Check out this travel advisory from aircanada.com:
As a result of the added security precautions, passengers should also expect delayed and cancelled flights as well as missed connections. Air Canada will endeavour to transport passengers to their destination as quickly as possible and rebook passengers who miss their connections at no charge.
New rules imposed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration also limit on-board activities by customers and crew in U.S. airspace that may adversely impact on-board service. Among other things, during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal belongings or other items on their laps.
I’d love to provide some kind of rational commentary, but is there anything that can really be said? So for the last hour of an international flight we can’t have any personal belongings on our lap? Not even magazines and books? And to stay seated for the last hour of the flight? Seriously? Is that going to stop anyone with bad intentions from doing whatever they were going to do?
Next thing you know we’ll have TSA agents on flights….
(Tip of the hat to Christian)
In Oct 09 traveled in China. Their security confiscated all hand-carried alcohol based hand sanitizers. They said the alcohol level made them flammable. Their posted notice said no alcohol liquids were allowed, not even less than 3oz. Have never seen this posted by TSA.
@Martyn: I actually do the same thing with a little bottle of hand sanitizer - a liquid, and alcohol-based to boot - that I keep in a pocket of my messenger bag. It sits right at the top, practically visible if the top flap isn't closed properly and in easy view of the scanners. Like you, it originally went through by accident, and now it's become a challenge. So far I have gone through seven...
@Martyn: I actually do the same thing with a little bottle of hand sanitizer - a liquid, and alcohol-based to boot - that I keep in a pocket of my messenger bag. It sits right at the top, practically visible if the top flap isn't closed properly and in easy view of the scanners. Like you, it originally went through by accident, and now it's become a challenge. So far I have gone through seven U.S. airports, gotten seven speeches about how all liquids must be removed and bagged and placed in separate containers, and never once had them catch it. Way to go, TSA.
Hi Lucky (great blog by the way)
For the last three years, I've carried the same half-finished (and no longer used) lip balm on flights. Nothing wrong with that, you think, but I take it in my pocket, not in a see-through bag. Ever since I once forgot to take it out of my pocket going through security, and it wasn't spotted, I've snuck it through. Just to see if it's possible. If ever it...
Hi Lucky (great blog by the way)
For the last three years, I've carried the same half-finished (and no longer used) lip balm on flights. Nothing wrong with that, you think, but I take it in my pocket, not in a see-through bag. Ever since I once forgot to take it out of my pocket going through security, and it wasn't spotted, I've snuck it through. Just to see if it's possible. If ever it was found, I was just going to let them take it. But it's been missed at screening in five US cities, two dozen European cities, and two Libyan cities.
Bottom line, screening just isn't that good. And does the TSA really think that people won't know where they are if the maps are turned off? Any terrorist trying to accomplish something at the end of a flight will a) have a watch, and b) look out of a window, duh.
This "last hour" rule is beyond ludicrous. It accomplishes nothing. As posted above anything that can be done to the aircraft in the last hour can be done earlier in the flight.
This is a great example of government bureaucracies running in circles spewing CYA regulations. If you think the "last hour" rule is bad wait until they are fully regulating your health care!
@Miles: +1
@Bschaff1: Don't you think that if someone really wants to get something on an airplane, they will find a way to do it, no matter what type of screening procedures we have in place? My point being, I am not ready to place any blame on the AMS screeners for this yet.
I hope that cooler heads will prevail and eliminate this "last hour of flight" rule. I just can't see what good it accomplishes.
And what does this new TSA directive really accomplish? Nothing. On an international flight a passenger could have done the same stuff done yesterday at any point in the flight.
Yet the real fault lays with the security screeners in AMS and the people at ICE that let this fellow have visa approval to come to the USA. However all we will see is the TSA will make flying suck a little more each...
And what does this new TSA directive really accomplish? Nothing. On an international flight a passenger could have done the same stuff done yesterday at any point in the flight.
Yet the real fault lays with the security screeners in AMS and the people at ICE that let this fellow have visa approval to come to the USA. However all we will see is the TSA will make flying suck a little more each time on account of a few SOBs while in reality accomplishing nothing more. Maybe the TSA should make exceptions for this rule or maybe they should just shut down. It was their screening procedures that let this go through and the incompetent screeners at AMS that were probably high as a kite and the morons at ICE that green-lighted this scum coming to the USA.
Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, again. The next attempted terrorist will try something slightly different.
As someone brought up in the flyertalk AC forum, I wonder if infants would be considered "personal belongings or other items" ;-)
Joy and I'm flying today.
I wouldn't be surprised if the TSA pulled this stunt to cover up their recent mishaps of their SOPs being released.
That just made my choice of which airline to use on my trip to vancouver easier..