The Future in Travel

[Heavy D]

Flights that originate in the U.K. have the most stringent security requirements, i.e., you can't bring anything on board, even books . For other international flights, you can still bring on board books, laptops, cellphones and iPods. Just no liquids, gels or toothpaste. I called Lufthansa yesterday because I've got a transatlantic trip coming up and that's what they told me. Same applies to US domestic flights and Canadian flights.

Yep, I'm actually overseas at the moment, and I called my carrier earlier today, and they told me the same thing. Although, the lady I spoke with did throw in a "...for now" at the end of our conversation, which I took to mean they might get tougher.

 

[Heavy D]

Not true. No liquids means no liquids regardless of where you got them. This past week, I've been asked to get rid of my bottled water that i purchased in the gated area before boarding.

OK, thanks. I'm overseas in a "not a lot of english" zone right now, so I'm trying to follow along mostly via internet, and I was under the impresssion one could buy liquids from airport shops. I guess reading your post (and Anik's), liquids are available, but its strictly a "use it now" type scenario.

 

[Just-ass-weet]

]I guess reading your post (and Anik's), liquids are available, but its strictly a "use it now" type scenario.

Use it and lose it - before and after security - that is the routine as of tonight according to NWA .... xoxox Anik

 

[EagerBeaver]

It's only a matter of time before all carry on luggage is banned on commercial flights. I predict this will happen within the next 10 years.

There are other problems with carry on bags as well. I recently took a flight to Florida on Delta and there was actually no room to put anything in the overhead luggage bins, they were so stuffed. I saw one guy who had an open compartment but he couldn't fit his luggage in the overhead bin, mainly because it was a way oversized piece. The amount of cheating that goes on as far as people bringing oversized luggage onto the plane is beyond ridiculous. And the airlines, in this case Delta, don't do a damn thing about it. And when you think about it this is where the real danger is, not only in terms of secreting things, but also in terms of bringing extra weight onto an already crowded plane.

 

[General Gonad]

Hear, hear for no carry-on luggage!!!

It's only a matter of time before all carry on luggage is banned on commercial flights. I predict this will happen within the next 10 years.

EB,

I do hope you're right about this...I cannot stand rude passengers that bring large carry-on baggage onto planes. Also, my wife will not be able to shop as much when we take our trips together.

GG

 

[voyageur]

I was on vacation last week so missed out on all the fun in the airports. I made up for it this morning, though... there was a 35-40 minute wait to leave my bag at the drop off point...plus another 75 minute wait for security.

Man, I hate this new world of ours!!!

 

[franky]

franky sayz
I predict this will all get worse and not better. I personally refuse to take off my shoes and let them do the body search. I just hate the idea of it. Now with liquids gone...
I for one am going to be using my private plane as much as possible. three years ago, I saw this coming after 9/11, started learning to fly. It takes a long time but you can get to the point of being able to fly yourself around the country or atleast sections of it. I now use my own plane for the northeast and hope to expand in the future. The planes do not have to be expensive. I only have a small cessna but already I see the coming practicality. I would now use it for trips from YUL to DC (beats detroit annik)
I see a boom for charter aircraft very soon.
franky

 

[John Legend]

I can confirm it's taking way longer at the border by car too. I live 3 hours south of Montreal. I take a day trip up once in a while for an incall and dinner and it is usually 6 hours of driving round trip and usually maybe 5 to 15 minutes crossing the border. I went yesterday (Sunday) and the 6 hour trip was a 12 hour trip!!!! 2 hours to cross into Canada on the way up, and 3 hours to cross on the way home. This gives a new meaning to the word "quickie"!!!

 

[NHBrat]

John,

Which crossing did you use and what time was it?

 

[EagerBeaver]

I am going to start using those obscure border crossings. I believe there is such a crossing in Alzburg and I am going to find it and use it next time.

 

[ck_nj]

If John lives in Albany, he had to be using the Champlain border crossing.

 

[ScarEye]

Guys,

I am flying from NY to Montreal, do you guys think they will allow me to bring my laptop with me ? I am going to need it in the hotel but I don't want to check it in. What do you guys think ?


ScarEye


P.S. I am flying AA

 

[picasso]

Guys,

I am flying from NY to Montreal, do you guys think they will allow me to bring my laptop with me ? I am going to need it in the hotel but I don't want to check it in. What do you guys think ?


ScarEye


P.S. I am flying AA

ScarEye,

Yes, absolutely. Been there, done that.

 

[picasso]

It's only a matter of time before all carry on luggage is banned on commercial flights. I predict this will happen within the next 10 years.

There are other problems with carry on bags as well. I recently took a flight to Florida on Delta and there was actually no room to put anything in the overhead luggage bins, they were so stuffed. I saw one guy who had an open compartment but he couldn't fit his luggage in the overhead bin, mainly because it was a way oversized piece. The amount of cheating that goes on as far as people bringing oversized luggage onto the plane is beyond ridiculous. And the airlines, in this case Delta, don't do a damn thing about it. And when you think about it this is where the real danger is, not only in terms of secreting things, but also in terms of bringing extra weight onto an already crowded plane.

EB,

ALL carry-on luggage? I don't think so. Business travelers are the livelihood of airlines. Denying them the right to bring on board their laptops is like denying a Gen-Xer an MP3. As I see it, there will be some rule changes vis-a-vis what you can bring on board but unless we're dealing with a red alert code, laptops will continue to be allowed on board. And that'll be because both airlines and businesses will lobby for that.

 

[Just-ass-weet]

I just got back from DCA to YUL - no problems - still no liquids and stuff, less carry-on actually sped things up! I brought my laptop and it wasn't a problem either, though, for the first time ever they made me turn it on at security.... xoxox Anik

Guys,

I am flying from NY to Montreal, do you guys think they will allow me to bring my laptop with me ? I am going to need it in the hotel but I don't want to check it in. What do you guys think ?


ScarEye


P.S. I am flying AA

 

[breadman]

Found this article on the recent arrests in the UK

Will paraphrase a few of the items...the link is here

Basically the article covers just how one would go about making an explosive that would be powerful enough to down a jetliner.

Now we have news of the recent, supposedly real-world, terrorist plot to destroy commercial airplanes by smuggling onboard the benign precursors to a deadly explosive, and mixing up a batch of liquid death in the lavatories. So, The Register has got to ask, were these guys for real, or have they, and the counterterrorist officials supposedly protecting us, been watching too many action movies?

We're told that the suspects were planning to use TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, a high explosive that supposedly can be made from common household chemicals unlikely to be caught by airport screeners. A little hair dye, drain cleaner, and paint thinner - all easily concealed in drinks bottles - and the forces of evil have effectively smuggled a deadly bomb onboard your plane.

Then they go on to explain how to make such a cocktail...

Making a quantity of TATP sufficient to bring down an airplane is not quite as simple as ducking into the toilet and mixing two harmless liquids together.

First, you've got to get adequately concentrated hydrogen peroxide. This is hard to come by, so a large quantity of the three per cent solution sold in pharmacies might have to be concentrated by boiling off the water. Only this is risky, and can lead to mission failure by means of burning down your makeshift lab before a single infidel has been harmed.

But let's assume that you can obtain it in the required concentration, or cook it from a dilute solution without ruining your operation. Fine. The remaining ingredients, acetone and sulfuric acid, are far easier to obtain, and we can assume that you've got them on hand.

Now for the fun part. Take your hydrogen peroxide, acetone, and sulfuric acid, measure them very carefully, and put them into drinks bottles for convenient smuggling onto a plane. It's all right to mix the peroxide and acetone in one container, so long as it remains cool. Don't forget to bring several frozen gel-packs (preferably in a Styrofoam chiller deceptively marked "perishable foods"), a thermometer, a large beaker, a stirring rod, and a medicine dropper. You're going to need them.

It's best to fly first class and order Champagne. The bucket full of ice water, which the airline ought to supply, might possibly be adequate - especially if you have those cold gel-packs handy to supplement the ice, and the Styrofoam chiller handy for insulation - to get you through the cookery without starting a fire in the lavvie.
Easy does it

Once the plane is over the ocean, very discreetly bring all of your gear into the toilet. You might need to make several trips to avoid drawing attention. Once your kit is in place, put a beaker containing the peroxide / acetone mixture into the ice water bath (Champagne bucket), and start adding the acid, drop by drop, while stirring constantly. Watch the reaction temperature carefully. The mixture will heat, and if it gets too hot, you'll end up with a weak explosive. In fact, if it gets really hot, you'll get a premature explosion possibly sufficient to kill you, but probably no one else.

After a few hours - assuming, by some miracle, that the fumes haven't overcome you or alerted passengers or the flight crew to your activities - you'll have a quantity of TATP with which to carry out your mission. Now all you need to do is dry it for an hour or two.

The genius of this scheme is that TATP is relatively easy to detonate. But you must make enough of it to crash the plane, and you must make it with care to assure potency. One needs quality stuff to commit "mass murder on an unimaginable scale," as Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson put it. While it's true that a slapdash concoction will explode, it's unlikely to do more than blow out a few windows. At best, an infidel or two might be killed by the blast, and one or two others by flying debris as the cabin suddenly depressurizes, but that's about all you're likely to manage under the most favorable conditions possible.

 

[John Legend]

I always cross the border North of Plattsburgh (Champlian). I am not familiar with the other borders. How far is the 2nd closest border?