Maximum terror alert in the UK - flights disrupted

Just a warning for those flying out of the UK in the near future


More from the BBC: 'Plot to blow up planes' foiled

Also, additional passenger advice from the BBC.

was just about to make a post on this myself
there'll be chaos, i reckon
you can't even take a handbag

Surely that can only be a short-term measure, while they have the high threat.

kinda makes me wary of flying to the UK anytime soon. When did the high alert take place?

well, indeed - you'd hope so
i've scanned the list of items allowed - you can't even take a book
all the stuff you take with you has to be in a see-through plastic bag

@hockeywidow - it's breaking news overnight, so it starts now, basically

That was my automatic thought as my son's flying a BA solo flight to Scotland next week. But then I thought that it's probably the safest time to fly now while it's high security.

Yes, I guess this is only in place while the threat is at its highest (although this isn't clear from the BBC or any of the British Airport Authority websites). However, it would not surprise me if (at least for short-haul) this measure becomes more than just a temporary thing.

Does anyone know if it is just flights leaving the UK?
We fly into Heathrow tonight

Maybe has something to do with the fact that tomorrow is the 11th? (and I´m flying )

There will be lots of women real happy to show the world they are surfing the red tide by carrying their tampons and sanitary napkins in a clear bag.

but will they allow more checked baggage then? if you cannot take a purse or your laptop, then they have to make concessions some how.

Look like only flights ex-UK at the moment.

I didn't know until now that you can actually find out what the current security rating is in the UK from the MI5 website.

MI5 - The Threats

If you actually read it it says flight INTO the uk.

This has been already going on with some flights for a few months now in other countries. My best friend was returning from Tel Aviv a few months ago and wasnt allowed any handluggage then. She had to fight to be able to take her purse with her so she could by a drink, something to eat etc.
Annoying but when its in the interest of your safety fair enough...

yeah, until she arrived in Munich and her handluggage she was assure would have been checked in for her (she was only told about the no handluggage at the hand luggage security check, not at check in)
had not arrived in munich. So she was stranded here with no phone, no house keys, nothing. And her hand luggage would not be arrive for another 2 days...they didnt give a **** that she couldnt contact anyone (of course, with a mobile phone all your numbers are stored in there and so you dont remember any) and that she couldnt get in her home as had no keys and so was stranded.
Thank god she was able to get her purse otherwise she couldnt have even left the airport or found somewhere to stay or anything. And as I said the airline didnt give a **** about any of that.

So the airlines had better hope the dont lose anyone luggage during this time...I mean, how many of us, especially when flying to the UK, do so with only hand luggage for ease, speed and to ensure we actually have our stuff for the weekend we are home...

nah, it's flights out of the UK

from the second link posted in OP:

Shit. I was going to go to the UK but I'm definitely not going to now until this has all blown over.

This is a bullshit measure meant to keep people scared. Why do I say it's bullshit? Because easily checked items are banned: books, ipods, eyeglass cases, cell phones, etc.

The point of having hand luggage is so that you can carry your barest essentials and/or fragile items in case the airline loses your regular luggage. It's already easily and thoroughly checked.

Such a ban is impractical and has huge loopholes such as babies and the huge bags of food, diapers and wipes that parents have to carry with them. But if people don't outright boycott flying in the UK and make the airlines hurt, you can be certain that the rest of the world will implement these "temporary safety measures".

woof.

Oh, man. I booked a flight for next month to the US with a transfer at Heathrow.

Flying alone with a one-year-old.

If these security measures are still in place, I guess I can take food for her (if I taste it for security screeners) and nappies, but apparently nothing to entertain her with for a 9-hour flight.

Shit shit shit.

I wonder if it would be worth scrambling and paying cancellation fees to try to get a flight that doesn't connect at Heathrow?

i can see why they've banned electronic items (cell phones, ipods) but can't personally see the logic behind banning books and magazines

i can't even see pen and paper on the list

so you can't read, you can't write, can't play games on your toys or listen to music... don't think i'll be making a transatlantic flight out of the UK any time soon, i'd be bored out of my skull

@BD - it's not coming from the airlines... can't imagine the measures will be very good for their business

@Cinzia - i'd certainly look at the options if i were you

To semi quote a reporter on BBC News 24 this morning "Britain has to face up to the enemy within". It is a sad fact that it appears that these terrorist attacks were planned by British Citizens.

It's flights leaving any UK airport and flights transferring at any UK airport.

Does this mean you can't buy any duty free or anything else in the shops once you have gone through security?

oooo - good point, hadn't thought of that
flippin eck! that would be a bit of a blow

It said something about anything you buy in the departure lounge being checked at gate. I'm not sure if this is in the US sense "checked in at gate" or the UK sense "checked that it's not a bomb at gate".

@SIM - Shopping Collection/Home Delivery Service... at least for return flights starting in the UK. Not sure if this kind of thing is available in the Germany though?

Well I for one won't mind in the slightest if I can't take hand luggage onto the plane. When I fly out of heathrow Next month to go to the States, I'll feel alot happier with the extra security... The no hand luggage rule is coming from the Police... Why on earth do you want to penalise the Airlines?

Having just read that they have arrested 18 people over London... Good on the police ! If they say no hand luggage.. then fair enough ... Thanks for keeping me safe boys !


---From the BBC

i am flying to london tonight not very keen

good point Potbelly. am grateful this recent plot has been foiled and if a consequence of that is now no hand-luggage so what. that still leaves a few options to keeping oneself occupied on the plane, getting drunk & sleeping to name but two!

have spent the last two weekends in London both times flying to/from Stansted, not planning to go back again for a bit, glad I got my two trips out the way before this happened; all the extra security checks'd mean having to get to the airport even earlier! we're usually the two people running to catch our flights...

So if I understand correctly, this rule does NOT apply to flights INTO the UK (i.e. the one I'll be taking tomorrow )? Just on the way back?

I was about to book a trans-Atlantic flight via LHR. I shall chose another route and airline now.

Glad I'm not flying but driving back to the UK this weekend!

Do I think totally the wrong way as I would feel safer flying now then I would in few weeks times when they could have started making other plans etc.

Guardian Unlimited: UK airports on high alert as terrorist plot uncovered


Topics merged by admin

I wonder who's got the job of deciding what's sufficient or not

Heathrow airport in London has been closed to all incoming flights that are not already in the air.

For more details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news

Folks, just seen on the BBC news ticker that Lufthansa have cancelled all flights to the UK. No confirmation with an actual article yet.

Topics merged by admin

so anyone flying easyjet in and out of the UK this weekend, keep your eyes peeled on their website:

EasyJet flight disruption - 10.Aug.2006

obviously, same goes for checking the airline website of who you are flying with...

Update: BBC ticker now saying that LHR now closed to all flights that are not already in the air.

Luthansa have cancelled all flights to the UK and Brussels airport have cancelled all flights too.

what about BA?

The ticker is the first line of the BBC website, check http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Sky news stoy here: Plane Terror Plot Thwarted


Topics merged by admin

Brussels airport has also cancelled all flights to the UK. Doubt this will affect anyone on TT, though.

I read they've only cancelled flights to London, not all flights to the UK.

To be fair, the header only says 'London', not the UK.

If you click on the BBC Link that Neil...gave above. A flashing line at the top says flights to the UK.

I believe it did say UK, but now its changed to say London

you are right, sorry. in fact, since LHR in closed to all flights not in the air, this makes the headline wrong as well. Not just Lufthansa but all flights to LHR from anywhere.

i just called BA, i am planning (hahaha) to take the 9.15pm flight to london. BA said that i sould call them again after 3pm. presently the computer says my flight is still on.
(only good thing, i don't have to pay extra for another flight)

THe Brussels one has changed to London but the Luthansa one stills says UK. Still waiting for the full update though.

Now Heathrow airport has been closed to all incoming flights not already in the air.