World Air Travel Security & Bangkok Airport (updates)...

[travelerjim]

Northwest Airlines in the USA ...as with many airlines - have issued a new advisory to their passengers regarding newly introduced security measures effective today - August 10th.

Their advisory follows:

http://www.nwa.com/features/advisory.html .

Northwest Airlines Reminds Customers of New TSA Security Requirement


EAGAN, Minn -- (August 10, 2006) - Northwest Airlines is reminding its customers of a new requirement from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) affecting all airline passengers. Click here for current Travel Waiver information.



Effective today, the TSA has informed Northwest that travelers are not allowed to transport any liquids, gels, lotions or similar items in their carry-on luggage. This includes items such as beverages, hairspray, toothpaste and shampoo. Customers are advised to transport these items in their checked luggage. The TSA will remove these items from customers' carry-on luggage at airport security checkpoints. These items must now be placed in checked luggage or they will be discarded.



*
Baby formula, prescriptions and medications will still be allowed as carry-on items, but they must be presented for inspection at the security checkpoint.

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Expect to be asked to remove all shoes at security checkpoints. While this is a common occurrence, you can expect these checks to be nearly universal.

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Follow all directives from Transportation Security Administration personnel. This is a developing situation and protocols may change as new information becomes available.

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Leave extra time. These new security procedures will require travelers to allow more time to transit the airport. For future travel, we encourage domestic customers to arrive two hours prior to departure; those flying to international destinations should arrive three hours prior to departure.

The airline is suggesting that customers consider checking all of their luggage, in an effort to minimize delays at airport security checkpoints.

As additional information on this new TSA security requirement becomes available, it will be posted on the TSA's Web site at www.tsa.gov, and Northwest will post information to its Web site at www.nwa.com

All passengers should check flight and gate status prior to leaving for the airport.

TravelerJim

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[travelerjim]

Here is the US State Departments Travel Advisory:

Civil Aviation Public Announcement
August 10, 2006

This Public Announcement alerts Americans to the Government of the United Kingdom's August 10, 2006 announcement that it has heightened security at all U.K. airports due to the arrest of several terror suspects, who were reportedly planning to place explosives on commercial air flights. Information periodically is updated by the U.K. Department for Transport (www.dft.gov.uk <http://www.dft.gov.uk/>) and the British Airport Authority (www.baa.co.uk <http://www.baa.co.uk/>). The U.S. Embassy in London also maintains a website at london.usembassy.gov. Americans with immediate travel plans into or out of the United Kingdom should contact their respective airlines before traveling to the airport. Due to the delays and flight cancellations, U.S. Officials have been cautioned to avoid transiting through U.K. airports at this time. This Public Announcement expires August 31, 2006.

The government of the United Kingdom announced on August 10, 2006 that it has heightened security at all U.K. airports due to the arrest of several terror suspects, who were reportedly planning to place explosives on commercial air flights. As a result of these arrests, the threat level in the U.K. has been raised to critical, reflecting the belief that an attack may be imminent. In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security has also raised the threat level to high for all commercial flights operating in or coming to the United States. The situation remains fluid and is being covered widely by British and international media. Information periodically is updated by the U.K. Department for Transport (www.dft.gov.uk <http://www.dft.gov.uk/>) and the British Airport Authority (www.baa.co.uk). The U.S. Embassy in London also maintains a website at www.london.usembassy.gov <http://www.london.usembassy.gov/> .

Americans with immediate travel plans into or out of the United Kingdom should contact their respective airlines before traveling to the airport. Heightened security in other countries may cause delays in other flights from Europe to the United States. American citizens are advised to anticipate stringent security measures and cooperate fully with authorities. For the latest travel and safety information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor local media and the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website at travel.state.gov <http://travel.state.gov/>. The Homeland Security website also provides information at www.dhs.gov <http://www.dhs.gov/>. Travelers should also check the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov <http://www.tsa.gov/>.

U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. For additional information, please refer to "A Safe Trip Abroad" found at <http://travel.state.gov/>.

U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. Americans abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information program documents, available on the Internet at <http://travel.state.gov/>. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

[travelerjim]

Here is link to many postings about the new rules and their implementation...from www.flyertalk.com .

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=222 .

TravelerJim

[jimnbkk]

you cannot take cellphones, laptops, most things with batteries (I'm not clear on the extent of the ban) with you into the cabin of aircraft flying into/out of or within Europe. Actually, when u think about it, it could be rather simple to put a cell phone connected to a bomb in your checked luggage and carry another cell phone onto the plane, and phone the one in the checked bag. I think it's a shame, but we should not carry cell phones onto planes. Maybe we could check them at the gate and they could be carried in a secure place on the plane and not available to the passenger.

My experience in LOS with "airport security" is less than comforting. I swear the guy on the xray machine had his eyes closed last time I went through.

Maybe i should just cancel my 31 August trip????

sigh.

... an election coming up? That's the usual excuse to frighten the bejesus out of the punters

[Aunty]

I'm wondering how long it will be before we all have to report naked to the gate and travel nude for security reasons.

I actually welcome these new measures. Finally it might be possible to get on and off an aircraft in reasonable time without all the dumdfucker peasants' cluttering the aisle trying to force their ugly to big bags into overhead lockers, stopping everybody from getting past as they then try to remember where they put their glasses. And now we won't have Einstein getting up every 10 minutes to get something else out of his shitty bag-life!

Heathrow was reported to not allow handbags but only certain items in a clear plastic bag. That could make the entire system with expensive baggage screeners obsolete and all that space and cabinets on aircraft look very unused. We'd all need another allowed bag in the hold.

[travelerjim]

Don Muang Airport boosts security after foiled bomb plot in London

www.Thaivisa.com has started a discussion of the steps Bangkok airport are taking....see this link - which includes newspaper articles and postings about BKK airport:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=78525 .

BANGKOK: -- Local authorities have increased security at Bangkok's international airport, deployed search dogs and urged passengers to minimise carry-on items, following the thwarted terror plot in London, officials said Friday.

Two U.S. airlines, United Airlines and Northwest, have banned passengers from taking any liquids onto the plane, said airport manager Chotisak Aspaviriya.

United Airlines is operated by UAL Corp. (UAUA) and Northwest by Northwest Airlines Corp. (NWACQ).

No irregularities have been reported at Thai airports, and security agencies say there is no information of terrorists targeting Thailand.

"Twenty-five sniffing dogs from the army have been deployed at the Bangkok airport since Thursday night, and 50 security officers and handheld scanners have been added," said airport manager Chotisak Aspaviriya.

Airport officials asked that passengers try to minimize the number of hand-carried items on board the plane.

Thai Airways International Plc has not changed its flight schedule to the United States and Europe, said Suraphol Isaragura na Ayuthaya, Thai Airways International flight operations manager.

Passengers should only carry necessary items, and refrain from taking liquids, gel, and / or electrical appliances, Suraphol said.

--The Nation 2006-08-11

More articles and discussion follows...

TravelerJim

[travelerjim]

Bangkok-Europe flights continue...

As reported on www.thaivisa.com:

Bangkok-Europe flights continue

BANGKOK: -- There has been no halt in flights from Bangkok to the United Kingdom following a foiled major terrorist plot to blow up aircraft flying from the UK to the United States by police Thursday.

Security measures including restrictions on hand luggage are likely to be in effect on many flights, both to Europe and elsewhere.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that he believed the terror threat should not spread to Asia, and that it is not necessary now to cancel flights from Bangkok to the UK.

"I have been informed of the foiled terrorist plot in London and have ordered a security beef-up at all international and regional airports in the country," said Mr. Thaksin, "but I consider it's not necessary to cancel flights to the UK at the moment as the terror threat shouldn't spread to Asia.

Police in London said on Thursday they had thwarted the major terrorist plot to blow up aircraft in mid-flight, prompting several countries to have stepped up security at their airports.

Twenty-one people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the foiled plot, all of them British Muslims.

The suspected terrorists reportedly target flights from London, Glasgow and Manchester to the US, the UK police said.

-- TNA 2006-08-11

[travelerjim]

Transport Minister: bomb plan in England will not cause a delay of opening of Suvarnbhumi Airport

as reported on www.thaivisa.com:

Transport Minister: bomb plan in England will not cause a delay of opening of Suvarnbhumi Airport

Transport Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal (พงศักดิ์ รักตพงศ์ไพศาล) has affirmed that the plan to bomb aircrafts in England will not postpone the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport, while urging airlines to be more cautious on matters with liquid materials.

Following the interception of the recent terrorism plot in England, Mr. Pongsak has assigned Airports of Thailand to cooperate with Thai Airways in intensifying the transport security measures. He refused to reveal the security plans, but admitted that passengers from Europe may face with some inconvenience during this period. In the meantime, he has requested passengers to arrive at the airport before their flight schedules as the airport has to check all flights before they will be allowed to take off.

He confirmed that this event will not impact on the opening of Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is set on September 28th, and the number of flights will not be lessened as well.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 11 August 2006