travelnews: Airline Security

As already communicated, travelers face tighter security restrictions and longer lines because of rules imposed by U.S. and British officials after authorities uncovered a plot to blow up airliners bound for the USA. The following information comes from each country's domestic security and aviation agencies. For up-to-date travel advice, please visit each country's official website regularly. In general, travelers are urged to:

Ø Pack lightly, without clutter to facilitate easier screening

Ø Arrive earlier than usual at the airport

Ø Cooperate with TSA personnel at checkpoints and with airline personnel at all gates

Ø Be attentive and vigilant to any suspicious activity and report it to authorities

United States

Travelers boarding commercial flights at a U.S. airport will not be allowed to carry "any liquids, including beverages, hair gels, and lotions" onto airliners. The following items are permitted to be carried aboard the aircraft:

Passengers traveling with infants may bring baby formula.
Prescription medicine that matches the passenger's name.
Essential non-prescription medicines such as insulin.

· Passengers on flights from Great Britain are prohibited from carrying electronics on board. There are no such restrictions on people traveling on domestic flights or from the U.S. to Great Britain.

· Beverages purchased beyond security checkpoints must be consumed before boarding -- they will not be permitted aboard the aircraft.

· TSA screeners will recheck every bag at boarding gates for banned items, preventing passengers from carrying items purchased in boarding areas.

· Gate-side inspections are taking place for all passengers on flights to Great Britain. On other flights, the TSA is conducting random gate-side inspections.

· Federal security directors -- the top TSA officials at airports -- have discretion on how to implement the new policy. They can also use any resource available to conduct the inspections, meaning they can use their own screeners, state and local law enforcement personnel or airline personnel.

Great Britain

All cabin baggage must be processed as hold baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing British airports.

The only items that may be taken through airport security search points and into the cabin, in a single -- ideally transparent -- plastic bag are:

· Pocket-size wallets and pocket-size purses plus contents -- for example money, credit cards, identity cards, etc. Handbags are not allowed.

· Travel documents essential for the journey (passports and travel tickets).

· Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight, like diabetic kits, except in liquid form unless verified as authentic.

· Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases

· Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution

· For those traveling with an infant: baby food; milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger); and sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (napkins, wipes, creams and disposal bags).

· Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (tampons, pads, towels and wipes).

· Tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs.

· Keys (but not electronic key fobs).

University of Oregon

Travel Coordinator

cwooley@uoregon.edu

541-346-3158 ph

541-346-2393 fax