With so many changes around travel, passports and regulations for entering other countries, it is no wonder many passengers are confused over the rules that apply when jetting off on holidays or for other travel reasons. Couple this with recent airport chaos due to staff shortages and flight cancellations and it is clear that there is a need for clarity before you travel.
One question being asked at the moment relates to the rules for dropping off baggage at the airport. For many it has been some time since they took a flight so it's worth refreshing your memory with the procedure especially as airports are at their busiest times.
East Midlands Airport (EMA), for instance, expects to welcome more than 1.3m passengers (departing and arriving) through its doors during July and August. Each airline has different rules and timing when it comes to when you can drop off your bags, so it is important to check the details with the individual airline before travelling or making your plans.
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With this in mind, East Midlands Airport says: "Once you get to the airport if you have baggage you can take it to the bag drop, or if you only have hand baggage you can proceed directly to security control".
Michael Grimes, East Midlands Airport’s Director of Customer Services and Security, said: “We look forward to welcoming many families, couples and groups of friends to the airport over the next few weeks. We want all customers to have a positive experience when travelling through EMA this summer. Therefore, we are issuing the following advice:
- Please can all passengers arrive at the terminal for check-in or bag drop at the time suggested by their airline, not before, and not after. Arriving too early can add to queue lengths and can create congestion
- Restrictions on liquids, including hand sanitiser, carried in hand luggage continue to apply. Avoid these being confiscated by ensuring they are under 100ml and fit in a single, clear, resealable bag
- Finally, all electronic items, including laptops and iPads, need to be taken out of hand luggage and laid flat in a tray when passengers reach the security search area. Please ensure these are easy to find and aren’t buried at the bottom of a bag.”
Other things to be aware of including what can and can not be taken on board the aircraft. Certain items cannot be taken on to the aircraft either in hand luggage or in baggage that is destined for the hold.
Items you can't take in your hold luggage
- Flammable liquids and solids.
- Oxidisers such as bleaching powders.
- Organic peroxides.
- Tear gas devices or any gas cylinders.
- Infectious substances such as live virus materials.
- Wet-cell car batteries.
- Magnetrons.
- Instruments containing mercury.
- Instruments containing magnets.
- Fireworks and pyrotechnics.
- Non-safety matches.
- Fire lighters, lighter fuel, paints, thinners.
- Poisons, arsenic, cyanide, weedkiller.
- Radioactive materials, acids, corrosives, alkalis, caustic soda.
- Creosote, quicklime, oiled paper.
- Vehicle fuel system components which have contained fuel.
- Ammunition, detonators, blasting caps, mines, grenades, and related equipment and any other explosives.
- Smoke canisters and smoke cartridges.
Travellers should also be aware that your hold luggage (that's the items that you check-in) must be below a certain weight and size. Again, rules vary depending upon the airline you are travelling with so you must double check before packing. Please check with your airline for more information.
Items you can't take into the aircraft cabin
It is an offence to carry any of the following items into the aircraft cabin:
- Acid
- Billiard, snooker or pool cues
- Builder's tools
- Catapults and sling-shots
- Darts
- Explosives
- Gas cartridges, or gas cartridge re-fills
- Hammers, nails or screw-drivers
- Hypodermic syringes (unless supported by medical evidence)
- Knives with blades more than 6cm
- Lighter fuel
- Lighter top-up fuel (passengers are allowed to carry one disposable lighter in a clear re-sealable plastic bag)
- Mercury
- Paint
- Razor blades
- Scissors - specifically blades measuring greater than 6cm in length
- Sporting bats
- Toy or replica guns (plastic or metal)
- Umbrellas - unless foldable
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