenomenal task for our airport authorities.

Security scanners are very sophisticated and are expensive digital equipment. The leading airports, such as Heathrow and Gatwick, have invested in the latest high tech equipment to scan and check your luggage and your person.

You should ensure you pack all sharp objects such as scissors into your main luggage and not in your hand luggage.

Hand Luggage & Security

You are permitted to take on board the aircraft 1 item of hand luggage which should not exceed 56 cm [22 inches approximately], 45 cm [17.5 inches] and 25 cm deep 9.85 inches], which includes the wheels, handles and side pockets.

There is a size guide at the entry point of most airport departure check-ins to ensure that your hand luggage conforms to this size limit. If any items exceed this you will be asked to include all such items as storage luggage to be taken in the aircraft hold.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments are of course of great value to their owners, and the airport security staff understand that you would be loathe to part with your treasured possession. They certainly would not want to see the item placed in the hold which could lead to possible damage or, at worse, loss. As a treasured possession you can ask to keep the musical instrument with you as a second piece of hand luggage, but all such items will of course be subject to screening and checking.

Depending upon the size of the musical instrument, such as in the case of a cello, it may be necessary to purchase an extra seat for large instruments. If unsure you should contact the airline and explain prior to check-in and arrival.

Lap tops and Personal Notebooks

A lap top PC can either be carried within your eligible hand luggage or separately in its own carrying case and again is subject to screening and checking. If carried separately this will be classed as your ONE eligible item of Hand Luggage, so our advice would be to make the carrying case larger to accommodate both your lap top and personal toiletries and carry on items.

Large Electrical Items

If you choose to carry on large electrical items these must be screened separately.

Push Chairs, Walking Aids and Wheelchairs

These will all be permitted as carry on luggage and in addition to your one item of hand luggage but will separately be screened.

Wheelchair passengers will be thoroughly checked and asked to lean forward if their condition permits and will be screened, as will children in pushchairs, who will be asked to be removed from the cot or chair.

Liquids

Restrictions on hand luggage for air passengers is likely to remain, especially the restriction on fluids being taken on board aircraft, as liquid explosives cannot be easily detected. It's simpler and quicker for passenger through-flow to prevent all liquids from being taken on aircraft that have been acquired prior to airside. All liquids that have been purchased "airside" are thoroughly checked prior to shelving to ensure safety, so it is quicker and simpler to purchase any liquids once you are in the departure lounge, from any one of the airside shops or in the duty free areas.

The relaxation of the security risk of liquids has meant that some liquids are now permitted to be carried through airport security check points. Liquids, such as lotions, pastes, liquid cosmetics, hair gels and foams are now permitted through airport check points, providing they do not exceed 100ml. The main proviso is that ALL such liquids MUST be placed in transparent plastic bags, which in itself must not exceed 1 litre in capacity, which is roughly 20cm x 20cm in size. This bag must be sealable and fit comfortably in your luggage.

Each traveller is permitted to carry only ONE such bag of liquids and it MUST be presented for inspection by the check point staff.

These containers must be brought to the airport contained in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag, similar to this one.

Example of plastic bag with cosmetics

ANY other liquids that can not be placed in this bag must be packed into the main luggage which is going in the hold.

"Liquids" include:

All drinks, which includes water, soup, syrups;
Creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara, etc.;
All cosmetic Sprays and pressurized containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants;
Pastes, including toothpastes;
Gels, including shower and hair gel;
Any other solutions and items of similar consistency which can be determined as fluids.

Medicines

If you are required to take medication on board you must be prepared for all such medications to be subject to checking. Essential medicines and baby food may be permitted in larger quantities above the 100ml limit.

If you require having any syringes on your person you must notify the airline and obtain written approval prior to arrival at check-in.

What to do at Ariport Security

When you approach the security areas you will be asked to remove your jacket and empty your pockets and place all items, such as mobile phones, watches, ipods, MP3 players, portable electrical devices, games consoles, keys and glasses, into plastic containers to be screened. You will be screened through doorway screeners and possibly be asked to permit a member of the security staff to manually screen you.

You do not have to place coins or any items of jewellery such as rings or chains in the containers as these will be dealt with by manual search screen techniques.

It is possible for metal objects such as buckles and fasteners to set off the alarms on the walk through scanners. Do not be alarmed, but expect to be manually screened by a member of the security staff.

If you have any metal prosthesis you must inform the security staff of this, which may require further checking.

airline security

When boarding the aircraft, make sure you place your hand luggage under your seat or in the over head compartments as directed by the airline staff. Please also note that, depending upon your destination, you may not be permitted to take certain food items with you, such as meat, cheese or dairy products. Customs may also stop you bringing these back from certain countries.

Written on: 20th July 2007