Baggage restrictions

[joanne]

Anyone know if the one piece if hand baggage restriction from Manchester has been lifted yet? I read they've lifted it at Aberdeen airport, but not seen anything about Manchester :unsure:

[PaulaK]

Isn't there some kind of announcement on the 7th? :unsure: Still one piece at MAN as far as I know.

[Wendy L]

Yes it has been lifted for Manchester from the 7th January 2008 - I heard it on the news last week, this is what the Dept of Transport say here (http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/airtravel/airportsecurity/cabinbaggage) :thumbs:

Gatwick haven't been approved, so it is still one bag :(

[AlecK]

Has anyone else heard about the new battery restrictions ? - it applies to flights in or out of the USA apparently. You can only carry spare rechargeable Lithium batteries in your hand luggage not your suitcase and they have to be in a bag/packet to prevent short circuiting. The maximum number of 2 apparently refers only to extended life larger batteries such as spare laptop ones or professional video equipment.

PHMSA 11-07

Friday, December 28, 2007

Contact: Patricia Klinger or Joe Delcambre
Tel.: (202) 366-4831

New US DOT Hazmat Safety Rule to Place Lithium Battery Limits in Carry-on Baggage on Passenger Aircraft Effective January 1, 2008

Passengers will no longer be able to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage beginning January 1, 2008 once new federal safety rules take effect. The new regulation, designed to reduce the risk of lithium battery fires, will continue to allow lithium batteries in checked baggage if they are installed in electronic devices, or in carry-on baggage if stored in plastic bags.

Common consumer electronics such as travel cameras, cell phones, and most laptop computers are still allowed in carry-on and checked luggage. However, the rule limits individuals to bringing only two extended-life spare rechargeable lithium batteries (see attached illustration), such as laptop and professional audio/video/camera equipment lithium batteries in carry-on baggage.

"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," said Krista Edwards, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

*Examples of extended-life rechargeable lithium batteries (more than 8 but not more than 25 grams of equivalent lithium content)

[OKWTink]

Yes, that is true about the batteries. It was all over the news here.

[AlecK]

I can't understand why our airlines haven't made more of an effort to make us aware of it ? I only found out from a post on another forum.

[OKWTink]

Wow. Not good. It's been a major thing here. Maybe moreso because we are "on top" of MCO? :unsure: All I know is the local news has made sure we are all aware of it.

[Keith]

Yep its been a major point of debate in the photography newsgroups :/

[joanne]

Thanks Wendy :)

That's ridiculous about batteries :nono: My Canon ones don't say how many grams lithium :unsure:
I normally take at least 3 to keep me going, plus the camcorder one :rolleyes:

[AlecK]

I am assuming any average digital camera batteries are under the restricted limit and we can take as many as we need in our hand luggage :shrug: Have you any idea wether this is correct or not Keith ? :)

[PaulaK]

From the VA site:


PASSENGERS TRAVELLING FROM LONDON HEATHROW AND MANCHESTER

These arrangements apply to all Virgin Atlantic passengers starting their journey at Heathrow or Manchester airports and to those transferring from international flights to a Virgin Atlantic flight at Heathrow or Manchester airports.

Economy and Premium Economy

Only ONE item of cabin baggage per person will be allowed in the cabin and this must fit under the seat in front or in the overhead locker.

The overall dimensions must not exceed 23 x 36 x 56 cm (approx 9 x 14 x 22 inches). 13lb / 6 kg in weight must be used as the guidline for maximum weight allowance.

Upper Class

Upper Class passengers are permitted two pieces of hand baggage individual dimensions not to exceed 23 x 36 x 56 cm (approx 9 x 14 x 22 inches) and 17lb / 8kg in weight, total combined weight of 35lb / 16kg.

ADDITIONAL CABIN ITEMS PERMITTED

In addition to the cabin baggage allowance, the following personal items may be carried on board:

A handbag, pocketbook or purse i.e. which is appropriate to normal travelling dress and is not being used as a container for the transportation of articles which could otherwise be regarded as baggage.

An overcoat or wrap.

An umbrella (pointed or/and sharp prohibited) or walking stick.

A small camera and/or pair of binoculars.

A reasonable amount of reading matter for the flight.

Infants food for consumption in flight.

A small amount of duty free goods.

LAPTOPS

If you have a laptop then it is preferable that you take this with you as cabin baggage. The laptop must meet the cabin baggage requirement.
It is permissible for you to remove the actual laptop from the carrying case to meet this requirement.



PASSENGERS TRAVELLING FROM GATWICK AIRPORT

Passengers departing from Gatwick airport are permitted to carry one item of cabin baggage each. Cabin baggage must not exceed a maximum length of 56 cm, width of 36 cm and depth of 23 cm including wheels, handles, side pockets etc. Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items will be x-ray screened and must not exceed 6 kilos in weight in Economy and Premium Economy, and 8 kilos in Upper Class.

[Keith]

I am assuming any average digital camera batteries are under the restricted limit and we can take as many as we need in our hand luggage :shrug: Have you any idea wether this is correct or not Keith ? :)

Well I think it will depend on the battery size itself tbh :/ it SEEMS as though we can take them in hand luggage though.

Apparently the problem was that they found that the hold anti-fire systems had trouble putting out fires which started in laptop/lithium batteries and so have adopted this new restriction.

They've already restarted the restrictions twice to try and clarify and I'm not sure we're much further on in REALLY understanding it. So still reading them really

[AlecK]

OK ta Keith. We've only got 2 spares for the canon and 2 for the Fuij so we should be OK carrying 2 each anyway regardless of size. The rest are all installed in the gadgets which the guidelines appear to suggest don't count. :)

[Keith]

OK ta Keith. We've only got 2 spares for the canon and 2 for the Fuij so we should be OK carrying 2 each anyway regardless of size. The rest are all installed in the gadgets which the guidelines appear to suggest don't count. :)

yeah, thats the one thing everyone's agreed on so far :) if theyre in the device, they dont seem to be a problem

[uscwest]

OK the scoop on batteries has been seriously misconstrued. It does indeed look like you can take as many camera, camcorder, etc. batteries as you desire. It is the big computer sized batteries that you can only take two of.Here (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/62899) is a story about the new regulations. Hope this eases your minds.

[Keith]

I think you're probably right usc... the first advisory made it look worse than it is and that's what people have been going off.

The folks in the photography forums I'm in are of course pros with proper large flash battery packs and so on and so they may still have problems.