New UK to US travel rules

[tvrolet]

I know there's a thread discussing yesterday's (was it yesterday, I'm losing track) bomb/device on the Delta flight, but here is whst actually means to folks flying transatlatlantic right now.

I flew from LHR to LAX yesterda; still not adusted to the time so up in the wee small hours tapping out messsges on PH!

All passengers were being searched brforre boarding the flight, this is after security at the gate. Everyone gets a pat~down search, and ALL carry on bags and jackets haveecontents emptied and checked. This took wwell over 2 hours for a 777's worth of passengers so nor surprisingly planes are leaving late. We were relatively lucky with an early flight out so no real bscklog beforeus, but folks were still missing connecting flights. if you've a tight connection in the US you might want to check with the aitline.

No real difference for the rest of the flight, except the moving map/progress display is switched off and unavailable, and the audio channel on some aircraft that lets you listen to the pilots and ATC isalso barred.

In the last hour of the journey everyone has to be seated and belted in. There is ample warningof this for the final pee~trip, as absolutely no standing in the lasthour. At this time ALL items have to be stowed, this includes the airline pillows and blankets. Nothong is allowed on your lap, not even a book or anewspaper and all electronics/PCs/iPods must be off and stowed.

Bit of a pain but the airlines are handling it prettuwell since they're just having to carry out the new mandated regulations, and as normal the travelling public is just stoically accepting it.

So, the message is get to the airport real early, maybe revisit any tight connections in the US if you have any, and stay off too many beers as there are no toilet breaks in the lasy hour.

....all tapped out on me 'phone, so sorry for any tipping errirs...off to see if I can get some more sleep.

[Orb the Impaler]

I used to love flying, it always seemed such an adventure from the moment you got into the airport.

Now it's just a degrading, humiliating pain in the arse. I realise that all this security guff is important and I don't want to see innocent people getting killed, but it's getting silly.

It does strike me that if any terrorist organisation wanted to go blow up a load of people it could do it a lot easier by blowing up a high speed rail line just as the train approaches, or hanging around in a back garden in Hounslow with a Stinger missile, or maybe blowing the bottom out of a big North Sea ferry or similar.

[Mojocvh]

"I realise that all this security guff is important "

Really, you REALLY believe that confining pax to their seats will stop an attack?

The REAL problem that should be addressed is how he got his st onboard. And that is all.

[Benjybh]

Don your rose-tinted spectacles...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyCTpZvjW1U

[kambites]

Mojocvh said:

The REAL problem that should be addressed is how he got his st onboard. And that is all.

No, the real problem that should be addressed was why he wanted to blow up the plane in the first place.

[Andoo]

I watched that story about that scum and rolled my eyes

It means that soon we will be stripped and have devices shoved up our holes and onto our cocks.

All because of a bunch of ill informed, incredibly stupid, dire in need of alchohol and a bunch of virgins, mentally retarded anus brained spakkers who believe some "made up" deity told them they must kill the infadel!

Well sorry Mullah, but I'm "not" the one cleaning my arse with my BARE hand!

Jeez, makes me mad as hell

[oldbanger]

Is this just US bound flights, or is it likely to be all flights from now on?

[Orb the Impaler]

oldbanger said:

Is this just US bound flights, or is it likely to be all flights from now on?

I think we can rest assured that staff on holiday charter flights will be using this as an excuse to confine passengers to their seats (like they do when there is the teeniest bit of turbulence).

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

tvrolet said:

In the last hour of the journey everyone has to be seated and belted in. There is ample warningof this for the final pee~trip, as absolutely no standing in the lasthour. At this time ALL items have to be stowed, this includes the airline pillows and blankets. Nothong is allowed on your lap, not even a book or anewspaper and all electronics/PCs/iPods must be off and stowed.

'Dear Terrorists, we're an hour outside New York now, so if you'd like to blow the plane up in the next minute or so we'd be much obliged....'

Morons.

[Orb the Impaler]

Mojocvh said:

Really, you REALLY believe that confining pax to their seats will stop an attack?

Not for one minute; security is important but what we have now is, to my mind, a load of pathetic, knee-jerk hysteria.

[Puggit]

All very pointless, and all very knee-jerk. If a well funded, well connected group really wanted to cause problems then they would. The terrorists are winning this war easily, causing havoc and terror in the airline industry.

[Kentish]

Until about 18 months ago i used to fly to the US every 5 or 6 weeks but I'm sure glad I do not have to now.

[diesel head]

Orb the Impaler said:

I used to love flying, it always seemed such an adventure from the moment you got into the airport.

Now it's just a degrading, humiliating pain in the arse. I realise that all this security guff is important and I don't want to see innocent people getting killed, but it's getting silly.

It does strike me that if any terrorist organisation wanted to go blow up a load of people it could do it a lot easier by blowing up a high speed rail line just as the train approaches, or hanging around in a back garden in Hounslow with a Stinger missile, or maybe blowing the bottom out of a big North Sea ferry or similar.

Completely agree with the above!

I used to love the whole process of flying, but I really feel violated by the checks at the moment, fortunately I don't seem to get 'picked' for a pat down often but last time it was horrible, this dutch security guard seemed to be touching me everywhere, but it was the squeezing of my boobs that really upset me, so violating (I know guys but please at least attempt to take me seriously).

[The Riddler]

diesel head said:

Completely agree with the above!

I used to love the whole process of flying, but I really feel violated by the checks at the moment, fortunately I don't seem to get 'picked' for a pat down often but last time it was horrible, this dutch security guard seemed to be touching me everywhere, but it was the squeezing of my boobs that really upset me, so violating (I know guys but please at least attempt to take me seriously).

I think i've seen the training film for this procedure on tube8. What comes next is normally the best bit.

[dxg]

diesel head said:

Orb the Impaler said:

I used to love flying, it always seemed such an adventure from the moment you got into the airport.

Now it's just a degrading, humiliating pain in the arse. I realise that all this security guff is important and I don't want to see innocent people getting killed, but it's getting silly.

It does strike me that if any terrorist organisation wanted to go blow up a load of people it could do it a lot easier by blowing up a high speed rail line just as the train approaches, or hanging around in a back garden in Hounslow with a Stinger missile, or maybe blowing the bottom out of a big North Sea ferry or similar.

Completely agree with the above!

I used to love the whole process of flying, but I really feel violated by the checks at the moment, fortunately I don't seem to get 'picked' for a pat down often but last time it was horrible, this dutch security guard seemed to be touching me everywhere, but it was the squeezing of my boobs that really upset me, so violating (I know guys but please at least attempt to take me seriously).

Remember it's called the "theatre of security" for a reason.

All this hassle and the views expressed in this thread remind me that the "terrorists" have won: the way in which we travel by air has fundamentally changed and we are reminded of the reasons why every time we do so.

If this terrorist threat were treated in the same manner as the IRA ones were, then it would be in the back of our minds where it should be and the influence on our daily lives would be negligible. I remember the days when there was an acceptable threat that came with an associated level of risk. I remember when Birmingham and Manchester retail centres were bombed. They were reported, of course, but it was considered an "acceptable risk." Any attempt to completely exclude attacks will never succeed and perpetuating the falsehood that it somehow can be is affecting our quality of life.

I can't help but question why it is that "the authorities" have created this situation. I can imagine that it may be politically helpful to remind your voters of a (any?) constant threat when you've got an unpopular, self-instigated and unwinable overseas war to justify.

Edited by dxg on Monday 28th December 02:46

[Orb the Impaler]

dxg said:

I can't help but question why it is that "the authorities" have created this situation. I can imagine that it may be politically helpful to remind your voters of a (any?) constant threat when you've got an unpopular, self-instigated and unwinable overseas war to justify.

This had occurred to me, too.

Another thing: why don't terrorists simply stick explosives in their hold luggage with a time pencil (acid, no moving parts)? Or if they want to carry a weapon what about a kevlar cord which could be hidden inside the cord-pull of a hoodie and which would make a handy garotte?

[TimJMS]

Benjybh said:

Don your rose-tinted spectacles...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyCTpZvjW1U

Thanks for that

[fastfreddy]

Orb the Impaler said:

dxg said:

I can't help but question why it is that "the authorities" have created this situation. I can imagine that it may be politically helpful to remind your voters of a (any?) constant threat when you've got an unpopular, self-instigated and unwinable overseas war to justify.

This had occurred to me, too.

Another thing: why don't terrorists simply stick explosives in their hold luggage with a time pencil (acid, no moving parts)? Or if they want to carry a weapon what about a kevlar cord which could be hidden inside the cord-pull of a hoodie and which would make a handy garotte?

Checked baggage is now routinely scanned/x-rayed/sniffed for explosives once it's left you at check-in. Hold baggage commonly held in containers which can contain an explosion. Basically it requires a much smaller device to breach the pressurised cabin if you can carry it onboard so this is the route the terrorists are going.

Knives, garottes etc. are not going to help one man much these days as I think there will be a fair number of passengers willing to have a go now. And there are more undercover air marshals on board now.

There are of course many ways to get around the security and there always will be. It's a deterrent at best.

After a while the checks will be relaxed again and the terrorists will take advantage again.

Intelligence is really where the time and money should be spent although why this particular guy wasn't flagged up before he got on the plane still needs explaining.