Airport security restrictions tighten

  • Published
  • By 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron Traffic Management Office
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  With summer drawing to a close, a long weekend right around the corner, and the promise of school starting soon, many people here may decide to take one last trip before settling into a routine. 

Anyone traveling should keep in mind that security measures have recently increased, and should prepare accordingly. 

Each passenger will now be permitted to carry one item of cabin baggage through the airport security search point.
 
Passengers are reminded to go prepared and take clear, plastic bags with them.
For those allowed to take hand luggage on board, the dimensions of this item must not exceed a maximum length of 17 inches, width of 13 inches and depth of 6 inches including wheels, handles and side pockets.
 
Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be screened by X-ray. 

No liquids of any type are permitted through the airport security search point, other than the following items: 

-- Prescription medicines - such as diabetic kits - are allowed in liquid form sufficient and essential for the flight, as long as they are verified as authentic. 

-- Baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle or jar must be tasted by the accompanying passenger). 

-- The definition of liquids includes gels, pastes, lotions, liquid or solid mixtures and the contents of pressurized containers, like toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam and aerosols. 

-- To help their progress through search points, passengers are encouraged not to include items capable of containing liquids, such as bottles, flasks, tubes, cans and plastic containers in their cabin baggage. 

-- All laptops and large electrical items, like hairdryers, must be removed from the bag and placed in a tray so that such items neither obscure nor are obscured by the bag. 

-- Strollers and walking aids are permitted but must be X-rayed. 

-- Wheelchairs are permitted but must be thoroughly searched. 

Additionally, passengers boarding flights to the U.S. and items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, will be subjected to secondary search at the gate. 

Any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger. 

The Department for Transport says it will work closely with operators to introduce these new arrangements, seeking to keep disruption to passengers to a minimum. 

They say they will keep these measures under review. 

If passengers have any questions on their travel arrangements or security in place at airports, they should contact the airport or their airline.