My Recent Airport Baggage & Security Experiences
By Darren Cronian on Friday, April 27th, 2007

I’ve received a few emails from consumers asking what the current situation is with baggage allowances and hand luggage in particular. My advice is to check the airlines website, or give them a call.

My Recent Airport Baggage & Security Experiences

From my recent flight experiences, the airlines seem to be getting stricter on baggage allowances, and whilst in the past they might be lenient on those slightly over the allowance, that seems not to be the case nowadays.

For the first time ever, I was told to weigh by hand luggage, and when walking through security, I was told to remove my shoes so that they could be scanned. Speaking to holidaymakers, they seemed to pick people at random, so maybe I looked a little dodgy that day.

I can see that the rules on liquids are here to stay, and my advice is not to take any liquids in your hand luggage, get any drinks once you have passed through security and in the departure lounge, as it saves a lot of hassle.

Has anyone else flown recently and has any advice for holidaymakers?


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11 responses to “My Recent Airport Baggage & Security Experiences”

Karen Bryan | 27 April, 2007 at 2:55 pm

Darren, I found that the new rules on liquids in hand luggage were pretty straightforward:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/airtravel/airportsecurity?view=Standard

I had purchased these clear ziplock bags but there were available free of charge on table just before check in at Newcastle airport. I prefer to carry my own toiletries with me because I don’t want to have start buying toiletries as soon as I arrive at my destination.

Darren Cronian | 27 April, 2007 at 3:03 pm

Thanks for the link Karen.

I thought you could put liquids in your suitcase just not hand luggage?

Karen Bryan | 27 April, 2007 at 3:08 pm

Yes, you can put liquids in your hold luggage Darren. However there is a risk of leakage into your clothes and if your luggage is lost, it’s a disaster if I don’t have your favourite lipstick and smoothing gel for my unruly curly hair.

My friend has very sensitive skin and she can only use certain products or she gets an allergic reaction.

Darren Cronian | 27 April, 2007 at 9:44 pm

Karen, I have a waterproof bag with all of my ’stuff’ in but yes I forgot lipstick and hair gel haha

Sarah Bennett | 27 April, 2007 at 9:47 pm

I flew with BA last year and lost my baggage, and it’s still not arrived. I guess it’ll never be seen again, but like Karen mentioned, I lost my baggage with all my girly things in and I wasted a few hours shopping for lipstick etc.

Rohan | 28 April, 2007 at 9:25 am

We went to Prague and had no problems, even though the young family in front of us had to remove their shoes, including the young kid, who much of only been 9 years old.

Paul | 28 April, 2007 at 8:49 pm

Many airlines have changed their policy this year to have a maximum weight per bag. I think this will catch many people out this summer, for example we travel as a family of 4 so normally have a baggage allowance of 4 * 23kgs which is plenty for us, but we normally only pack 2 bags which will often weigh 25 - 30 kg each. This year we cannot do this as the maximum weight per bag is now 23kg.

Judging by the number of large bags I see being wheeled around the airport I guess a lot of families are going to be caught out.

Jackie | 28 April, 2007 at 10:01 pm

We had a terrible experience with the security staff in the USA. Unfriendly, to say the least.

Darren Cronian | 28 April, 2007 at 11:59 pm

Good point Paul.

Make use of your bag allowance per person.

This must make life more difficult for families as younger kids cant be carrying large cases.

Darren Cronian | 29 April, 2007 at 12:04 am

Jackie, I’ve heard alot of people say the same.

For some reason my dad must look dodgy because he is always searched when going through US security.

Nicholas Lee | 2 May, 2007 at 1:26 pm

Health and Safety. Who hates that word? Well it made it to baggage handlers. They can now only lift an item weighing less than… well your guess is as good as mine. It seems every airport has brought in its own rules. I have not found one above 32kgs yet but some are as low as 25kgs. The airlines responded by saying 23kgs or less is max weight of any one bag.

So a good gap in market seems to be, super light clothing for holidays??

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