<p>DD is flying back to Chicago this Sunday. Anything new we need to be aware of because of the security situation, eg. any new restrictions on laptops, carry-on baggage…?</p>
<p>The only new restrictions apply to flights to the US from other countries. And these don’t effect what you bring, just what you’re allowed to do during the last hour of the flight (no getting out of your seat, no unescorted trips to the bathroom, no touching of carry on items, no holding anything in your lap. It’s a bit ridiculous really, as the odds are none of this is going to actually make anyone safer like better scanning equipment at airports would). </p>
<p>If your D is flying back to Chicago from another US city, she should be fine. She might want to arrive a little earlier than usual, some major airports are reporting longer or slower security lines because of folks being extra cautious.</p>
<p>We flew from New Orleans to Philadelphia on Tuesday, and the only difference we encountered was that, after checking our bags at the counter and getting them tagged, we had to give them to security people to put directly through the scanners. Perhaps that’s standard procedure in NO, but in Philly we’re used to having them taken by the agent who checks them in and simply put on a conveyor belt behind the counter.</p>
<p>At any rate, there were no new restrictions in place as far as carry-ons, etc.</p>
<p>^^ that’s not uncommon in certain airports or with certain airlines. Definitely not a result of recent events.</p>
<p>Since this was a powder substance. I would check all baby powders and other talcs if any and include them with checked baggage. And make sure you have the three three three rule stricktly adheared to for any carry ons or you loose them.</p>
<p>My kids both flew earlier this week (both from the west coast, one to an east coast city, the other to another west coast destination) – and neither encountered any problems. They were flying out from different airports, one late at night the other early in the morning. </p>
<p>We did make a point of getting them to the airport a little earlier than originally planned, but I don’t think even that was necessary – my d. said she whipped right through security. Both had far more stuff crammed in carry-on stuff than I thought was advisable, but they also said that they had no problems or issues with luggage. </p>
<p>So I don’t think there’s much of a change for domestic flights – although it is possible that heightened awareness among passengers made the process more smooth. (That is, with everyone in the security line being extra careful about abiding by the rules that were already in place, the lines moved faster than they would normally).</p>
<p>We’re in Canada this week skiing and flying back into the US this weekend.
We’ve been told that carryons will not be allowed. It’s hard to imagine how our whole family is going to repack our carryons into our checked baggage. Even harder to swallow paying United’s checked baggage fees.
According to the Canadian news, there have been very significant delays at security caused by the more extensive screening.</p>
<p>Flew back from Costa Rica on Sunday. They were not allowing any powders or gels or liquids in the carry on. There were quite a few unhappy women at the gate who had to part with their expensive face powder and lipstick. We were told when we checked in that we should put everything in the checked luggage. They were also not allowing you to carry on coffee beans. Not sure about that one. They also searched all carry-on bags before you entered the plane. Also everyone was patted down right before entering the plane. We were not allowed to leave our seats the last hour of the flight. We also not allowed any electronic devices or carry on items. You could have a book if it was small. Magazines were not allowed since it could cover your lap. They would not allow the 3 yr old behind us to have any snacks out or any of his toys. That was kind of silly.
Once we arrived in the US after going through customs and immigration we had to go through security again. They would not let the man next to us take a clock radio on the plane though he had already flown in from Costa Rica with it in his carry on.</p>
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<p>Not true for flights from Canada. There are definite restrictions on what can be carried on board.</p>
<p>siliconvalleymom, I hope the delays will have lessened by this weekend. They’ve been significant here in Toronto, caused, in large part because people have not informed themselves prior to arriving at the airport and thus, have had to repack prior to going through security. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>My D flew from Toronto yesterday. She had a 2 1/2 hours there for the connection from Montreal. She barely had 10 minutes to spare. Three security screenings, …at the last she was fully patted down by a female agent, and the bottom of her shoes were checked. Her carry on suitcase had to be checked in (which she knew in advance), but they nearly didn’t allow the small backpack containing her purse, tiny camera, laptop, book and documents. They said they required that only a purse or computer case be allowed, …but they relented.
EVERYTHING in her carry-on suitcase was searched in customs including contents of little bottles of stuff, opened toothpaste tube eg, and at security checks they made her turn on all the electronics.</p>
<p>Anyone traveling from Canada, just make sure you have time, and be forewarned there may be more than one or two screenings before you step on the plane.</p>
<p>TSA here in LA at the airport were also extremely alert about watching people who were WAITING, not flyers. I was on the concourse level, on a mezzanine, waiting for my D to arrive out of the secure area. I like come early, to people watch and take photos. I was pretty much alone up there, fiddling with my camera, while watching passengers being checked for boarding passes/passports on the level below me. The TSA guy who was checking documents kept glancing up at me, then talked into his walkie talkie.</p>
<p>Soon another TSA guy showed up, they had a brief conversation, and he came up the escalator to where I was. He asked me if I was waiting for somebody, from where, what time, flight # etc. He was satisfied with my answers, went away, …till a third agent came up and hung around. Yikes, by then I didn’t dare take any pics.</p>
<p>I guess they are vigilant about the public too, anything out of the ordinary…</p>
<p>The consensus seems to be that for my D, the flight restrictions from Pittsburgh to Chicago shouldn’t be very different from what she experienced coming in, ie., follow the 3-1-1 rule for liquids and she’s OK. We’ll just check with Delta to make sure there are no surprises.</p>
<p>Off-Topic: The one thing someone mentioned that I didn’t understand: what’s special about the last hour of an international flight that is different from mid flight?</p>
<p>Dad – I think that typically the last hour of an international flight is over land, where more damage can be done on the ground if a plane crashed.</p>
<p>blackeyedsusan, I think that was the intent but it really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, since that would only be of benefit if the international flights were coming from overseas and landing at airports close to the coast. Last week’s targetted flight was headed to Detroit and had been over land (Canada) for much more than an hour, as would any/everyflight from Canada to the U.S.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info. DD just called from her dorm - nothing different in security screening, uneventful flight from Pittsburgh to Ohare, and caught the next shuttle bus to NU.</p>