Fill your bottles before going to UK … because you can

The British government is planning to ease its ban on the amount of liquid you can take into and out of the country. Currently, passengers are only allowed to carry 100 ml bottles. Improved airport X-ray machines are expected to render that limit unnecessary. If all goes well – based on secret technology being tested by German scientists – the ban could be lifted by the end of the year.

Originally, the prohibition on fluids was enacted as a response to summer 2006 terror attacks. This new technology would improve the ability of security personnel to identify nefarious liquids. So, if all goes well, it will have taken us 3 ½ years to get back to the 2006 norm. Finally, a return to the days of easy duty free liquor!

Angry pilot drops his pants – asks checkpoint staff to “search this”

Get this – a pilot for Swiss International Airways decided that enough was enough at the London City Airport security checkpoint.

Instead of complying with all staff instructions, he dropped his pants and underwear, completely exposing himself, and asked whether they wanted to “search this”.

I’m not sure what part of being asked to take off his belt and shoes prompted the outburst, but a source is on record saying nobody understood why the pilot lost his cool and that he might have been “having a bad day”.

His antics meant 37 passengers were delayed for 2 hours while government staff investigated the matter.

It could have been worse though, the incident happened at the staff-only checkpoint, so no passengers had to come face to face with the half naked pilot. Of course, if this happened in the US, they probably would have emptied the terminal for fear of a terrorist penis attack.

(Via: The Sun)


What did these women do that had people boiling?

Click the image to read the bizarre stories …

Anxiety-Sensing Machine Could Spot Terrorists at Security Checkpoints

It sounds like something out of George Orwell’s classic 1984. Though it will be at least several years before there is any talk about installing them in airports, the Department of Homeland Security is hopeful that a new screening device could revolutionize airport security. The machine senses things like body temperature, pulse rate and breathing. It will work much like a lie detector, only without the wires. People’s vitals will be measured as they walk past a bank of cameras and sensors.

As you can imagine, some people are upset by the idea of these new machines. What about nervous travelers or people who are simply on edge because they know that their pulse and breath rates are being monitored so closely? What about someone who is agitated because their flight was delayed? Will they be carted off the the back room for interrogation?

Keep in mind, though, that the idea is in the very early stages of development. It is slated for at least three more years of testing before before the next step, which, if security officials decided to continue, would include more testing and, surely, more opposition to the idea.

Source

Really, Really Long Security Line in Heathrow


Here’s a video that will actually make you glad you’re sitting in front of a computer instead of being out on vacation. It’s footage of an unbelievably long security checkpoint queue in Heathrow Airport for passengers changing flights. The cameraman for this particular film spent over three and a half hours waiting in it.

The piece is almost three minutes long, and that wasn’t even enough time to film all of the people in line!

[via Boing Boing]

TSA to Allow Ads at Security Checkpoints

I get chills down my spine whenever I hear the Transportation Security Administration is planning something. Usually, they take things away from travelers like bottled water, shoe insoles, or — I don’t know — dignity. Thankfully, I think we’ll be OK this time.

The TSA has plans to launch a year-long partnership with various companies to add advertising to the security checkpoint area in airports. Companies that join the program will purchase checkpoint tables, bins, and trays for the TSA in exchange for ad space inside the bins.

I suppose this scheme will work out for the government agency and the vendors, but where does that leave the everyday jet-setter? I don’t really mind it since the adverts will be out of the way, but I’d rather the money go to hiring security screeners who are a little less surly.

On a somewhat related note: here’s one person’s humorous idea of how advertising would look aboard an airplane.

(via AdJab)