As a result of the attempt to destroy Northwest flight 253 as it landed at Detroit, new rules will be imposed which will limit passenger and crew movements. TSA has yet to post them, but Air Canada has announced them on their website. Read about it HERE

Additionally, enhanced screening of passengers and carry-on luggage will occur at gates. More patrols by drug sniffing dogs will be noticeable. Expect to see increased secondary screenings at main TSA checkpoints.

I wonder what will happen when someone says they "gotta go" 30 minutes prior to landing? Will they be escorted to the restroom or have to chance wetting their pants?

The UK has invoked tighter rules for passengers on flights to the U.S. Once again, they are reducing passenger carry-on limits to one item total. Plus, all passengers will undergo a second screening prior to boarding the flight. Read it HERE

According to Alaska Air's website there are also new restrictions for flights from Canada and Mexico into the mainland U.S. Everyone will be searched at the gate. Reports from Canadian news outlets say this will include "physical pat downs" of all passengers. Read the report from Alaska Air HERE

Also - I've read reports where TSA at DFW is confiscating any personal containers of liquids - regardless of size. In other words, if you have a 3 ounce bottle of shampoo you poured at home it is being taken. But if you have a 3 ounce bottle of shampoo from your room at the Sheraton it is okay. My, that will help reduce incidents. The terrorists will never think of using bottles with labels on them.

quote:

I wonder what will happen when someone says they "gotta go" 30 minutes prior to landing? Will they be escorted to the restroom or have to chance wetting their pants?

This has generally been the case for flights to Washington, D.C. (must remain in your seat for last hour of flight). As it's only a 90-minute flight for us, and you can't really get out of your seat for the first 20 minutes for safety reasons, you pretty much had to take care of this before boarding. I suppose they make some sort of announcement on longer flights.

I generally never use airplane lavatories if I can avoid it. I was thinking of the international passenger who goes to sleep after leaving London and wakes up half an hour before landing with a full bladder. I guess they *will* have to make a "last call" announcement for lavatory use. But what's the point of the one hour rule? What happens when someone mixes up a bomb two hours before landing? I think I read this latest nut had been in his seat for over an hour.

TSA has always frustrated me with their reactionary approach. On our sister forum FlyerTalk, a commonly used phrase for the TSA approach is "security theater".

"No personal items in your lap for the last hour": so I assume this includes no puzzle books or comics for the kiddies? Put that paperback book up, sir. I assume they'll have to gather up all the pillows and blankets too. Trays cover up the lap so I guess they will have to be stowed too. We'll see how strict this one is when reports start to trickle in from flyers over the next few days.

All we can hope for is that this is all just a stop-gap response and they'll adjust it soon. If not then I just saw my range for driving to a cruise increase by another 200 miles.

Well I understand that the TSA is putting safety first, but I'm guessing that the "no personal items in your lap for the last hour" approach may need to be adjusted. Some people may get bored just sitting doing nothing for the last hour.

Personally, I wouldn't mind just reading a book, but we'll have to see how that goes.

I wonder how the no personal items in the lap is being interpreted for babes in arms?

I've been looking around at various reports this afternoon. Some say that flight crews are imposing the clear lap rule for the entire flight in some cases, and this on flights that last longer than 60 minutes.

I recall a Seinfeld episode where Elaine and her boyfriend "Puddy" were flying from Europe to NY, and he was sitting there staring into space for hours. She asked if he was bored and he said no. Actually I am one who can do that. My military training probably has much to do with it. I don't need to talk, read, or otherwise interact with the environment. Just sit there and breath. For me the limit is probably an hour, and I imagine for most it is much less than that.

Meanwhile, published reports about the location of the explosive materials on this terrorist's body portend increased physical checks of sensitive areas, particularly for men.

Great Article. This is what we need to be doing instead of knee-jerk reactions like removing shoes.

if the TSA eliminates all carry ons we will be paying more for the luggage and security taxes then we are paying for the ticket. I think the airlines are going to have to drop the luggage fee.

Tell us about these rules. We will not be flying to the U.S. ever again unless they relax these carry on rules. What we do not understand, coming back to Canada from the U.S. we can still bring on board two carry on, so what is the big deal!!!! Also, as we live near Buffalo, lots of my friends are driving to Buffalo and flying out of there as there is no hassle of this carry on or even secondary checking. This is just going to hurt tourists from going to the U.S. Our next trip will be to Europe or China. Also, why are they hitting the carry on, as this guy did not have a carry on or even any check luggage, sorry but we do not understand all the issues.

woodon,

It isn't TSA that is restricting carry-on luggage from Canada. Your government decided to do that to make things easier on the security screeners at Canadian airports. They figured the fewer carry-ons they had to inspect, the faster they could process passengers.

Dave,
The CNN atricle was great, but the comments after are better. We all WANT security, but we don't want to be inconvenienced. Sorry wooddon, I know it is more convenient to bring carry ons, and it costs money to check a bag, but if security is in question, check your bags. If they decide to throw out my shampoo, I can get more. I hate paying $3 for a bottle of water, but I will. Thanks Dave for the up to date information.

I understand, but why only people flying into the US can't have carry on??? When you fly back to Canada from the US you can have carry on. It just does not make sense. We have 10 bottles of medication and we can't check these, plus a camera and a video recorder. We do put all of our stuff into the checkin bags, but there are stuff that they all tell you not too!!! Our carry on is normal half full, but pack on the way home. We just do not understand the difference if we drive across the broder to Buffalo and get on a plane with no restrictions. Make no sense at all. We do not mind been check several times, that is no big deal to us, but please just let us at least bring one carry on, is that asking too much????
Thanks.

Wooddon,
The things you describe carrying on board are very logical. Makes perfect sense. Many frequent fliers describe luggage only two ways, carry on and lost. The folks who try to bring EVERYTHING on board make it hazardous and ruin for everyone. I believe you will be able to bring a carryon on most flights, they will be limits of course.
Queen

Again, it isn't TSA limiting carry-on luggage. All they said was everyone on flights entering the U.S. have to have their carry-on luggage inspected at the gate. I can't help it if officials in Canada and other countries chose to limit carry-ons as a response. Nobody in the U.S. told them they had to do that. Their reason for imposing the extra security on international flights is because that is where the threat came from.

Now, to be clear I think most of what TSA does down here is security theater and doesn't do anything to improve flight safety, and yes, the rules on international flights are a knee-jerk reaction just as the shoe carnival was and still is.

As I mentioned in a previous post, some folks were and still are bringing on so much carry on baggage the last people to board could not find any room for even a small carry on sometimes far less than the stipulated size. It is disconcerting to see your small bag left at the entrance of the plane to be loaded into the main baggage area with only a little tag attached indentifying it, hopefully to be retrieved at the final destination. I wonder why some insist it is their right to travel with such large bags oblivious uncaring of the trouble they cause. There would be more than enough room for all baggage if we stayed within the limits allowed by the airline.

I was watching the news here in Canada over a year ago and they reported on a Security breach.

It turned out a member of "Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition" aka the Liberal Transportation Critic
dared the Minister of Transportation to go on a fact finding mission with him. They went to an airport, gave their body guards the slip, stopped on a roadway outside the airport, and tried a few doors, one was
unlocked, and then they were wandering around the tarmac totally un-challenged.

The Minister was not impressed, he was quoted as saying "Here ware are shaking people down for their tooth paste and
shampoo and thre I was standing nose to nose with a 747".

Mind you, the nature of his rank may have spoiled his own experiment. He is allowed to go anywhere on any airport without question, just like the Commanding General of the armed forces can go anywhere on any military base without question.

GOOD NEWS!! We can bring one carry on now into the US. per person!!!!

wooddon,

Where did you hear or read this?

B

quote:

Where did you hear or read this?

Look here