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Facts About Security on International Flights
In light of the unrelenting spate of terrorist threats and attacks targeting the vulnerable aviation industry since 9/11, security agencies across the world have embarked on a war footing with radical steps taken to enforce stringent security measures to ensure safety of passengers especially on international flights. With the unearthing of the latest, most heinous plot to blow up several passenger airliners in the UK resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocents, this resolve to beef up security has only been further heightened leaving no room for any lapse that can be taken advantage of by unscrupulous terrorists.
This amounts to clamping down on seemingly trivial items such as beverages and lotions. With the hitherto innocuous hand baggage being presently the most used, convenient tool in the wicked scheme of things, governments and airport officials have now laid down strict guidelines with regard to carry-on luggage in passenger aircraft. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has specifically listed certain requirements and procedures to be complied with and the co-operation of governments the world over has been sought in the implementation of the same. These new regulations, which apply specifically to flights operating in and out of the US, can be stated as follows:
From the prohibition of sharp instruments such as knives and box-cutters post 9/11, passengers have now been prohibited from bringing on board in their carry on luggage liquids and semi-liquids of the consistency of gels, creams and lotions that have been shown to be potentially explosive. Even ordinary beverages with soda and residue have made it to the banned list creating a quite a stir earlier unheard of. However, exceptions to the case have been made with permission granted to such items as baby formula for a traveling baby and essential medicines on condition that the name marked on the prescription matches that on the ticket. The banned substances must be checked in with the passenger’s baggage.
Most Airline companies, in keeping with stringent measures have stipulated that all passengers have to arrive at the airport for security scan and check as early as possible irrespective of whether it is for a flight on an international or domestic route. The present tense atmosphere prevalent ensures that every passenger and his hand-baggage, which should be kept to, a ‘minimum’ is subject to intense scrutiny prior to clearance to board an aircraft. While the procedure adopted for the same may seem tedious and time consuming, most passengers are today unfazed and prefer the heightened security to ensure their safe travel across the oceans.
On the flip side, recent trends over the last month has seen paranoia creep into the minds of officials in the US and UK, a result of which innocent persons of Asian ethnicity or the infamous brown skins are being sidelined for special scrutiny. Only just a couple of days ago, a young, pregnant Pakistani woman was detained for allegedly carrying “suspicious” material. Not before flights were grounded and much inconvenience was caused to the hapless young woman was the material proved a hoax on further inspection at the laboratories. Such incidents have become commonplace with many intermittent delays in flights and one only wonder whether or not air travel will ever again be a pleasurable experience.
About the Author: If you do alot of international travel you frequently need to keep up to date on the latest changes. For the latest tips for international travelers and frequent flyers visit http://www.theglobaltraveler.com/
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