the third world - Heathrow airport

On 7 May 2007 08:37:27 -0700 'Chiken Koma'
posted this onto rec.travel.air:

so it does not matter if you have 1 or 2 bags, which was my point.

IME at Heathrow if you have one bag inside another when you arrive
at security, they ask you to take it out before going through the
scanner. That might depend on what the 2nd bag is. If it's a bag of
medicines or whatever, they'll leave it inside but if it's an obvious
small 2nd carry-on bag (eg camera or gadget bag), seperate it out.

OTOH I don't know what happens if you have two very separate bags
in your hands.

On 8 May, 10:33, hummingbird wrote:
On 7 May 2007 08:37:27 -0700 'Chiken Koma'
posted this onto rec.travel.air:

so it does not matter if you have 1 or 2 bags, which was my point.

IME at Heathrow if you have one bag inside another when you arrive
at security, they ask you to take it out before going through the
scanner. That might depend on what the 2nd bag is. If it's a bag of
medicines or whatever, they'll leave it inside but if it's an obvious
small 2nd carry-on bag (eg camera or gadget bag), seperate it out.

OTOH I don't know what happens if you have two very separate bags
in your hands.

Like I said, you put both inside a large plastic bag and can continue
your journey. Yes its a waste of ****ing time.

"William Black" wrote in message
...

"Jan" wrote in message
...

Use a free water fountain

Ho ho ho...

This is Heathrow we're talking about.

No free water fountains, just machines that sell the stuff for £1:50 a half
litre...

We flew from Heathrow last month - after going through the lengthy bag scan security
there was a big sign saying "any liquids purchased from here can be taken on your
flight" or something similar.

So we bought some bottles and had a few swigs, saving the rest for the flight. Then
when our flight gate number came up, we went towards the gate and found we had to go
through *another* bag scan security check, and there was a note that only "sealed"
liquid containers were allowed through! We decide to ignore it and nothing was said,
fortunately.

But WTF two bag scans, and WTF do the notices contradict each other? Does anyone know
what they're doing there?

--
Andy

On Tue, 8 May 2007 14:17:43 +0200 'Mister Bartlett'
posted this onto rec.travel.air:

hummingbird wrote:

On 7 May 2007 08:37:27 -0700 'Chiken Koma'
posted this onto rec.travel.air:

so it does not matter if you have 1 or 2 bags, which was my point.

IME at Heathrow if you have one bag inside another when you arrive
at security, they ask you to take it out before going through the
scanner. That might depend on what the 2nd bag is. If it's a bag of
medicines or whatever, they'll leave it inside but if it's an obvious
small 2nd carry-on bag (eg camera or gadget bag), seperate it out.

OTOH I don't know what happens if you have two very separate bags
in your hands.

If you have two bags, they make you check one. If you have a laptop,
they make you take it out.

Who makes you check-in a 2nd bag? The airline at check-in or security?

....Obviously this won't apply to stuff you've bought in the airport
because they would be cutting their nose to spite their face. A good
example of what lies behind the carry-on rules: not enough room for
2 carry-on bags unless one was bought in the airport.


Heathrow is a dump, and the security procedures a nightmare,

I pretty much agree with you. It's a good example of how BAA's
privatisation did little to improve customer service and investment in
passenger facilities, although some of it is the airlines fault - long
check-in queues etc.

ISTM that it's mainly North Atlantic flights which have made Heathrow
Europe's No.1 airport - it certainly wasn't the 'customer experience'.

Take them away and much foreign traffic would use CDG or Frankfurt
or Schipool as its Europe hub. The food is better, cheaper and things
are organised more with passengers in mind, not for the airlines or
staff who work there.


but having
passed through JFK last night, it is not alone. I was singled out for
special treatment, and a security person swabbed my bag and contents
for, I suppose, traces of explosives. Luckily his machine was working
OK, or I'd be testing out the internet connectivity from Guantanamo. I
was regretting being on my way back from the Caribbean but there are
limits to what I'd do to go back.

Quite often when I see a shambles in Britain, I find the idea
originated in the US; we have copied the US model on so many things
for decades. Whereas Europe went its own way and often produced
a better solution. That's not a criticism of the US, just saying that
British corporations have a habit of copying American corps because
it's easier and cheaper, not because it's always better.


By the entrance to the security check was a huge pile of water bottles -
Americans never travel 5 yards without a bottle of water - I suppose
they think it stops them being fat - and they are so dumb that they
haven't heard of restrictions on carrying liquids.

Incidentally - I was on the plane with Theodora Richards - daughter of
Keith Richards. Those ugly genes sure are persistent. Lucky for her they
don't affect her tits.

B;

On 8 May 2007 05:28:48 -0700 'Chiken Koma'
posted this onto rec.travel.air:

On 8 May, 10:33, hummingbird wrote:
On 7 May 2007 08:37:27 -0700 'Chiken Koma'
posted this onto rec.travel.air:

so it does not matter if you have 1 or 2 bags, which was my point.

IME at Heathrow if you have one bag inside another when you arrive
at security, they ask you to take it out before going through the
scanner. That might depend on what the 2nd bag is. If it's a bag of
medicines or whatever, they'll leave it inside but if it's an obvious
small 2nd carry-on bag (eg camera or gadget bag), seperate it out.

OTOH I don't know what happens if you have two very separate bags
in your hands.

Like I said, you put both inside a large plastic bag and can continue
your journey. Yes its a waste of ****ing time.

I'm not so sure that's what always happens.
In some cases it appears they ask you to check-in the 2nd bag -
unless one was bought in the airport - then different rules apply.

wrote in message
ups.com...
And you're not COMPELLED
to shop!

But you are compelled to walk through a shop when you land - the way out to the
public terminal area is *through* a shop selling the usual crap like perfumes etc.

--
Andy

"Chiken Koma" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 8 May, 10:33, hummingbird wrote:
On 7 May 2007 08:37:27 -0700 'Chiken Koma'
posted this onto rec.travel.air:

so it does not matter if you have 1 or 2 bags, which was my point.

IME at Heathrow if you have one bag inside another when you arrive
at security, they ask you to take it out before going through the
scanner. That might depend on what the 2nd bag is. If it's a bag of
medicines or whatever, they'll leave it inside but if it's an obvious
small 2nd carry-on bag (eg camera or gadget bag), seperate it out.

OTOH I don't know what happens if you have two very separate bags
in your hands.

Like I said, you put both inside a large plastic bag and can continue
your journey. Yes its a waste of ****ing time.

I think it's more a quantity thing - they don't want to have to scan too much stuff
so they restrict you to one bag of 56x45x25cm or whatever. They don't want people
walking through with two bags of that dimensions, and it's easier to explain "one bag
of 56x45x25" than "the total volume of your hand luggage must not exceed "56x45x25".

--
Andy

"hummingbird" wrote in message
...
On 8 May 2007 05:28:48 -0700 'Chiken Koma'
posted this onto rec.travel.air:

On 8 May, 10:33, hummingbird wrote:
On 7 May 2007 08:37:27 -0700 'Chiken Koma'
posted this onto rec.travel.air:

so it does not matter if you have 1 or 2 bags, which was my point.

IME at Heathrow if you have one bag inside another when you arrive
at security, they ask you to take it out before going through the
scanner. That might depend on what the 2nd bag is. If it's a bag of
medicines or whatever, they'll leave it inside but if it's an obvious
small 2nd carry-on bag (eg camera or gadget bag), seperate it out.

OTOH I don't know what happens if you have two very separate bags
in your hands.

Like I said, you put both inside a large plastic bag and can continue
your journey. Yes its a waste of ****ing time.

I'm not so sure that's what always happens.
In some cases it appears they ask you to check-in the 2nd bag -

We went through (wife and I) carrying 5 bags between us. When we were stopped we gave
2 of the bags to the kids and put one of the bags inside another - they were happy.

unless one was bought in the airport - then different rules apply.

Once you're airside, then you can take what you want, AIUI.

--
Andy

"Andy Pandy" wrote in message
...

"William Black" wrote in message
...

"Jan" wrote in message
...

Use a free water fountain

Ho ho ho...

This is Heathrow we're talking about.

No free water fountains, just machines that sell the stuff for £1:50 a
half
litre...

We flew from Heathrow last month - after going through the lengthy bag
scan security
there was a big sign saying "any liquids purchased from here can be taken
on your
flight" or something similar.

So we bought some bottles and had a few swigs, saving the rest for the
flight. Then
when our flight gate number came up, we went towards the gate and found we
had to go
through *another* bag scan security check, and there was a note that only
"sealed"
liquid containers were allowed through! We decide to ignore it and nothing
was said,
fortunately.

But WTF two bag scans, and WTF do the notices contradict each other? Does
anyone know
what they're doing there?

No they don't know what they're doing.

Two security checks was normal there for a time because they insisted on
checking transfer passengers who come in on the air side.

This coincided with them also banning luggage being checked through to
transfer passenger's destinations, so there weren't many, only those with
hand luggage only...

This mean that just about everyone went through two security screenings,
the second one wasn't as strict, no ''shoes off, wait for twenty minutes
in a queue" stuff, but a bit of a pain nevertheless.

Their staff seem to change every second day and those they do hire seem to
either be mentally deficient in some way or speak little English.

Everybody hates Heathrow...

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.

"Andy Pandy" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
ups.com...
And you're not COMPELLED
to shop!

But you are compelled to walk through a shop when you land - the way out
to the
public terminal area is *through* a shop selling the usual crap like
perfumes etc.


Where?

My experience of getting out at Heathrow is that you walk into a dingy dark
hall full of people with some very bad signage and head for the daylight...

--
William Black


I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland
I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate
All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach
Time for tea.