Bullsh!t carry on luggage restrictions coming from the UK [rant]

breadmonkey

So I came back from Edinburgh today and I thought this was a total joke. They had this makeshift wooden box that your bags had to fit into if you wanted to take them on the plane. I am not exaggerating when I say tat you could only fit either a briefcase or a laptop. There were 16 of us, all with nothing but a small little schoolbag, and we had to check all of it into the hold. A couple in front of us had a small teddy bear that wouldn't fit in which meant that we all had to stand around like idiots for an extra 15 minutes or so while they wrapped this teddy with dozens the world's smallest plastic bags.

So now, they have to check in an extra bag for nearly every person resulting in the queue taking an insane amount of time. Also, most of the small bags had to go to oversized baggage because of the straps. And there's more. Just as we are about to go through security, we see another couple with an infant being told that they can only bring on 4 bags (they have 5). Remember that these bags have already been subjected to the tiny box test. One is a camera bag, one is for nappies, etc. but they still make them go off to the side and rejig everything into 4 bags which is total bull**** since there will be enough room on the plane for 50 bags thanks to the tiny box. The security guys still have the same amount of stuff to search through except now it's all crammed together which would actually make it more time consuming for them to search.

Security is a good laugh. Some retard decides to close across a barrier thingy and make everyone walk around a big zig zaggy path just for the craic. I then take off my shoes and belt and walk throught the metal dectectors but I'm not phased because I still have all of my ceramic knives in my back pockets so me and my band of hungover, 20 year old Irish terrorists can still hijack the plane no bother.

One of the lads remarked that in 2 years time, we'll all have to be naked going through security. And I still refuse to believe that someone can blow up a plane with a bottle of vodka and a tin of vaseline.

FlutterinBantam

Instead of blaming security we should direct our ire against the dudes who are causing all this,and support those who are trying to stop it.

You see, YOU know you are "20 irish lads on the rant" Security don't know that...they have to treat everyone as a potential threat...The terrorist won't dress up in flowing robes and a long straggely beard with a sign "return to kandahar" on his or her back.

So instead of howlin at the moon try and have a bit of sympathy and understanding for people trying to do a difficult job and direct your anger towards the perpatrators.

nitrogen

Typical reply from FlutterinBantam. As I was reading the OP's rant, I just knew someone would reply with the obvious; "Your life is more important than being late".

It's nuts OP and the new system breaks down on so many logical levels.

Imposter

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/08/what_the_terror.html

lasno

Have to agree its all gone a bit crazy with airport security especially in the UK.
On aviaiton forums pilots point out that they are also thoroughly searched and all dangerous weapons, for example toothpaste, water etc. are confiscated at security but when they get on board they have a great big axe in the cockpit to use as they please!

breadmonkey

The terrorists are winning.

FlutterinBantam,

My issue was really the nonsensical security regulations rather than the fact that security is very tight.

Dellas

Well I agree some things are stupid but some things are not. The hand baggage should not be reduced in size but liquids and powders should be banned.

Have the ques at Dublin Airport got any better yet??? That place is a nightmare. Last time I went through Dublin I got fleeced by this up start of a woman screener who opened my bag looked at all my letters and other personal items and was so rude!!! I complained to her boss as I have never had to do this at all even when Im in the USA. The funny thing was that Im of latino appearance and I was with a group of 14 Irish guys and I was the only one picked out !!! Dublin and Glasgow are the worst for this in my experience.

FlutterinBantam

breadmonkey wrote:

The terrorists are winning.

FlutterinBantam,

My issue was really the nonsensical security regulations rather than the fact that security is very tight.

Understood... but the tenor of your post was very disrespectfull of the people involved.

You see... I think we Irish , and I presume you are Irish, tend to be very, well ,selfish and insular when we do a bit of travelling... ".Aah jaysus shure wer'e Ooirish ,what do you want screenin us for..wer'e only out for the craic"
type of attitude instead of taking the pragmatic approach,shutting up and complying with instructions which at the end of the day are for our own safety..

PS.. not suggesting you or your group fell into that category ..but trust me i have seen PLENTY of it:cool:

killbillvol2

FlutterinBantam wrote:

You see... I think we Irish , and I presume you are Irish, tend to be very, well ,selfish and insular when we do a bit of travelling... ".Aah jaysus shure wer'e Ooirish ,what do you want screenin us for..wer'e only out for the craic"
type of attitude instead of taking the pragmatic approach,shutting up and complying with instructions which at the end of the day are for our own safety..

PS.. not suggesting you or your group fell into that category ..but trust me i have seen PLENTY of it:cool:

Agreed. The number of times I've seen groups of Irish turning up at UK airports as if they were at Heuston Station beggars belief. Pi**ed out of their heads, singing and generally carrying on as if they were getting on a wedding bus. Not to be looking back to the (relatively recent) bad old days, but I remember when being Irish and making any journey from Britain involved far more security hassles than it does now.

I travel through most of the main airports across the water in the course of a given year and always find the security staff friendly and courteous despite their almost impossible job.

breadmonkey

killbillvol2 wrote:

Agreed. The number of times I've seen groups of Irish turning up at UK airports as if they were at Heuston Station beggars belief. Pi**ed out of their heads, singing and generally carrying on as if they were getting on a wedding bus. Not to be looking back to the (relatively recent) bad old days, but I remember when being Irish and making any journey from Britain involved far more security hassles than it does now.

I travel through most of the main airports across the water in the course of a given year and always find the security staff friendly and courteous despite their almost impossible job.

Firstly, none of us were acting like that; I have seen the same things myself and it makes me cringe. Secondly the security staff were not friendly. I don't understand how the discussion has lead to this since the 70 year old American tourists and the middle aged rich Italian couple got the same treatment as us. I said this:

"me and my band of, 20 year old hungover Irish terrorists can still hijack the plane no bother."

I could equally well have said this:
"me and my band of Japanese musicians can still hijack the plane no bother."

I was really more interested in what people thought of the security regulations themselves, rather than speculating as to whether me and my mates were letting the Irish down. (I'm really talking to KillBill here).

Anyway, what are they going to do with all of those lighters?!

FlutterinBantam

Agree again that security people can be sour and that was probably the case in your situation.

However.... what I call this is the "Gay Byrne Syndrome" ... the whah Gay?

For years Gaybo came on the airwaves at 0900ish and ranted and railed against the countrys ills,the semi states,the guards, CIE, Bus Eireann,Govt. Departments, every Tom Dick & Harry who provided a service to the plain people of Ireland..."Gombeens... jackasses... retards.... out of touch... etc etc etc..fine for Gay at the time... Then suddenly...well not so suddenly ..he is Chairman of the Road Safety Council......and what has he for the first time in a while.... RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTING STUFF!!!!
Suddenly its ...We need time... habits can't be changed overnight.... its a 5 year plan..... We have to get everyone on board....I cant change everything....

So.... before we rush to condem ....Let us think that security regulations have to be, implemented,be effective,cover all airports, all situations,and still allow reasonable freedom for the traveller

MiCr0

how can you not blame the passangers for some of the delays?
everytime you get to the security screening desk you start hearing

"what i'm only allowed one bag?"

"why can't i bring my makeup on board?"

"no i've no metal objects, well apart from my keys, and coins, and pens...."

most of the delays seem to be because of clueless passangers

killbillvol2

breadmonkey wrote:

Firstly, none of us were acting like that; I have seen the same things myself and it makes me cringe. Secondly the security staff were not friendly. I don't understand how the discussion has lead to this since the 70 year old American tourists and the middle aged rich Italian couple got the same treatment as us. I said this:

"me and my band of, 20 year old hungover Irish terrorists can still hijack the plane no bother."

I could equally well have said this:
"me and my band of Japanese musicians can still hijack the plane no bother."

I was really more interested in what people thought of the security regulations themselves, rather than speculating as to whether me and my mates were letting the Irish down. (I'm really talking to KillBill here).

Anyway, what are they going to do with all of those lighters?!

When I said I agreed with FlutterinBamtam I included the part where he said he wasn't suggesting your group were acting like that.

Personally I find the tight security a nuisance but no more than that. I find it quite understandable that UK airports in particular might err on the side of caution. At the moment air travel is a little bit more hassle than usual but I'm prepared to tolerate that.

To sum up, and not referring to anyone on this thread, I agree with MiCr0 that passengers have to shoulder a fair share of the blame for delays.

Celtic67

Hi,
Travelling to UK on Sunday.
Based on the above I presume I will not be able to carry on my shoulder bag (which I use for laptop, passport, flight docs, phone etc) as well as a suit carrier????

lasno

Travelling from Ireland to the UK there is no problem, its coming back those
ridiculous security regulations come into play.

However the rules are to be relaxed towards the end of next week, according to reports

www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=243686