Shocking new terrorist plot ...

As reported on the BBC and other news sites -here.

And as a temporary measure nothing but passports and wallets (in transparent bags) to be allowed on board ... no ipod, no laptop, no work! Sounds like security is going to be very tight for a little while, is anyone at Heathrow or elsewhere to report?

Frightening stuff.... but yet again the terrorists win without actually doing anything.

I trust that hold luggage allowances will be increased free of charge up to the limits for hand luggage!
Or would i be cynical to suggest that the airlines will try to make a fast buck out of this.

Glad i'm not travelling back to the UK for a while. Sorry for all you upcoming holiday makers [:#]

Local radio here is Sussex has just interviewed somone who was supposed to be on an early morning flight to Nice from LGW. They said the terminal is in chaos, people everywhere and after queuing for ages, they gave up and went home.

The BAA website is currently showing all departing flights as 'scheduled' but no flights from today as actually airbone.

Awful. Words fail me. What a world we live in.

Very worrying and not good news particularly as the weekend at the end of the month will be one of the busiest of the year (and even more miserable for those travelling anywhere).Any furher update on how long the security measures are likely to be in place?

Very very frightening.[:0] [:0]

Here is the Department of Transport statement. Timing is at the moment indefinite. I suspect that will not change for a while, and we will just have to watch and wait. There is a detailed and prescriptive list of allowed items. One thought that springs to mind is that most car keys, having an electronic fob, would be disallowed.

On the positive side, at least the Bobbies got the buggers.

[Neil]

It is not good at all, I was really shocked when I heard the news this morning. Quite extreme, but obviously neccessary measure with the hand luggage, poor people turning up at the airport this morning, but safety comes first!

Neil:)

This is a poor security "solution" which should not be necessary. And we get the shoe carnival too.

BC

I'd be the first to agree that we have to be careful.

But what I really have to ask - and what the airlines should also be asking - is how it happened. How is it, that we all have to go through lengthy searches, put our hand luggage through x-ray machines and so on, while staff clearly aren't even watching what's passing before them? How can you expect that people will be prepared to put things such as cameras and ipods into the hold? We've all seen how carelessly our stuff is handled.

It in indeed a sad indictment of the way things are. The threat of terrorism is something I've always been determined wouldn't stopme travelling, cos then they've won - but if we, the guilt-less, fee-paying, tax-paying majority are going to be subjected to yet more measures, with little to show for results, I'm not at all sure I'll be bothered to travel to the US anymore. I have an upcoming trip, so we'll see how we're greeted in the US this time....

Whilst in general agreement with all the comments above, surely disruption is better than the reports which would have been jamming the airwaves had such a plot not been foiled??

Very relieved that Scotland Yard and MI5's work has paid off and these people have been identified and foiled - Hats off to the security services.

Any comment from VS or any other major airlines yet??

Originally posted by Treelo
Whilst in general agreement with all the comments above, surely disruption is better than the reports which would have been jamming the airwaves had such a plot not been foiled??

It's not an either/or argument. If screening worked properly then I'd feel safer. But it doesn't appear to, and just removing carry-on items from people's hands is not intrinsically going to improve safety.

BC

Statement from BA here very extreme measures.

I hope this is a temporary measure while the police and security services ascertain the precise nature of the bomb materials and put in place further screening measures.

[fozzyo]

Came down for Brekky and BBC News had the Home Office press conference / announcement playing. Scary stuff! And because of the nature of the work involved something we probably won't get to know the full story behind, but we have to trust the security forces this decision won't have been taken lightly.

Apparently BA at LHR aren't even checking people in now. You're not even allowed to take a newspaper or book aboard.

Radio reports 5+ hour delays to all US flights ... even EJ at Stanstead with big delays ... glad I am not travelling today and sympathy to those who are

Originally posted by BlackCat

Originally posted by Treelo
Whilst in general agreement with all the comments above, surely disruption is better than the reports which would have been jamming the airwaves had such a plot not been foiled??

It's not an either/or argument. If screening worked properly then I'd feel safer. But it doesn't appear to, and just removing carry-on items from people's hands is not intrinsically going to improve safety.

BC

Exactly my point. What's the next move - not allow passengers at all? The point made about car key fobs is relevant too - many of us have cars whose only means of locking is via a fob - are we supposed to trust these to the hold? Isn't this precisely why we keep them with us?

And - erm, reading through the list - women are allowed to take on essential feminine items - oh lovely, in a clear plastic bag too? Hey guys, guess what time of the month I'm having???!!![}:)]

Originally posted by BlackCat

Originally posted by Treelo
Whilst in general agreement with all the comments above, surely disruption is better than the reports which would have been jamming the airwaves had such a plot not been foiled??

It's not an either/or argument. If screening worked properly then I'd feel safer. But it doesn't appear to, and just removing carry-on items from people's hands is not intrinsically going to improve safety.

BC

If the Government have specifically been informed that the potential attack is via manaul detonation in hand luggage I don't think that any chances can be taken whatsoever.

In this situation regardless of how competent carry-on checks are, I believe that carry-ons have to be stopped. All it takes is one very small lack of concentration. Why take the risk???

Originally posted by slinky09
Statement from BA here very extreme measures.

I hope this is a temporary measure while the police and security services ascertain the precise nature of the bomb materials and put in place further screening measures.

Extreme measures from BA as you have indicated Sailor- I'm just not sure though that checking EVERYTHING in makes security any better as I'm not convinced that hold luggage screening is that robust and rigorous either.

Originally posted by DragonLady

Originally posted by slinky09
Statement from BA here very extreme measures.

I hope this is a temporary measure while the police and security services ascertain the precise nature of the bomb materials and put in place further screening measures.

Extreme measures from BA as you have indicated Sailor- I'm just not sure though that checking EVERYTHING in makes security any better as I'm not convinced that hold luggage screening is that robust and rigorous either.

Also true. I can't help but think it's a knee-jerk reaction, as so often is the case. I also can't help but think of when I flew home from the US in September 2000, after being stranded there post 911. Headlines were that security had been tightened, tighter than a duck's behind, but all my experience showed was a few security guys stadning around, Standing around, talking to each other and paying no attention to anything else. Some security. I apologise if I sound cynical, but when you see such things, you know how much we're being lied to...[:#]

SORRY I AM HAVNT READ THE THREAD. I AM BOOKED ON VS001 TODAY, AS I AM 14 AND FLING SOLO WITH AN ESSCORT FROM VS IS IT WORTH ME STILL GOING ON WILL VS NOT LET ME. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REPLY ASAP!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH
V-FLY

Originally posted by G-VFLY
SORRY I AM HAVNT READ THE THREAD. I AM BOOKED ON VS001 TODAY, AS I AM 14 AND FLING SOLO WITH AN ESSCORT FROM VS IS IT WORTH ME STILL GOING ON WILL VS NOT LET ME. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REPLY ASAP!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH
V-FLY

I don't know - I suspect you shoudl try and get in touch with Virgin, but there will certainly be delays. I heard on the news that there was gridlock to both Stansted and Heahtrow airports, but not Gatwick, oddly enough.

Originally posted by G-VFLY
SORRY I AM HAVNT READ THE THREAD. I AM BOOKED ON VS001 TODAY, AS I AM 14 AND FLING SOLO WITH AN ESSCORT FROM VS IS IT WORTH ME STILL GOING ON WILL VS NOT LET ME. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REPLY ASAP!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH
V-FLY

Suggest you contact VS asap- BA are offering to re-book passengers supposed to be travelling today onto other flights within the next 14 days.

Looks like excess baggage is being waived with VS:

ADVICE TO PASSENGERS HEIGHTENED SECURITY MEASURES
The Department for Transport has advised of additional security measures applicable at all UK airports

The following measures are to take place with immediate effect:

Passengers may take through the airport security search point, in a single (ideally transparent) plastic carrier bag, only the following items. Nothing may be carried in pockets:


pocket size wallets and pocket size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc (not handbags));
travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets);
prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (eg, diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic.
spectacles and sunglasses, without cases.
contact lens holders, without bottles of solution.
for those travelling 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 (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags).
female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed (eg tampons, pads, towels and wipes).
tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs
keys (but no electrical key fobs)
FOR USA BOUND PASSENGERS ONLY

In addition to the above, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, must be subjected to secondary search at the boarding gate. Any liquids discovered must be removed from the passenger.

Virgin Atlantic advises its customers to ensure that only items complying with the Department for Transport requirements are carried on board aircraft. All other items must be placed in checked baggage or left behind.

Excess baggage charges will be waived to facilitate the carriage of additional checked baggage that would otherwise have been carried in the cabin.

We have been advised that customers in possession of non-compliant items will be stopped at the security check point and re-directed back to the check in hall. With the additional security measures applied at the security check point and the departure gates, passengers are advised to make their way quickly through security and arrive as early as possible at the departure gate.

Virgin Atlantic Airways apologises for any inconvenience caused but trust that you will understand our need to comply with these measures the Government has imposed.

[Decker]

""and their footwear and all the items they are carrying must be x-ray screened."