UK Airline Security Alert

As you may have seen on the news, the UK's security status has now been raised to 'critical' following an anti-terrorism operation, meaning that hand luggage may not currently be carried onto aircraft. This appears, from the media news bulletins, to include everything except a clear plastic bag of paperwork.

So if you are looking at carrying photo gear, now may be a very good time to see what options exist for transporting and protecting equipment in the aircraft hold. As I've had ports damaged inside substantial Pelicases in the hold I am in a quandry as to how to pack gear anyway.

wow.. strange

I would imagine it will sort itself out in a day or two.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778575.stm

The UK airline industry has recently been pushing towards more hand luggage. The low-cost airlines are actively encouraging us to take as much hand luggage as you can carry and British Airways have introduced a new 2 piece hand luggage allowance.

Alex

I just watched a flash news report that said all flights into and consequerntialy out of Heathrow had been cancelled - any developments on that ?

and the tourism industry to Cairns drops by 80%...

Problem is that I (and I'd say a fair number of others) rely on multple pockets, camera cases, plastic bags, etc. to get more delicate bits and pieces through and onto the aircraft where they can be kept more safely. Given that this has security reqirement has now happened once, it will probably happen again. So I really need to figure out a contingency for the more easily damaged gear (that is anything not built like the proverbial, as handlers seem able to break most things).

I agree. I am not very keen on having to send laptop, camera and lens through in the hold.

Anyway I have 9 days until I am flying next...

Alex

if at least they guarantee the arrival of suitcases...

Funny thing is the more these clowns try to do this stuff the futher from their goals they are getting <_<

As I've had ports damaged inside substantial Pelicases in the hold I am in a quandry as to how to pack gear anyway.

For information, what sort of ports and what sort of damaged did they suffer? Crushing, vibrational scratching? Bullet holes?

I have my ports in one peli, housing in the other, other bits divided between the two, but I'm looking at rejigging everthing for the new 5D housing anyway, so the more info I can get on failure modes the better, especially if I end up having to create an option for packing my camera gear in pelis too.

Martyn

My ports always go in the hold. In just a normal (hard samsonite) suitcase, as I think Pelicases attract too much theiving attention. No damage so far.

Alex

What about FEDEXing it to your destination. You can even get online and track it all the way

I have just been sent this. Advice from the UK Dept of Transport:

Dept_of_Transport_10_Aug_06.pdf

Heard a little,

Apparently our security services have arrested 21 people in connection with a plot o blow up as much as ten planes over the next few days using liquid explosives. They were going to sneak the stuff on board using soft drink bottles in hand luggage... Waiting for more info.

I'm off to Tuscany in 2 weeks so hopefully it will be sorted. But I admire British resolve and we will take it in our stride.

Good on the security boys and girls

Dive and fly safe

DeanB

I'd personally have no problem packing all my gear into the hold , if we didn't have such restrictive baggage limits and the risk of the bags simply not turning up at the destination.

The problem is that gear like cameras would need to be packed so well, that you can comfortably rack up the cost of the ticket in excess baggage fees.

What's more - how is hold baggage supposed to be safer? - so much gets stolen from hold baggage, my view is if you can take something out, then you can put something in. Isn't it time airports had security surveillance on the baggage handling areas?

Maybe if we were reassured that our precious gear would turn up intact at our destination with no crippling hidden charges, then people like us wouldn't be so protective of our gear when we fly.

Steve

Steve, you were reading my mind. I am comfortable that I can pack my geear with relative protection from damage, but since the TSA and baggage handlers have a license to steal and not be held accountable, this incident has just helped brought more chickens to the fox, so now the crooks behind the airline counters have a larger selection of goods to swipe at our expense. I actually cram as much as I can on my carryon (for this reason) so if my other stuff gets stolen I at least can dive with one camera setup. But putting 30k worth of cameras, lenses, strobes, housings, etc in the hold (along with a 3k laptop) is simply high risk that your vacation will be ruined, not to mention the fight you will have with insurance companies.

Joe

and the tourism industry to Cairns drops by 80%...

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tha sad part is that the roll on effect of such a significant number of flights being cancelled will affect everybody associated with the dive tourism industry and in some markets possibly be enough to push them under.

Peter

...and don't forget they will want to charge excess-baggage on anything over your checked-baggage allowance.

For in-transit passengers affected by this change, AA at least is waiving excess baggage charges.

See their press release here.

(From AA.com)

 

All UK transiting passengers will be required to check any carry-ons they bring to the airport regardless of origination. For passengers who have already left the US and will be connecting in the UK, they will not be allowed to use the transit area in the UK airports and will be routed back to the ticket counters to check their carry-on luggage.

 

For the customers affected by this new policy, we will waive excess baggage fees for customers who arrive at the airport for connections in the UK or who are departing from the UK and must now check their carry-on baggage.

To answer the question about port damage - twice I have had (and I've heard of two other instances) the 'hood' plastic sheared off Seacam Ports (both Superdome and Fisheye). Thes bolt on and are easy enough to replace. They are substantially solidly fitted so it must take a fair impact (dropping the case I suspect) to move the contents sufficiently to break the plastic. And I've also had a control rod bent on a 1DS housing (took me ages to get it out and 'staighten' it - I still need to get a new one - and this isn't my idea of fun on my first evening away).

I agree with all other comments about security of hold case contents. Now I'm NOT moaning about security levels and suchlike but what I would like to see is an acceptance by airlines that some people do travel with expensive, delicate equipment, and a system in place to deal with such items - can't see that this is too much to ask as I'd pay for such a service.