Liquid Confusion

Struggling just a tad to get my head round the current hand-luggage/liquid restrictions to the US. On the VS website we're told, on the one hand, that liquid cosmetics aren't allowed, unless bought air-side, but NOT if travelling to the States. Then, on the same page, it say that pax travelling to the US "may now carry liquids that have been purchased after the central screening point".

Don't want to fall foul of some burly security type, just wondered if anyone had any experience/clearer info on this?

This is clearer advice from "The Horses Mouth" :

http://www.dft.gov.uk then click the Airline security tab

Note VS Hand Baggage size seems to be out of date as well.

[HighFlyer]

From baa.com:

Once through security: All shops and catering outlets are open to all passengers. If you are travelling to any destination, including the USA, then you can take ALL items purchased, including liquids, in the departures lounge into the aircraft cabin.

I have a nice colour chart from the BAA explaining what is allowed and not allowed, though i find that most of the jobsworth do not seem to know their own rules anyway.

If the BAA state that on their own website, i'm happy with it.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by HighFlyer
From baa.com:

Once through security: All shops and catering outlets are open to all passengers. If you are travelling to any destination, including the USA, then you can take ALL items purchased, including liquids, in the departures lounge into the aircraft cabin.

I have a nice colour chart from the BAA explaining what is allowed and not allowed, though i find that most of the jobsworth do not seem to know their own rules anyway.

If the BAA state that on their own website, i'm happy with it.

Thanks,
Sarah

Beat me to it ! Clear information at http://www.baa.com

BAA info seems a lot more comprehensive that the DFT (or is that just because it tells me what I want to hear?).

Thank you both kindly for your help. Hate to sound like an oversized girl's blouse, but I wasn't too sure what state I'd be in after an 11 hour flight without Simple moisturiser and a supply of Evian.

Now, where did I put my handbag...?

[HighFlyer]

I know the worries all too well! At least you can buy them after security.

Lipstick, Lip balm (chapstick type), Powder, Eyeliner (pencil) and any applicators/brushes are all allowed through security (and hopefully recognised as such!)

Still a complete ban on Gels, Creams of any kind, Liquid foundations, Mascara & Lip gloss [:(]

I have accidentally left my lip gloss in my handbag on my last few flights ... was not noticed at all.

Thanks,
Sarah

Maybe the up side of the current liquids ban will be to teach you ladies to travel a little lighter and leave a few of the unctions and potions at home (now crawling under my desk to escape the inevitable backlash ).

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by mdvipond
Maybe the up side of the current liquids ban will be to teach you ladies to travel a little lighter and leave a few of the unctions and potions at home

Nah, just encourages ever more creative ways to bend the rules. There is a whole thread on it over at FlyerTalk ... some ingenious gals over there

On a serious note, i dont take many cosmetics onboard, but i would like some moisturiser for long flights, especially red eyes, so i look slightly presentable when i get to the other end.

Thanks,
Sarah

Without my Simple moisturiser (anything other than Simple has an effect on my skin rather like paint stripper mixed with bleach) I can get onto a plane looking fair of face and complexion and get off at my destination looking like Keith Richards after a particularly heavy night out.

The other upside to all of this is that they're also letting us take 'baby medicine' on board (as long as we taste it). 11 hours with a 13 month old without Calpol? Rather a disturbing prospect...

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by mdvipond
Without my Simple moisturiser (anything other than Simple has an effect on my skin rather like paint stripper mixed with bleach) I can get onto a plane looking fair of face and complexion and get off at my destination looking like Keith Richards after a particularly heavy night out.

You mean kind of like the exact opposite of the Alice Cooper advert?

Thanks,
Sarah

Although falling foul of some burly security type could be fun for some[}:)]

Originally posted by HighFlyer

You mean kind of like the exact opposite of the Alice Cooper advert?

Very good comparison. But, as you say, in reverse.

Originally posted by easygoingeezer

Although falling foul of some burly security type could be fun for some

Sure, but bear in mind we're talking LHR security staff here - burly he maybe, but slightly balding, with terminal halitosis and wearing a malodorous polyester jacket? Come now, you can do much better...

Originally posted by mdvipond

Originally posted by HighFlyer

You mean kind of like the exact opposite of the Alice Cooper advert?

Very good comparison. But, as you say, in reverse.

Originally posted by easygoingeezer

Although falling foul of some burly security type could be fun for some

Sure, but bear in mind we're talking LHR security staff here - burly he maybe, but slightly balding, with terminal halitosis and wearing a malodorous polyester jacket? Come now, you can do much better...

Yeuuch! Whatever we say about the TSA they do have some handsome agents who I wouldn't mind giving me the pat down (among the many)... oh, check before I take this downhill [B)]. Totally right about LHR though. And then, when they get the Army/Nat Guard in it's even better [:0]

I emailed VS Customer Services to specifically ask if I could take liquids (i.e. water or duty free items) purchased after the security checkpoint at a UK airport onto the flight. The reply I got is below - seems to contradict the info on the BAA / DfT / Manchester Airport websites.

Dear James,

Thank you for your email.

Due to additional security measures at all UK airports, changes and restrictions to carriage of hand luggage have been enforced. You are not allowed to carry liquid duty free items onboard.

This change in procedure will be in place until further notice. For updates regarding this matter, please keep a regular check on our website.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/pa ... /index.jsp

Thank you for contacting Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Kind Regards,
[Name removed]
Contact Centre Customer Services Team


Thanks
James

^Hmm that's not right - you can buy anything airside and take it onto any flight, so long as it remains sealed with a receipt.

It's been that way for a while now!

Lipstick - I thought what you said was the case. Ryanair let me carry a bottle of water on a flight in mid-September, as did BA in September also.

I am assuming this is a case of inconsistent information from VS's outsourced customer service team in India. What is odd is that the VS website still clearly says no liquids are allowed, despite the fact that the BAA, Manchester Airport & DfT websites all saying you can shop freely after security & take your purchases onboard.

Thanks
James

Originally posted by Kraken
I am assuming this is a case of inconsistent information from VS's outsourced customer service team in India. What is odd is that the VS website still clearly says no liquids are allowed, despite the fact that the BAA, Manchester Airport & DfT websites all saying you can shop freely after security & take your purchases onboard.

Thanks
James

You could also try the American way of coping with it: print out that day's BAA regs and carry them with you. Many of the US travelers print out that day's TSA regs to show to the TSA clueless at each airport. Shown to a TSA supervisor, it sometimes gets your (permitted but-they-don't-know-that) stuff on-board.

A bit of a waste of trees, but if you really need your thingamabob-of-choice, it's worth the hassle.

You can also sign up for BAA's automated updates; then they'll email you any updates so you can know right off if they've changed.

^^I think it's more a case of the rules and regs changing so often that whoever changes the info on the website can't keep up.

Originally posted by Kraken
I emailed VS Customer Services to specifically ask if I could take liquids (i.e. water or duty free items) purchased after the security checkpoint at a UK airport onto the flight. The reply I got is below - seems to contradict the info on the BAA / DfT / Manchester Airport websites.

Dear James,

Thank you for your email.

Due to additional security measures at all UK airports, changes and restrictions to carriage of hand luggage have been enforced. You are not allowed to carry liquid duty free items onboard.

This change in procedure will be in place until further notice. For updates regarding this matter, please keep a regular check on our website.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/pa ... /index.jsp

Thank you for contacting Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Kind Regards,
[Name removed]
Contact Centre Customer Services Team


Thanks
James

James
I flew out to SFO on the VS19 on Sunday and had no problems with liquids from the duty free ( or cream bought in Boots)so i think (know)customer services are barking up the wrong tree.
Julie