With the latest terrorist attempt that took place on a Northwest Airlines’ flight 253 on Dec 25, 2009 or Christmas Day – in which the terrorist hid explosives in his underwear to set fire to the plane above Detroit, Michigan – airport security and airlines have heightened security for the remainder of 2009 holiday season and the coming year.
Travelling during the holiday season? Read our Airport Holiday Travel Guide for tips on making airport holiday travel a little more bearable and easier.
While 2010 looked like it would be the year for softening airport security measures, this plot seems to have foiled any chance of lessening travellers’ pre-boarding inconveniences.
Airport security measures & restrictions in the next few months
Here’s what you can expect if you’re travelling internationally and especially to the USA from international destinations in the next few months:
Overall heightened security, additional screening measures, dog-sniffing teams, longer lines, and lengthier wait times at the airport- Electronic body scanners that are more invasive than the usual x-ray machines of the past
- Continued screening of passengers’ shoes, and 3oz liquid limitations
- Multiple bag checks by multiple security guards for each bag you carry
- Removal of most or all items of your carry-on bags or personal items for inspection (to the last coin!)
- Pat-downs and bag searches that will take place at the gate for everyone – even babies have been frisked
- Use of x-ray machines or more invasive millimeter-wave (MMW) scan machines that can reveal more of a person’s body
- Some airlines have disallowed any carry-on baggage or have limited passengers to one carry-on baggage per traveller (this doesn’t include personal items like small purses, coats, laptop computers, etc.)
- Some airlines have also disallowed roller bags and large backpacks to be used as carry-on luggage
Limiting passenger movement in the last hour of flight, depending on the pilot, airline, and flight crew’s discretion, including the following:- Some flights have stopped giving flight path information to travellers
- Some airlines disallow the opening of carry-on baggage during the flight
- Some flights require that everything be stowed within the last hour of flight, including blankets, pillows, books, laptops, magazines, iPods, cell phones, and etc.
- On some flights, passengers will not be allowed to move throughout the cabin (even to go to the bathroom) within the last hour of flight and that there be no eating or drinking within the last hour
- Some flights require that hands should be visible at all times and laps should be empty
- Some flights have disallowed the usage of any electronic devices throughout the entire flight
- Some flights have stopped in-flight entertainment
- Some flights are announcing landing via an alarm system rather than PA announcement by the cabin crew
For the latest on air travel security, go to: Transportation Security Administration (www.tsa.gov) or the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca).
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