Latest Security Measures

The Department for Transport has announced changes to the UK's aviation security measures, notably to the quantity of liquids that passengers will be able to take onboard aircraft. These changes will take effect from Monday 6 November 2006.

Passengers should also take note that the changes introduced on November 6th will also apply to all airports in the EU irrespective of destination. Please make a note of these changes as they may be implemented while you are away from the UK whilst staying in an EU country.

Below is a guide to the requirements that will be in place as well as advice to help passengers pass through the security check as quickly as possible.

Passenger requirements

Liquids
Some liquids will be allowed once again through airport security check points. There will however be restrictions on the quantity of liquids that can be taken through:

Passengers may carry small quantities of liquids, but only within separate containers each of which with a capacity not greater than 100ml.

These containers must be brought to the airport contained in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag, which itself must not exceed 1 litre in capacity (approximately 20cms x 20cms). The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably and the bag sealed. Each passenger may carry only one such bag of liquids

The bag must be presented for examination at the airport security point.

Liquids that can not be placed inside the re-sealable bag must be packed into the hold luggage and checked in.

Remember that 'Liquids' includes:

All drinks, including water, soup, syrups
Creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara etc
Sprays and pressurized containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants
Pastes, including toothpastes
Gels, including hair and shower gel
Any other solutions and items of similar consistency
Medicines
Essential medicines and baby food may be permitted in larger quantities above the 100ml limit, but will be subject to the authentication that is already currently required.

Cabin baggage and size allowed
Each passenger is restricted to carrying only one item (in addition to the re-sealable liquids bag) through the airport search point with a maximum size of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm.

Pushchairs, walking aids and wheelchairs are permitted but will be screened.

Laptops / electrical items
Laptops and other large electrical items (e.g. a large hairdryer) will still have to be removed from cabin baggage and screened separately. A laptop bag will be regarded as your one item that is allowed in the cabin.

Outsize items
All items of luggage which do not fit in the permitted cabin baggage size (maximum length 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm) must be checked in to be placed in the aircraft hold. Musical instruments will, as an exception, be allowed as a second item of cabin baggage, but will need to be screened and passengers should check with their airlines if special arrangements (e.g. purchasing an extra seat) for these large instruments will be required.

Preparing for your journey
Passengers are asked to bear in mind the following advice to help make their passage through the airport as efficient and comfortable as possible:

Before you arrive at the airport
Limit quantities to what you may need in the cabin for the duration of the flight.
When possible, put liquids in hold baggage.
Prepare the re-sealable bag of liquids before arriving at the airport.
Check any queries you have with your airport or airline before travelling to the airport
At the security point
Be ready to hand over your re-sealable bag of liquids for screening as you approach the security check point. It will be screened at the same time as your cabin luggage.
All coats and jackets will have to be removed ready to be screened and metal items including wallets will be placed in plastic trays and scanned separately.
If you are carrying a Laptop or any other large electrical item within your cabin luggage then please have it ready for separate screening as you approach the security check.
Duty free / departure lounge purchases
The rules on liquids will not apply to items of any size that can be bought once past the security check in the Departure lounge (sometimes referred to as 'Airside').
If an item is sold in a special sealed bag do not open the bag until you have completed your journey and therefore passed through any transfers.
Flights returning to UK
The requirements outlined above will be effective at airports in all EU member states, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland from the 6 November, and are in line with requirements in the US and Canada. If you are making any journey (not just to the UK) from an airport within these countries the same rules apply, so please follow the same advice provided above. The only exception is the maximum baggage size requirement which will come into effect across other EU member states from April 2007.

Source: Department for Transport