Essential Travel Info: Baggage Information

New hand luggage measures for flights to and from Australia

The Australian Government is introducing new measures restricting the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels that can be taken on board as hand luggage for flights to, from and within Australia, to enhance security for passengers.

The new measures, which take effect from 12.00am on 31 March 2007, mean that:

• Liquids, aerosols and gels taken on-board planes as hand luggage must be in containers no bigger than 100ml (milliliters). This includes drinks, creams, perfumes, sprays, gels, toothpaste, lipstick, lip balm and similar substances that you can pour, spray or smear.
• These containers must be sealed comfortably in a one litre transparent plastic re-sealable bag (for example 20cmX20cm or 15cmX25cm).
• Passengers will only be able to carry one of these transparent bags each.
• Liquids, aerosols and gels larger than 100mL, including duty-free, will need to be surrendered by the passenger at security screening points. Surrendered items will be destroyed

• The new measures are to ensure the safety and security of passengers traveling to, from and within Australia.

Buying duty-free products

• Duty-free items taken through screening are subject to the same rules as other liquids, aerosols and gels.

Flying out of Australia

• At many Australian airports you will be able to purchase and collect duty-free items after you have passed through screening for your international flight. Further restrictions will apply if travelling to the U.S.A. or Canada. Please check with your airline for further details.

Transit stops

• No duty-free items will be permitted to be taken through an international transit screening point in Australia. Similar rules are in place at airports internationally. You should check with your airline for specifics about the rules in effect at your transit stops.

Flying into Australia

• You may carry duty-free liquid, aerosol and gel purchases on board if they are delivered to the departure gate in a sealed bag with proof of purchase and collected after you have proceeded through security screening. The application of these procedures may vary from airport to airport and you are advised to check specifics with your airline.

On board

• You may also purchase liquid, aerosol and gel duty-free items on board an aircraft. However, if you are transiting through Australia these items cannot be taken through the screening point.

Buying duty-free from shops not located at airports

From 31 March until 29 April 2007

Liquid, aerosol and gel duty-free items

• Purchases made at duty-free outlets not located at airports are treated differently from those made at airports. This process has changed as a result of the new measures for carry-on hand luggage.
• The "docket plucking" for duty and tax free liquid, aerosol and gel purchases made at duty and tax free stores not located at airports, may now be undertaken landside so that you can pack these items in your check-in baggage. The off airport duty or tax free store should pack your liquid, aerosol and gel purchases in a sealed bag separate from non liquid, aerosol and gel purchases when you make your purchase.
• You should ensure your sealed bag containing liquid, aerosol and gel duty and tax free items is packed securely in your check-in baggage prior to reaching the airline check-in counter. You should have plucked the docket off the sealed bag prior to packing these items. You should be ready to hand in the docket to Duty-free Security Company staff at the airport. Once you have passed through the passport control point you must hand your docket to Duty-free Security Company staff as you usually would. Duty-free Security Company staff will check that these dockets only apply to liquid, aerosol and gel items.

Non liquid, aerosol and gel duty-free items

• Current processes still apply, and docket plucking of sealed bag non-liquid, aerosol and gel items will continue to occur after the Customs outwards control point.

From 30 April 2007

• Industry is currently developing arrangements to allow duty-free liquids, aerosols and gels to be packed and verified prior to check-in, subject to Australian Government requirements. Final details of this process are still being worked on.
• You should confirm these arrangements with your off airport duty-free retailer.

Tourism Refund Scheme (TRS)

• If you have purchased liquid, aerosol and gel items and wish to make a TRS claim (for example wine, perfume etc) you can pack these goods into your check-in baggage, and proceed to the TRS facility with your tax invoice, as per current practice.
• Customs staff at TRS facilities will ask you a series of questions to enable them to determine the validity of the claim.
• Oversized goods, including oversized liquid, aerosol and gel goods such as cases of wine, should continue to be treated as they are now by presenting them to the Customs Client Services Desks located landside in all international airports. Passengers who have their goods sighted at Customs Client Services Desks are still required to present their passport, international boarding pass and tax invoice at TRS facilities.

Exemptions

• The new rules take into account the medical and health needs of passengers.

Exemptions for medicines

• Prescription medicines and prescribed medical devices are exempt from the hand-luggage restrictions. Where the medication is non-prescription, you may take the amount required for the flight.
• You should determine the reasonable quantity of non-prescription medication required for the duration of your flight, as it may be assessed by security screening staff. Reasonable amounts include what is required for the length of the flight as well as possible delays or flight diversions.
• If you have any prescription or non-prescription medications, have them ready for inspection. It is also best to have any supporting documentation (eg ID, cards, letters from doctors etc) ready for inspection, should it be required. Security screening staff may request presentation of supporting documentation to assist in determining whether the medications you are carrying are exempt.
• In addition, the name on the label of the prescription medication should match the name on your boarding pass.
• Medicines may include the following:
• Essential prescribed medicines including angina spray;
• Insulin
• Clotting factor (for hemophiliacs)
• Contact lens solution, where the container capacity exceeds 100mL;
• Inhaler (with spare canisters to be packed in checked baggage);
• Essential non-prescribed medicines such as cough syrup;
• Children's medicines.
• Other disability and medical items such as blood products, organs, human embryos, gel filled external breast prosthesis and supplemental oxygen are also exempt.

Travelling with a baby

• When traveling with a baby, baby products in reasonable amounts required for the flight are exempt from the hand luggage restrictions. Where the volume of baby products is deemed excessive by security screening staff, it will not be allowed through the screening point
• If you are carrying any baby products, have them ready for inspection. It is also reasonable for security staff to expect that you will be carrying a baby with you. So if you are traveling in a large group or as a family, ensure that you and your baby go through the security screening point together.
• Baby products include:
• Baby milk;
• Sterilized water;
• Baby juice;
• Baby food in liquid, gel or paste form; and
• Wet wipes.

What passengers should do before they get to the airport

• Passengers should prepare their hand luggage before they leave home and ensure that any liquid, aerosol or gel is in a container no bigger than 100mL and sealed comfortably in a one litre, re-sealable, transparent plastic bag. This will minimise delays and disruptions. Other aerosols, liquids or gels in bigger containers should be put in the luggage to be checked-in at the airport (Note, the current legislation about carrying dangerous goods still applies. More information about dangerous goods can be obtained from the airline or from the Australian Civil Aviation Authority website at www.casa.gov.au/dg/)

What passengers should do at the airport

• Passengers should have their liquid, aerosols and gels in containers no bigger than 100mL already packed in a transparent re-sealable one litre plastic bag, before they check in for their flights.
• The hand luggage should be packed and ready before check-in.

What passengers should do at the security screening point

• Passengers should place their re-sealable, transparent plastic bag (containing their gels, liquids and aerosols in containers no bigger than 100mL) in the trays provided at the screening point.
• Passengers may be subject to a frisk search (pat down) to ensure they are not hiding any liquids, aerosols or gels on their bodies. Passengers will be subject to this on a random basis.
• Liquids, aerosols or gels in containers bigger than 100mL will be confiscated by the security guards at security screening points and destroyed.

More information

For more information about Australia.s new hand luggage security measures, visit www.dotars.gov.au, email lags@dotars.gov.au or phone +61 2 6274-7111.

Security situation at UK airports

Following the recent changes in security levels at UK airports, The Department for Transport recently downgraded the assessed threat level to UK Aviation and amended security protocols in place at UK airports, however airports continue to be affected by increased security measures.

As The Department for Transport are regularly updating and revising the security measures, we recommend you visit www.baa.co.uk for the latest up to date information prior to departure. Below is a guide and is subject to change.

Customers are advised to proceed to airports as usual, but in good time to allow for congestion and lengthier security screening processes

Current hand baggage guidelines (not including Australia)

Strictly ONE item only of cabin baggage will be permitted through the airport security search point per person, the dimensions of this item must not exceed: a maximum length of 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm (including wheels, handles, side pockets etc.). Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be x-ray screened

The bag must NOT contain:

• Any liquids, cosmetics or toiletries, including gels, pastes, lotions, liquid/solid mixtures, perfumes and the contents of pressurised containers (e.g. toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam, aerosols, etc) - these must be checked in as hold baggage.
  
• To help their progress through search points, passengers are advised not to include items capable of containing liquids (e.g. bottles, flasks, tubes, cans, plastic containers etc.) in their cabin baggage.

The bag CAN include:

• Electronic equipment including mobile phones, digital cameras and MP3 players (such as i-Pods)
  
• Prescription medicines in liquid form, eg diabetic kit.
  
• Baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle MUST be tasted by the accompanying passenger)
  
• Laptops (must be removed from the bag for x-ray).

Travelling from 6th November onwards:

The Department for Transport has announced that, from 6 November, passengers may carry a limited quantity of liquids, ie. gels, lotions, pastes, liquid cosmetics, foams and foodstuffs in their hand baggage when going through airport security checkpoints. Heightened security restrictions remain at all UK airports.

See Department for transport: www.dft.gov.uk for more information

All remaining items in pockets should be placed in the clear plastic bag provided, eg car keys and fobs, cash, solid food, books, newspapers, cigarettes and tobacco. Pushchairs and walking aids are permitted but must be x-ray screened. All wheelchairs will be subject to search. Please note: You may be subject to a hand search by the security team and required to remove footwear to be x-ray screened.

Once in the departure lounge passengers may purchase any item in any store and take it onto the aircraft as normal unless you are travelling to the USA.

Cigarette lighters cannot be carried either in hold luggage or on the person. In addition to the above, customers boarding flights to the USA will be subjected to secondary search at the boarding gate and any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger.

At this time, there have been no official reports of overseas airports implementing the same luggage restrictions, but Austravel advises that customers returning to the UK also limit hand luggage.

The above information is strictly a guide and is subject to change. Austravel cannot be held responsible for any changes in the policy.

Useful websites for customers to refer to are below:

Department for Transport: www.dft.gov.uk

British Airports Authority: www.baa.co.uk