That is so F-ed up because the equipment is so fragile and expensive. It'll be like that old Samsonite luggage commercial where the gorilla is tossing luggage all over the rocks and trees to show how rugged it is. It'll be the same for laptops and cameras and lenses and ports and strobes, etc. This will change the way we travel. We'll end up shipping Fed Ex because it'll be safer and cheaper in the long run.
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UK Airline Security Alert
43 posts
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This will not be a long term change. But damned inconvenient in the short term (I'm flying next Sunday).
The reason behind putting everything into the hold is primarily because security do not have the equipment to sniff test all hand baggage for explosives. The equipment that they have can only be used on a sample basis.
All hold baggage goes through a big sniffer which is why they can be sure that no explosives are contained.
Once proper explosives testing equipment can be installed at passenger security along with the body scanners they are currently trialling I can't see a reason to not allow hand baggage.
Commercially many airlines are trying to dissuade customers from travelling with hold baggage to reduce costs. This helps make the no-frills/low-cost model viable. They will pressurise for the return of hand luggage.
Anyway my fingers are seriously crossed that things will sort themselves out over the next couple of days but I am checking out prices of Storm and Peli cases.
I went to Jacobs in Oxford Street (A camera store) at lunchtime to find two others enquiring about hard cases and they told me they had sold 8 hard cases to journalists that morning.
Mark
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experts on the tv tonight are predicting that this will lead to permanent changes in allowing of hand baggage on aircraft - ie. none allowed
I just can't see BA's recent changes to hand baggage policy (which were so welcome) staying around for very long...
problem is - what about people who still shoot some film? - hold baggage XRayers nuke film....
:glare:
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experts on the tv tonight are predicting that this will lead to permanent changes in allowing of hand baggage on aircraft - ie. none allowed
:glare:
They are probably overstating it. I think that as they develop different security regimens we will suffer from some draconian measures, but in the long term it is more likely that if you want to carry something on you will go thru a stronger x-ray pass during a second security check, one that will make you arrive earlier and jump through a few more hoops. And this may be included with the allowance for more hand-checked bags at the gate, and picked up at the arrival gate so your bags never go into the bowels of any airport (and that theft risk is avoided). But we will probably never again be allowed to carry on food or drinks, and we may have to submit to "frisks" in some cases.
All in all, I don't think much will change except that we will submit to more, and more powerful, security checks. As well as having some limitations on how we carry on, but not whether we get to carry on.
After all.....El Al has figured out security measure good enough to allow carry ons. We are just going to have to have that kind of time and patience if we have something important enough to carry on.
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Yes, this will create some inconvience and frusteration, but it's better than being blown out of the sky. Let's remember who the bad guys are.
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and reversely burger king londons new employee turn over drops by 80%
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Yet more discussion on BBC news programs this morning - general advice is NOT to carry anything valuable - suggestions including 'buy what you need when you get there' (presenters are obviously way overpaid!) and don't go if you can avoid it!
But there was also some useful bits of info - such as that some insurers are changing policies to enable expensive equipment to be fully covered whilst in the hold (which doesn't help when you need a housing in the middle of nowhere but is at least a positive move).
Very worryingly was airport footage showing police carrying automatic wepons AND spare, loaded magazines - the first time I have seen this. Reassuring in a way, but not what I really want to see. They are ensuring a high profile and that they most certainly mean business.
Disconcertingly, some people are still querying whether they can carry on a camera without the battery - clearly they don't understand basic commands!
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Very worryingly was airport footage showing police carrying automatic wepons AND spare, loaded magazines - the first time I have seen this.
Yeah, you think they would choose FHM.
Just thought I'd lighten the mood.
Alex
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Here in the U.S. they are saying ONLY liquids cannot be hand checked, and they are emphasizing that you can still bring on a carry-on. They haven't hinted at batteries or Ipods, things like that, but it's probably forthcoming.
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That is a great sign, Joe.
If the US is not inforcing a full hand baggage ban then the UK shouldn't last too long.
I am already trying to figure out ways to protect my camera and laptop in the hold next week. And printing out "Fragile - delicate items usually carried in hand luggage in side" signs to stick on my bag.
Alex
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I've got a problem. My trip to Fiji is in three weeks. And I'm taking my Nikonos/15mm combo. It's the film that I'm worried about. I don't know if you can buy fresh Velvia in Nadi. Maybe the next trip will be 100% digital.
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I don't think you will have any problem with film if you hand carry it, unless you are leaving out of the U.K. I don't even think lead lined bags in your checked luggage work against the strong x-rays, but I could be wrong. If they are good and see a black spot that their machine won't see through, they will open your bag and visually check. Maybe, that is!
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[...snip...]
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.
Amen to that!
GG
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threat level in the UK now downgraded to Severe, and there are some changes in hand baggage allowances:
to quote BBC.co.uk:
"For those allowed to take hand luggage on board, the dimensions of this item must not exceed a maximum length of 45cm, width of 35cm and depth of 16cm (17.7"x13.7"x6.2" approx) including wheels, handles, side pockets, etc.
Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be screened by X-ray. "
and here is the link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4789593.stm
On the news this morning it was mentioned that the new guidelines would be permanent, not sure if this is the final guideline though
Now does anyone know of a Lowepro or Tamrac that matches these dimensions? I think I need to go shopping.....
Steve
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just in case anyone else is looking for a new bag, the lowepro omni pro (just the bag, not the case) almost exactly matches the new guidelines:
Bag size (Exterior): 17.5W x 6.25D x 12.25H in.
http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Hard_and_S...ro_Extreme.aspx
Steve
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Hey, Steve. That bag/hard case setup looks pretty good. I've discovered that the Moose Peterson MP-3 bag fits inside of the same Pelican 1520 case (the case the Omni Pro Expreme uses). Since the Mp-3 is padded on all sides except the top, I leave the foam on the top but take out the padded dividers.
I think I'm going to travel this way in the future -- bring a 1520 Pelican case with the MP-3 inside. If I'm forced to gate check it, I'll just remove the backpack and wear it.
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A word of warning on carry on bag sizes - I believe that in the UK the size is set by the airline company and these can and do vary, as do maximum carry on weights.
If you are going to be overweight with baggage, try checking up on what it will cost before you travel. My record so far is 3 different prices from the same (none-UK) airline!
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The UK hand luggage restriction is based very closely round a laptop bag. I think I am going to be packing my cameras in a laptop bag on Friday! Silly really because my camera bag is smaller - but doesn't fit the 6 inch depth dimension:
"Item must not exceed a length of 45cm, width of 35cm and depth of 16cm (17.7"x13.7"x6.2" approx) including wheels, handles, side pockets, etc."
Alex
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Hey, Steve. That bag/hard case setup looks pretty good. I've discovered that the Moose Peterson MP-3 bag fits inside of the same Pelican 1520 case (the case the Omni Pro Expreme uses).
How much gear can you fit in the MP-3, Eric? - will it take a housing and a laptop together?
S
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I just borrowed a friend's omni-pro and 1520 to give me more options. The omni-pro is precisely the right size, unless you stuff it spherical! The minor dimension is actially 15cm but that'll swell as you load it up. I can get my 5D, a few lenses and my Vaio TX series into it. If the security scheme goes mental again then I can throw the omni-pro into the 1520 and check it into the hold.
Other options include just putting everything apart from the vaio and inflight power in the hold, including 5D and lenses, then insure the hell out of it.
Steve, I can't see how you'd get any DSLR housing in the 16mm dimension, you can't even get a D2X or a 1D in that stood up.
P&S anyone?
Martyn
