[IP] Flight experience on Saturday from Nice-Frankfurt-San Francisco
Begin forwarded message:
From: Bob Hinden <bob.hinden@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: August 13, 2006 10:27:02 PM EDT
To: David Farber <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Bob Hinden <bob.hinden@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Flight experience on Saturday from Nice-Frankfurt-San Francisco
Reply-To: bob.hinden@xxxxxxxxx
Dave,
For IP, if you find relevant.
I flew from Nice to Frankfurt to San Francisco on Saturday with two
colleagues. When we arrived at the check-in for our Luftanza flight
to Frankfurt, we were told that we could not take our normal carry on
with laptop, electrics, keys, camera, etc. as carry on. This was a
surprise as I had been reading the news reports and the United site
and was assuming that this was only happening at the UK airports, not
in France. I had assumed that only liquids were being restricted and
had planned to check my larger bag (I had done all carry-on for the
trip over). We were only allowed to bring prescription, passport,
wallet, papers, money, and glasses. We were told these restrictions
were only being applied to people traveling to the US. They checked
us in and sent us over to a customer service center to get a plastic
bag and resort and pack our stuff. I was charged four euros for a
plastic bag. I made a quick call to my wife telling here I was going
to not have my cell phone for the trip. I shut down my laptop, put
my cell phone in my laptop bag, and removed the stuff on the list
above. I then returned to the check in area, but was able to go the
front of the line where I checked my laptop bag as luggage. I did
not lock it.
Going through security in Nice was about normal, but they did look at
my prescription medications. Liquids were being restricted for all
passengers. The flight was a little late, but we arrived in
Frankfurt with plenty of time to catch our United flight to San
Francisco.
Security in Frankfurt was more attentive then usual (and it's pretty
extensive normally). I had to remove my belt and shoes that I
normally don't have to do there. They do a pat down with metal
detector and hands. They were restricting liquids, but other
passengers with laptop bags were OK.
When we got to the lounge, I noticed most people had their laptop
bags. There were a few people with plastic bags like us, but some of
these people had laptops in the plastic bags. I asked at the counter
and was told that at this station (e.g., Frankfurt) only liquids were
being restricted. They were not able to give me any explanation as
to why Lufthansa in Nice had told us that we could not bring our
laptops, keys, and electronics onboard. They were able to tell me
that both of my bags were in the system and one had been loaded on
the plane to San Francisco. They could, of course, not tell me which
bag it was.
Security at the gate was normal and the flight left on time. We were
one of the very few passengers who had plastic bags. There was a
passenger who I talked to who had arrived in Heathrow on Thursday and
his luggage was still in Heathrow somewhere. He was wearing the same
clothes since he left the USA.
Flight arrive on time in San Francisco. My laptop bag arrived intact
and my Powerbook seems to be fine. I did let it come to room
temperature plugged into the power adapter just to be safe. When I
took out my cell phone, I realized I forgot to turn it off in Nice.
Somewhere in the trip it had received a message with the status of
the Frankfurt-San Francisco flight :-)
While this was no fun, it turned out OK. Had the laptop bag been
lost or the stuff in side damaged, I would be unhappy. But the bag
and the stuff inside are replaceable and I had backed up the laptop
before the trip. I am not replaceable and I am very glad that they
caught these people. Note, I was in the air during 9/11 flying from
Frankfurt to Helsinki.
I do hope that the airlines and airports get a consistent set of
rules together soon.
As I finished writing this, I note that UK has just downgraded it's
threat level, so I suspect that the restrictions on hand luggage will
be gone soon.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4789169.stm
Bob
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