Watch What You Pack...
By Richard Moore
Now we all know that since that tragic day
on 11 September 2001 when the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre
were destroyed things have been very different around the world.
People are a little more worried when
travelling and are less likely to moan about longer queues while going
through airport security.
Most airlines suggest getting to the airport
check-in lines about two hours before the flight is due to leave.
Make sure you have gone through your bags
carefully before you pack them for your journey. Check all the
different pockets and clear them of long-forgotten items that may be a
nasty surprise at the security posts. Old pocket knives or cutters are
usually the worst offenders.
One obvious decrease we will mention is in
the humour or let-it-lie levels of airline staff who do not take kindly
to little quips about "Do I look as if I have a Bomb?" or "What's the
recipe for semtex?"
In almost every airport of the world if you
are silly enough to come out with that sort of stuff you'll be whisked
away by the police and probably given a few clips over the ear.
Deservedly too.
Then again a paying passenger miffed about
something does not require the same treatment and cabin staff need to
un-starch their undies and, possibly, improve their service.
On the last trip abroad this fellow had the
security treatment and it was okay - we all expect hassles with our
laptops being taken out and examined separately - but I must have
looked something like that idiotic would-be terrorist who had the bombs
in his boots.
By the time I had taken off my boots there
were at least three trays of my coins, keys and wallet to pick up, as
well as repacking my laptop.
Now it has to be said that a few short,
well-chosen terms of abuse were thrown at terrorists and their
supporters. Thank goodness my socks were not the offending items they
would later become on a stuffy flight! Needless to say, wear easily
removed footwear when hopping aboard a plane.
For travellers today the best advice is just
go with the flow. Everyone has to go through the extra precautions that
will - hopefully- prevent more terrorist attacks on aircraft.
Anyway, this is the perfect opportunity to
list the items and sorts of items you shouldn't take on board planes if
you are travelling around either Australia or the globe. Also, you can click here
for an article written before the September 11 attacks. It makes for
interesting reading, and doesn't even touch on dangerous items. There's
even a list compiled by the Society of American Travel - check out item
#6.
Items Banned from Airline Cabins
 Knives
Cutting instruments
Ice picks (Trotsky votes for
that one)
Straight razors
Metal scissors with pointed
tips
Corkscrews
Cricket, baseball or softball
bats
Golf clubs
Pool cues
Ski poles
Hockey sticks
These items may be able to be carried in
your luggage that goes in the cargo hold underneath the passenger deck.
Check with your airline before deciding to take them.
Other banned items include:
Matches, flares, sparklers,
fireworks, gunpowder, ammunition, blasting caps or dynamite.
Flammable aerosols (hair spray,
spray paints, or insect repellants), gas cartridges, cigarette
lighters, oxygen tanks, mace and pepper sprays.
Flammable perfumes and spray
deodorants may be taken on to planes if each container is less than
473ml and the total is less than 2.07 litres.
Bleach, acid, fertilizers, pool
treatment chemicals, and fibreglass repair kits.
Weed killers, pesticides,
insecticides, rodent poisons, arsenic, and cyanides.
Drain cleaners, car batteries,
alkalis and mercury.
Strong magnets.
And these may surprise you (not)
Loaded firearms
Ammunition
Swords
Throwing Stars
Links:
Smart Traveller.gov.au
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