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[Nickbat]

Having a short break in Macedonia, where it's currently 39.5 in the shade. 

Sadly,security relieved me of my deoderant in my hand baggage at Gatwick, so I need plenty of showers!

Actually, there's a story behind the seizure,as the CAA say you can take up to 500ml deoderant, provided it is in a can which is able to be switched so that it can't be accidentally discharged in flight. I argued with the security woman (at 5:00am-I was in the mood for a rant) and then she called over the usual smug supervisor who said that I couldn't take it.I told him the CAA said I could and showed him the relevant printout,which I had happened to make. He told me to come over to his computer and show him where it says that.I did.He said he was amazed that he didn't know about it and would take it up with his management. I said, OK, then, can I have my deoderant? He said he didn't have the power to let me take it and insisted he confiscate it, but took my name and address as I said I wanted compensation,either from Gatwick (if they unlawfully seized the can) or the CAA (if they encouraged me to attempt to unlawfully take the can aboard).

CAA advice on page 3 of PDF here: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1219/srg_dgo_WhatCanICarry20100416.pdf

I'll keep you posted on this, as I want my money back. 

[Varche]

This has all the makings of a commercial for TV.

Hope you have a good holiday.

[Radiomarko]

Excellent tale, needed a laugh, please update when you are offered an apology and a replacement can.

If we live that long.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I am confused by the CAA documents suggestion you can take a container of 500ml of anything onto an aircraft as hand luggage.

I recently flew to the US and the rule of no container with more than 100ml of liquid, of anything, to be taken on board as hand luggage was vigorously enforced as we had been warned.

The main airlines make this also clear on their web sites:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/liquids.jsp#liq1

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagliquid/public/en_gb

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/carryOnAllowance.jsp#examples


 

[Banjax]

have a great trip - annoying airport officials over a £3 aerosol is what you were born to do - hope it goes well 
 

enjoy the break m8 

[Vamps]

Only you could go on holiday and still encourage conflict....   Relax and enjoy..

[Nickbat]

I am confused by the CAA documents suggestion you can take a container of 500ml of anything onto an aircraft as hand luggage.

I recently flew to the US and the rule of no container with more than 100ml of liquid, of anything, to be taken on board as hand luggage was vigorously enforced as we had been warned.

The main airlines make this also clear on their web sites:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/liquids.jsp#liq1

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagliquid/public/en_gb

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/carryOnAllowance.jsp#examples


 

Yes, it's confusing, Lizzie,but remember that airlines do not make the rules, the CAA does (it was the CAA that closed airspace after the recent volcano). It may be that the CAA guide is unintentionally wrong, or it may be that Gatwick airport security is wrong. They can't both be right! 

Oddly, on the same issue, Gatwick security routinely confiscate Zippo lighters, yet let LPG ones through.
On the same page of the CAA guidance linked above it says that you CAN carry on your person:

One small packet of safety matches or a single cigarette lighter (that does not contain unabsorbed liquid fuel, other than liquefied gas), intended for use by an individual.

Unless I am very much mistaken, Zippo lighters work on fuel which is absorbed in...wait for it...absorbent material, so they, too should be permitted. Ho hum.

I'm all for security measures against terrorism, but what gets me about all this is the excessive officiousness of the staff at airports, made all the worse by passengers being seemingly duped into taking certain items though departure — by the top-most aviation authority in the country — only to have them confiscated. 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I am confused by the CAA documents suggestion you can take a container of 500ml of anything onto an aircraft as hand luggage.

I recently flew to the US and the rule of no container with more than 100ml of liquid, of anything, to be taken on board as hand luggage was vigorously enforced as we had been warned.

The main airlines make this also clear on their web sites:

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/passengerinformation/baggage/liquids.jsp#liq1

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagliquid/public/en_gb

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/carryOnAllowance.jsp#examples


 

Yes, it's confusing, Lizzie,but remember that airlines do not make the rules, the CAA does (it was the CAA that closed airspace after the recent volcano). It may be that the CAA guide is unintentionally wrong, or it may be that Gatwick airport security is wrong. They can't both be right! 

Oddly, on the same issue, Gatwick security routinely confiscate Zippo lighters, yet let LPG ones through.
On the same page of the CAA guidance linked above it says that you CAN carry on your person:

One small packet of safety matches or a single cigarette lighter (that does not contain unabsorbed liquid fuel, other than liquefied gas), intended for use by an individual.

Unless I am very much mistaken, Zippo lighters work on fuel which is absorbed in...wait for it...absorbent material, so they, too should be permitted. Ho hum.

I'm all for security measures against terrorism, but what gets me about all this is the excessive officiousness of the staff at airports, made all the worse by passengers being seemingly duped into taking certain items though departure — by the top-most aviation authority in the country — only to have them confiscated. 

They are certainly that now Nick!!

On my recent trip to the States and back with friends, not once did someone crack a smile on the immigration, security, or customs decks!  You were just treated as a potential terrorist or at least bad person! 

What was even worse though was my best friend being taken in for questioning because her name was the same as an American women being sought for murder!!  I tried to get some sense out of the US security staff, but was just told to move on out of the arrival area onto the street, with a "if she is released she will come out of this exit!!"  Her partner, 5 year old son and I just stood outside in shock!

Thank God the US authorities after 45 minutes accepted my friend was British and had no connection with the sought American women.  But the way she and we were treated................!!!

Certainly though nothing in a liquid container over 100ml was being allowed through to the departure lounges both sides of the pond!    The price we pay for terror!

[cem_devecioglu]

Having a short break in Macedonia, where it's currently 39.5 in the shade. 

Sadly,security relieved me of my deoderant in my hand baggage at Gatwick, so I need plenty of showers!

Actually, there's a story behind the seizure,as the CAA say you can take up to 500ml deoderant, provided it is in a can which is able to be switched so that it can't be accidentally discharged in flight. I argued with the security woman (at 5:00am-I was in the mood for a rant) and then she called over the usual smug supervisor who said that I couldn't take it.I told him the CAA said I could and showed him the relevant printout,which I had happened to make. He told me to come over to his computer and show him where it says that.I did.He said he was amazed that he didn't know about it and would take it up with his management. I said, OK, then, can I have my deoderant? He said he didn't have the power to let me take it and insisted he confiscate it, but took my name and address as I said I wanted compensation,either from Gatwick (if they unlawfully seized the can) or the CAA (if they encouraged me to attempt to unlawfully take the can aboard).

CAA advice on page 3 of PDF here: http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1219/srg_dgo_WhatCanICarry20100416.pdf

I'll keep you posted on this, as I want my money back. 

be carefull.. very different weather.. you can catch cold even in that hot with cold showers.. and from hot to air conditioned rooms/cars is another disaster..

[Nickbat]

Well, I got response from the CAA in which it was accepted that the linked What Can I Carry file was not as clear as it should have been, but that it did carry the rider that "airlines and security screening agencies have the right to refuse the carriage of certain items."

I responded in a kind manner as some effort had clearly gone into this rather long response, but gently pointed out that it was not in customers' best interests to state, on the one hand, that an item is "generally acceptable" [in hand luggage] while, on the other, effectively state "...but it may be seized.".

Needless to say, I didn't get my £4.50 refund.

On the subject of Zippo lighters, the writer confirmed that these do indeed meet the criteria. I rushed to the Gatwick website to find out to whom I could rant, only to find that they now list Zippos as acceptable.

They must have changed their minds within the last 13 months since that is when I last had one confiscated.

Looks like I ain't gonna get no satisfaction on this.   

   

[Martin_1962]

If an item has been seized I think they should refund everything and 10% on top

[Varche]

I doubt anything will change regarding seizure of property. It must be a nice little earner for someone.

I thought there was a great business opportunity a few years ago when the mother in law had a manicure set seized in security. Fortunately we were there and took it away. The business opportunity was for "flat rate" pre postega paid envelopes. There was a bin half full of penkives and scissors etc.

The rules are totally daft. Mrs Varche brought an electric slow cooker back from England packed with bags of hard to get over here spices in her on plane bag. It clearly showed up on the Xray including the electric circuitry and the bags. The operator called over his supervisor and they put it through again and waved it on. No bag emptying!!! 

[zvi]

If you buy at the duty free shops you can take on board the plane mach more then 500ml. make you wonder :-/