Changes in Restrictions and Advice for Passengers Flying to the USA

Wed, 13 Jan 2010
Security measures have been improved at UK airports and on transatlantic flights to the USA, after following the terror scare on a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.

Passengers are to be subject to secondary screenings at their departure gate, with pat down body searches and bag checks undertaken by airline staff just prior to boarding.

The US Transportation Security Administration has also imposed new in-flight regulations on all transatlantic services to the USA, including strict limits on passenger movements mid-flight.

Each passenger flying to an American airport is now be subjected to an extra pat-down body search at their departure gate. These additional checks are a direct consequent of the terror scare at Detroit, so passengers are asked to be as patient and cooperative as possible.

Airline staff are also manually going to check all hand luggage and personal items before passengers board the plane, and certain travellers are going to be selected at random for extra questioning.

To minimise delays caused by the new security measures, passengers on flights to America are now able to carry only a single item of hand luggage. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have both said that they will waive their surcharges for checking in surplus hand luggage. For those who are diabetic, you still need medical justification. You must declare your syringe at security and you ought to expect extra scrutiny from staff.

It is essential that diabetics carrying a syringe travel with accompanying documentation, like a prescription from a qualified medical professional.

Do get in touch with your airline prior to departure to check specific requirements.

In addition, liquid medicines like insulin ought to be held in containers under 100 ml.

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