Jan 01 2008
Confusion raises as baggage rules are unwinded
Scotland, Jan 1: As an attempt to monitor the terrorist activity in the airports after the terrorist threat in 2006 air passengers are restricted to carry one bag that restriction is going to be relaxed from next week onwards. But the passengers are left with confusion as selective airlines and airports will allow carrying more than one bag on board. The prominent British airports were given permission for hand baggage change after getting the sanctions from the Department of Transport officials on the basis of their ability to tackle the extra workload along with ensuring security.
While some airlines including the British Airways complained that the one bag rule was unique to British and is developing as a headache for the passengers who transfer to UK flights from abroad. Passengers are asked to check their airline and their baggage restriction before packing their bags. The airport officials also hinted that there will be no relaxation for carrying liquids in hand bags.
Meanwhile Edinburgh and Glasgow are included in the list of 21 airports that will be set free from the one bag restriction from 7 January onwards. The other airports are Heathrow, London City, Stansted, Aberdeen, Manchester, Prestwick and Inverness. While Gatwick, the second largest airport in Britain is one of the airport that will still be under one bag restriction along with East Midlands, Luton, Bradford, Leeds and Liverpool. To add fuel to more confusion some airlines allow passengers to carry two bags on board.
While commenting on this the spokesman of the Department of Transport said: “Some airports readily accepted the changes and they implemented that already, few other airports have to improve.” He accepted that the passengers will be confused about the different rules carried out at different airports. It is the responsibility of the respective airline company or airport to inform the passengers about details of the restrictions.