kshapero
South Florida Man
Interesting thought: With all the high tech security and long lines, etc. it took a Dutch tourist, acting fast, to take down this would be terrorist. Low tech, courage and common sense wins the day. looks to me like all the International security in the world fell short. And now we pay the price. pretty soon we will all have to wear hand cuffs on plane flights just to be "safe". Just musing.
sevres_babylone
Veteran
From what I've heard, at least as far as flights from Toronto to the U.S., the one-bag carry on rule is being interpreted as meaning one bag, and there is no longer a second bag --personal-item -- allowed.
Chuck Albertson
Well-known
You can push that "one carry on" rule. They allow one "purse or personal item" in addition to a carry on bag. If you carry a purse (I suspect that most here do not)then place it and about anything else into a larger tote bag and consider that your personal item. I've even carried a fairly large shopping bag filled with all kinds of {stuff} as my personal item. I think it helps if it's obvious that it can't be checked.
The "one carry-on" rule is being applied to international flights to the US, and pretty strictly. The "one piece plus a personal item" rule is pretty standard on US domestic flights, and doesn't seem to have been affected by the enhanced security precautions overseas.
wgerrard
Veteran
Ouch.
A spate of luggage thefts at my local airport -- people grabbing bags at baggage claim -- get some media attention last year. The response was to station more police at baggage claim and ask random folks to produce a tag matching the one on the bag.
Chuck Albertson
Well-known
Well, that and a defective bomb---a similar device was used by the same group in a bid to blow up a Saudi minister in August. It went bang, but only took out the bomber. The folks on that NW flight were lucky yer man got the mixture wrong, and got flame-broiled bollocks for his trouble.
wgerrard
Veteran
This was standard policy for several years at Heathrow and other UK airports operated by BAA, and just recently loosened. Now the pendulum has swung back.
I heard a Dutch radio correspondent today say that Amsterdam's Schiphol airport has banned all carryon items, accept newspapers, etc., I'm not sure if that is accurate. However, I would not be surprised to see small bags -- purses, camera bags, etc. -- gate checked on international flights.
David Murphy
Veteran
As usual the governments incompetence will be followed by a draconian backlash against the law abiding public.
Leigh Youdale
Well-known
Just lucky I think. I had several rolls of 35mm Delta 400 ruined in a checked baggage x-ray pass at Heathrow in 2006 and have taken great care since not to have a repeat episode.
bmattock
Veteran
And a large group of drooling idiots who will think it's a fine idea. As long as they think they're kept safe, they'll happily trade away their rights - or yours - for perceived happiness. Thus proving that most people prefer being kept in servitude, as long as they have a flat-screen TV, an SUV, and beer in the fridge.
sevres_babylone
Veteran
I'm a little perplexed about the rationale for getting rid of the personal item in addition to one bag of luggage. Perhaps it is to speed up the security line, as the screeners would have few bags to screen. Otherwise, it seems to me if someone was going to smuggle on some explosive, they don't need two bags anyway. Although all the details aren't yet known, I thought that Northwest would-be bomber had brought the explosives on secreted in his clothes, or otherwise attached to his body; in which case, I don't see how one, two or three dozen bags would make a difference.
I also don't understand the nothing in your lap for the last hour rule. Do they think that terrorists aren't going to act until they get one last airplane meal? Interestingly, when the story first broke, some talking heads were wondering why he'd waited until the flight was near Detroit, rather than blowing up the plane over the ocean.
I have nothing against increased security measures that have some logical connection to preventing terrorist acts on planes; but I can't see the connection here.
I also don't understand the nothing in your lap for the last hour rule. Do they think that terrorists aren't going to act until they get one last airplane meal? Interestingly, when the story first broke, some talking heads were wondering why he'd waited until the flight was near Detroit, rather than blowing up the plane over the ocean.
I have nothing against increased security measures that have some logical connection to preventing terrorist acts on planes; but I can't see the connection here.
kshapero
South Florida Man
dittos all around
bmattock
Veteran
If I am not mistaken, the wisdom of the moment says that the terrs are nowadays going for explosions over land, because there will be media to film the devastation - more horror - and therefore more effective than a plane simply vanishing off the radar and a few bobbing suitcases found later. Blow up on landing at Detroit and there will be more body parts on the runway than is normal for even Detroit. Lots of horror, even for Murder City.
N
Nikon Bob
Guest
Ain't that the truth. You can only do so much to actually be safe and unfortunately if someone is bound and determined to harm you they eventually will no matter what precautions you take.
Bob
wgerrard
Veteran
Presumably, to hide working with explosives that are hidden in someone's clothes. This guy had explosives taped to his leg and sewn into his underwear. The "stay seated in the last hour" rule probably comes from this guy's 20-minute bathroom visit just before he tried to detonate the explosive. And, the attempted detonation took place over Detroit because there would be no media imagery of a plane going down in mid-ocean. Blowing something up over a large city insures that video will flash around the world, and comes close to guaranteeing additional ground casualties.
I haven't flown El Al, but plenty of people do and still manage to escape being relegated to drooling idiots. I have flown elsewhere in the Middle East, where being patted down just before boarding was routine. Tightest security I've seen was in apartheid South Africa in the mid-1980's. You were searched and checked with a metal detector before entry into shopping malls. On domestic flights, you went through security on the way to the gate and, again, at the gate. All bags were physically searched. If they found something they didn't like, it was removed. Troops -- regular troops -- patrolled with dogs.
marcr1230
Well-known
The family just got back from Madrid, where we watched with amusement as the security people asked a woman to take a bite out of each of six sandwiches she had packed.
What were they checking for ? poison ? explosives ? what if it was edible explosives ? what if the bad stuff was only on one end of the sandwich ? they should have made her eat the entire six sandwiches
What were they checking for ? poison ? explosives ? what if it was edible explosives ? what if the bad stuff was only on one end of the sandwich ? they should have made her eat the entire six sandwiches
_goodtimez
Well-known
Even when we will be requested to fly wearing the company's pygamas there will be a sick guy swallowing the bomb and ignite it with a car key.
wgerrard
Veteran
The family just got back from Madrid, where we watched with amusement as the security people asked a woman to take a bite out of each of six sandwiches she had packed.
What were they checking for ? poison ? explosives ? what if it was edible explosives ? what if the bad stuff was only on one end of the sandwich ? they should have made her eat the entire six sandwiches
To play Devil's Advocate, thin flexible nonmetallic blades could be hidden in sandwiches.
Ronald M
Veteran
I hope the airlines fold up and quit polluting the air.
For a full month after 9/11 the skies turned bright blue over Chicago horizon to horizon. When they started flying again, the crud returned and has not disappeared since. Nobody will ever convince me airplanes are not responsible for the dirty grey sky.
When I talked to the EPA, they had the nerve to tell me it was because there was less auto traffic because poeple were not going to work. Well I don`t know anybody who did not go to work for even a single day. They have an adgenda it is cars and that is that. Typical breaucrats and politicians.
For a full month after 9/11 the skies turned bright blue over Chicago horizon to horizon. When they started flying again, the crud returned and has not disappeared since. Nobody will ever convince me airplanes are not responsible for the dirty grey sky.
When I talked to the EPA, they had the nerve to tell me it was because there was less auto traffic because poeple were not going to work. Well I don`t know anybody who did not go to work for even a single day. They have an adgenda it is cars and that is that. Typical breaucrats and politicians.
bgb
Well-known
"Tightest security I've seen was in apartheid South Africa in the mid-1980's. You were searched and checked with a metal detector before entry into shopping malls. On domestic flights, you went through security on the way to the gate and, again, at the gate. All bags were physically searched. If they found something they didn't like, it was removed. Troops -- regular troops -- patrolled with dogs."
aaaaah the good old days
The security people had no sense of humor at all and if you were carrying a pistol it was considered polite to tell them before you set off the alarms ... and everyone was carrying something!
aaaaah the good old days
The security people had no sense of humor at all and if you were carrying a pistol it was considered polite to tell them before you set off the alarms ... and everyone was carrying something!
rogerchristian
Established
These days, I mostly travel with a Bessa R, 35/1.7 and a 15 or 50.
I have an Eagle Creek backpack which has been great and by itself got us through 10 days in England a few years back.
I pack the body and lenses in separate zip locks, put them in the tubs to go through X-Ray along with my liquids. Never had a problem. I put film in an X-Ray pouch and send it through, again in the tub.
Note: I usually scrounge clear Fuji film cans so by just picking up the film they can see what is inside the plastic, if they want to unpack the X-Ray pouch.
Never had a problem with any of this. I also have a CPAP which fits in my backpack if I am out for only a day or two, or in my big roller if I am gone longer (extra clothes). Who knows maybe the CPAP diverts them!
It also helps to keep a good attitude when going through, may as well enjoy it, nothing you can do about it anyway.
I have an Eagle Creek backpack which has been great and by itself got us through 10 days in England a few years back.
I pack the body and lenses in separate zip locks, put them in the tubs to go through X-Ray along with my liquids. Never had a problem. I put film in an X-Ray pouch and send it through, again in the tub.
Note: I usually scrounge clear Fuji film cans so by just picking up the film they can see what is inside the plastic, if they want to unpack the X-Ray pouch.
Never had a problem with any of this. I also have a CPAP which fits in my backpack if I am out for only a day or two, or in my big roller if I am gone longer (extra clothes). Who knows maybe the CPAP diverts them!
It also helps to keep a good attitude when going through, may as well enjoy it, nothing you can do about it anyway.