Airplanes, liquids and plastic bags
Okay, since the Liquid Bomb Plot was foiled a few years back, we’re now not allowed to take liquids onto flights. Well, in our hand luggage, no, but we can in our suitcases. Actually, no, that’s a lie too. We can carry on liquids but no more than 100ml in total and as long as it’s in a clear plastic bag. ‘Cos anything under 100ml and that’s contained in a placcy bag is gonna be safe right? Huh?
I can see why security was heightened at the time – some dudes were caught allegedly plotting to create liquid bombs disguised at soft drinks bottles – and airports were put on high alert. Understood.
But why now, some years later, do we still have to do the whole plastic bag, limited liquids thing? I’ve discovered that these are Government guidelines, not ones imposed by the airlines, but nowhere can I find out why this rule is still in place.
Every time I travel abroad I put my liquids – mascara and lip gloss usually, you know, the essentials – in a see through bag in my hand luggage. But only if I’m asked do I take that see through bag out of my hand luggage and put it in the tray to go through airport security separated from my other carry-on items. And when they don’t ask – and that’s about 50 per cent of the time in my experience – no one has pulled me up for it. So what’s the point?
Does the fact we put a limited amount of liquids in a see through bag make travelling on a plane any safer? Does it really foil those terrorists? I doubt it. So, if someone plots to blow up a lane using a bomb disguised as a bra, does that mean no one can wear a bra on a plane? I know I’m exaggerating here, I just think it’s a stoopid rule.
It may well have been necessary at the time, but now it’s just past it’s sell by date. One more thing for us to think about and one more thing for airport staff to enforce. Admittedly, it’s not too much of a hassle to put a few things in another bag, but for those not familiar with these rules it’s a chance for the airports to cash in and sell these bags at extortionate fees. At one UK airport there was even a machine installed where you could buy these bags just as you would a can of coke from a drinks dispenser. And for a similar over-inflated price.
I’m all for rules if they serve a purpose but pointless rules are just… well, pointless.
Rant over.
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