British Airports May Lift Liquid Ban Soon

by Josh Lew on

Passengers on both sides of the Atlantic are barred from bringing liquids through airport security checkpoints. That might be changing soon. British airports hope to have scanning devices that can sense explosive liquids in place soon. Security services are already in the final stages of testing the machines. Once the testers give the go ahead, airports can put the scanners to work.

Four airports, including London Heathrow, have already purchased scanners. However, it is likely that the ban on liquids will not be lifted until all the country’s international airports are similarly equipped and their security personnel trained to operate the scanners. In other words, don’t get overexcited and try to carry that $200 bottle of cognac onto your flight out of the U.K. tomorrow.

Airlines have been complaining about the restrictions for some time now. They say that the rules make England’s airports less attractive. However, the ban was first put in place after a terrorist plot to blow up airplanes using liquid explosives was uncovered. Being sure you’re not going to get blown up is pretty damn attractive…or maybe that’s just me. If the liquid scanners work in England, US airports will probably follow their lead in short order.

Heathrow’s new terminal losing almost 1,000 bags a day

by Grant Martin on

Do you remember London Heathrow’s new terminal 5 that opened this year? It was supposed to be the crown jewel of Heathrow airport, with broad sprawling concourses, a host of restaurants and shops and top notch baggage handling.

While the terminal has had some serious teething problems, including hundreds of delays, cancellations and even some celebrity breakdowns on the first few weeks of operation, we though that things were starting to break in as the summer rush surged.

But a new report from The Daily Telegraph is saying that the airport is still having baggage issues and is losing nearly a thousand bags every day. I guess that there is still more work to be done on the new fancy pants luggage handling system.

Meantime, this is more reason to pack your luggage into your carry on if you’re flying through T5. Combined with the fact that more carriers are charging for checked bags, packing light is looking more and more appealing.

[Via UPI.com]

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Heathrow: Still Europe’s worst

by Iva Skoch on

I wonder whether they should just tear down Heathrow and build a new airport from scratch. Heathrow consistently gets the worst ratings among airports. And with competition such as the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, that’s saying a lot.

According to the latest statistics published by the Association of European Airlines, nearly half of flights left or arrived at Heathrow at least 15 minutes late during the first three months of the year, Telegraph reports. Not only was Heathrow rated as the worst of the 27 airports in the survey, but this was the 16th quarter in succession that it was rated among the poorest five performers.

Heathrow suffered particularly badly with air traffic control delays, which were responsible for 15.3 percent of flights arriving late. Loading and handling at Heathrow was also bad, being cited as the key factor in 11.1 percent of planes’ delayed departure.

Even with the new Terminal 5, Heathrow just can’t win.

Naomi Campbell faces five charges for her bad airport behavior

by Anna Brones on

Remember the Naomi Campbell incident back in early April? If you need your memory refreshed, Campbell was arrested after causing a scene over misplaced luggage in Heathrow’s Terminal 5. Now Campbell is being faced with five different charges in connection with the alleged assault of a police officer who was called in to deal with her melt down, reports The Guardian.

Not that I am a fan of celebrity gossip, but I think we can use this as a good reminder of what airplane-induced stress can bring to you if it goes too far. Campbell is being charged with three counts of assaulting a constable, one count of disorderly conduct and one count of using threatening and abusive words towards the cabin crew.

I am sure that Campbell will be able to scrounge up some cash to pay for a good lawyer, but keep all this in mind next time you want to lose your cool over luggage. Refrain from attacking people and wait for your misplaced luggage in a timely manner, then you won’t find yourself having to appear in front of a court with a good defensive argument for your crazy behavior.

American Airlines executive calls Heathrow “a bit of a dump”

by Anna Brones on

I am sure that travelers who experienced the recent Heathrow Airport terminal 5 mess probably had a lot of negative comments to make about it. When flights are canceled and baggage is lost, it’s hard to stay positive. So we complain, and then complain again when our complaints aren’t heard.

When you are a top executive for an airline however, your negative comments regarding an airport are hard to go unnoticed. Such is the case of Don Langford, head of customer services Europe for American Airlines, who recently labeled Heathrow as “the worst of all airports” that American flies to in Europe. That’s right folks, Heathrow is officially “a bit of a dump.”

Langford’s comments come just weeks after American moved most of its London flights from Gatwick to Heathrow. Gauging from Langford’s remarks that Heathrow “is not just bursting at the seams. I think the seams have burst,” consolidating American’s flights to Europe’s busiest airport may not have been the best of decisions.

Heathrow operator BAA responded to Langford’s comments that “We are investing £4 billion over the next five years….. you’ve got to realize that if you are going to invest that kind of money it takes time to put things right.” Let’s hope things get put right real quick.

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