Security Insecurities

Posted by Analyse at 1:14 PM

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Travelling regulations had changed a lot lately that I sometimes get goosebumps when I board a plane. I once asked to remove my shoes. That was just after the attempt of terrorist attack in England. After that, removing my coat and belt has became an SOP. I'm afraid they will soon ask me to get all of my clothes off!

Travelling for me has to be cool, my luggage, in consequence, has always been light (add to the fact that I don't really know what to put inside). I probably have an average of 15 kg per travel, the heaviest was surely when I decided to migrate here. I had a 30-kg luggage then and I told Frenchguy that I had all my life in there. Needless to say that I never knew what a balikbayan box was all about. I was even travelling with just my backpack then (the immigration officer even asked me kung wala daw bang mabibili sa France hehe). Now, I have my petit cabin luggage which I carry with me everywhere I go. Not that I don't like my backpack anymore, it's just that I have to be proper (for whatever that means) when travelling, minsan kasi me nakakabangga akong big bosses sa airport hehe. I board with my cabin luggage inside the plane without any problem. I was always at the top 10-earliest-traveller who reach the EXIT sign.

But that was history.

Starting November 6 of this year, all of the flights from the European Union, wherever the destination is, will be restricted of liquids, powders or gels inside their cabin luggages (that includes toothpaste!). If you really need to bring some with you, you will have to transfer them in a small transparent sachets, not exceeding 100ml each (or use small containers). These small sachets will then have to be sealed in a 1L sachet. If you have to bring your medecines, be sure to have your doctor's prescription. If you buy some liquids (whisky, etc) in a duty-free, be sure to have the plastic sealed too. And oppps, if you're on transit within the European Union and you bought a bottle of whisky outside the territory, this bottle, even if you buy it in a duty free inside an airport, couldn't be accepted in the next flight. Better drink the whole of it or it will be confiscated (I just saw a pile of alcohol behind the controller's desk the last time I travelled!).

Baby products, buti na lang, are acceptable. But better not fool them, because they might ask you to taste the product (in case of food products) infront of them.

With all that, I'm now obliged to bid goodbye to my cabin luggage for each travel. I will be part of those people crowding the bagage conveyor system at the airport. I won't be at the top 10 anymore.

I was just thinking, we're like prisoners in a free world. Sigh!

15 comments:

Makis said...

Yes, I heard this new regulation & I can't even imagine flying without brushing my teeth, at least, before my family sees me again after a couple of years :) Well, I hope that airlines now will provide tiny soaps & toothpastes for their passengers now. Thanks for this info, ana, I will need it quite soon (in a year, hahaha!)

Francesca said...

korek ka grabeh na higpit, salamat sa mag M and A na mga extremists! naging cou cou na everywhere!
imagine sa frencg embassy, to approved the visa, kelangan muna nbi! eeeeeh???!
Pati pag papaauthenticate ng birth certificate, sama NBI records!
thanks sa tip, sakali lipad na mga anak ko to France, ba, bawal ang bagoong sa hand carry, LOL!

Anonymous said...

you said it right. travelling isn't as much fun as it used to be. too many restrictions. people are actually scared to travel due to the new regulations at the airport.

i hope we won't have a hard time at the airport next week.

Anonymous said...

Makis, they provide these products but you have to fly on business or first class, trop cher! you could actually bring your toothpaste but limit it to 100ml. The problem with France is that they only sell family-size toothpaste!

Ate Amy, ganun, they're really strict now. Hehe, bawal na nga bagoong sa handcarry ngayon..

Jo, check with the regulations in Canada, they might not be as strict, or they might not yet changed the old regulations. I only received notes for all travels going to the US and Mexico, and all travels coming from the EU.

Anonymous said...

It's implemented as well for domestic flights in the Philippines.

I am witness to this. :D

Anonymous said...

Linnor, yes, I've heard about it. They confiscated my colleague's lipstick, face powder and all that jazz, so be careful.. wala na lang retouch sa plane hehe..

Anonymous said...

Parang dito na rin pala, sobrang higpit. And it's not seasonal, consistent talaga sila sa higpit.

Anonymous said...

ay ganun? pati tootpaste?? naku, pauwi pa naman kami

duke said...

ana,

when I recently traveled to asia. airport security was already that strict. They didn't allow any liquids at all. In the Philippines it was over the top, they basically didn't allow anything liquid. haaaaay! goodluck on traveling!

Jovs said...

Heard of all these drama on liquid, gel, and powder - but unclear on which countries these regulations apply to. I recently arrived in Hong Kong and so far it was a breeze going through Immigration and Customes - I had all my kikay stuff in my carry on. But good advices here... would have to be more careful in other places.

Anonymous said...

Let us thank the terrorists for all our travel discomforts.

Ever since I could remember, they always ask me to take off my shoes (laging tumutunog sa metal detector). But like you, I only have carry on bags all the time. Well, we would just have to change our travel habits, unfortunately

haze said...

I've heard this long time ago Ana but they are strictly implementing this just now for security reasons! Come to think of it, not all things can be dangerous di ba, they have this machine to verify if it's hazardous!

Hhhmm I was thinking maybe the ticketing agencies should give us discounts for the fare hehehe!

Analyse said...

Ann, dito, dati yung papuntang US lang, ngayon, as in nilahat na :(

Nao, check mo airport dyan, it might be different, baka di sila ganun kahigpit.

Duke, kahit naman kelan, OA ang pinas, right hehe.. I hate the multiple checking sa loob ng airport!

Jovs, normally, all flights going to USA, now all flights na rin galing ng Europe. but arriving in Europe naman, wala ng checking, so from Aussie to here, puede siguro..

Al, yep, now I have to wait more than half an hour for my cabin luggage to come out, what a waste of time!

Haze, dati yung mga flights to US lang. I travelled to Barcelona a month ago and I was able to take my luggage with me.. ngayon, tapos na ang maliligayang araw ko hehehe...

Anonymous said...

Ang higpit na nga nila. I bet the line to the check- in counter moves slower. Nakakainis ano, pero mas mabuti na rin na ganito. At least tight security na talaga.

Unknown said...

hello. do you guys know places in barcelona, nice and paris where i could send balikbayan boxes back to the philippines?