No carry-on bags for flights to U.S. (from Canada)

[Newsjock]

Source: The Globe and Mail

Transport Canada continues to tighten security at airports, which were thrown into chaos as a result of stricter security regulations in place in the wake of the attempted bombing of an airplane on Christmas Day.

Effective immediately, passengers headed to the United States will not be allowed to travel with carry-on bags, Transport Canada said in a statement.

Allowed on board will be the following: medication or medical devices, small purses, cameras, coats, items for care of infants, laptop computers, crutches, canes, walkers, containers carrying life sustaining items, a special needs item, musical instruments, or diplomatic or consular bags.


Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/no-carry-on-bags-for-flights-to-us/article1413178/

[MadBadger]

1. Dude had a bomb in his underwear, so why is the response to ban carry ons?

[Lorien]

2. Good question. nt

[dencol]

3. Just to scare the hell out of Americans.

So they will support the troop increase in Afghanistan.

[LisaL]

8. And if airline loses your check in baggage, you really are

going to have nothing.

[iamjoy]

19. And They Force You To Pay

I mean, many airlines now charge you to check bags. When they ban carry ons, you're kind of stuck, aren't you?

[wpelb]

4. So what would you have the TSA do instead?

Tell passengers that they can't wear underwear anymore?

(I've probably just given someone somewhere an idea.)

[dkf]

5. NAKED FLYING!

Sounds exciting. lol.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. When I was in the Letterman studio audience last year, Alan Kalter did a sketch on that...

It creeped me out then, and it does now... x(

[suffragette]

51. They could engage in meaningful and common sense security

such as checking cargo luggage, checking for explosive material (isn't that what the puffers, etc are supposed to do when they USE them), and investigating through intelligence what the next attempt will be instead of disrupting everyone for the last one in a show of security theater.

Or they could change their acronym from TSA to AST and acknowledge that what they're doing now is Absurdist Security Theater as a big show of mostly bogus security rather than the real thing.

[LisaL]

6. Because they really can't make everyone to fly naked.

[dkf]

9. So they want to make us jump through hoops just because?

I guess its an effort to make us feel "safe"?

[LisaL]

10. Maybe they want as few people as possible to be flying.

No carry on, no leaving the seat in the last hour, searches-I sure would be as miserable as I could possibly be.

[dencol]

63. But there is a push for machines that see you naked. n/t

[MrsBrady]

41. He used a liquid detonator

in a syringe.

I don't know if he had the detonator in his pocket or in his carry-on.
But he did have a carry-on.

[marshall]

52. It frees up the security personnel to concentrate on full body searches

Now most of their time is taken up rummaging through the myriad assortment of bags that people schlep onto the plane. Cutting all that out will give them plenty of time to do pat downs on everyone.

[CreekDog]

67. You're so logical

a rarity. :rofl:

[dipsydoodle]

11. Odd that they allow laptops

I'd have thought they were riskiest thing of all.

[iamjoy]

21. I Would Think Electronics Are Too

I would think electronics are risky. It seems kind of silly. They "ban" carry ons, but the loopholes are so big, one could drive a truck through them. This "ban" is great for the airlines. It ensures the bare minimum stuff is brought on the plane, expediting the boarding process and minimizing "fights" for space in overhead bins (oh, and forget bringing your own snacks, you can buy from the airline). It forces people to pay to check luggage. Meanwhile, the bare essentials (medication, diaper bags) are allowed to deflect some protest. Oh, and of course laptops are allowed - wouldn't do to anger the business traveler...

I really need to get a pair of cargo pants before I fly again. Then I can just carry what I need in there.

[MineralMan]

31. Really? When was a laptop used to blow up a plane?

Back in the 80s and 90s, they used to make you turn laptops on to make sure they were functional laptops. Apparently they decided that a laptop is a laptop since then.

[dipsydoodle]

35. It's got a battery

and I wouldn't think its too difficult to fit semtex inside the casing.

[MineralMan]

36. That's why they used to make people start up their laptops.

But, you didn't answer my question: When did someone use a laptop to blow up a plane?

[dipsydoodle]

37. You might as well say

when did somepne last use their pants to blow up a plane. There's a first time for everything.

[MineralMan]

39. Actually, I wouldn't say that, since nobody did use their

pants to blow up a plane. That person concealed an explosive device in his pants. Better screening would have caught that.

As for laptops, I'd be quite fine if they insisted they be opened and turned on in the trays. One glance and the screeners could see that they were functional and that the battery was an actual battery. In fact, it seems like a good idea to me. I understood the reason for that policy in the 80s and 90's, although it did mean you had to keep your battery charged.

My point is that concealed explosives are a danger. Laptops, per se, are not. Concealed explosives in a laptop would be a danger, just as concealed explosives in your pants would be.

[ima_sinnic]

12. Flying from Boston to Seattle for 5 days in about 3 wks & plan to carry NO luggage

will go to a thrift shop after I arrive to get a few items of clothing, and will ask my sister to buy a 3-pack of panties for me before I get there and plan to do a little laundry while there. Since it's winter, I can also wear a few extra things. I can also mail a few things to myself c/o my sister before I go if necessary.

Of course, traveling across country for 5 days with no baggage will make me look "suspicious," so this idea might not work that well either.

[madmom]

25. My daughter and a friend did pretty much that the week before xmas. They

flew from Ohio to NOLA for a week with just a backpack. They had no troubles to speak of. They got home 1 day before the Detroit incident.

[Dappleganger]

42. It only affects flights INTO the US.

[Lance_Boyle]

50. Boston is not in Canada - this policy does not apply to you. n/t

[Not Me]

13. How about a ban on flights coming in from airports who fail

to find bombs in carry on luggage. I can guarantee you that the airport in Amsterdam would quickly correct the problem if other countries refused flights originating there.

[high density]

14. Sounds like a great way to discourage people from visiting here

...while doing nothing to increase security in the process. Great idea. :eyes:

[dipsydoodle]

17. I'd be surprised

if it didn't become international policy - not just USA.

[Posteritatis]

45. I fully expect it to become the rule for domestic flights in Canada soon. (nt)

[Lasher]

15. Isn't there an extra charge when you check baggage?

I know some US airlines charge for that.

[iamjoy]

20. Indeed There Is (nt)

[Roland99]

24. *most* charge for that. $15, $25, etc. Goes up for each add'l bag.

[yellowcanine]

26. Yes and that is one of the reasons for the chaotic conditions on flights which makes

boarding and deplaning take about twice as long as it should. FAA and TSA should instruct the airlines that they CANNOT charge extra for the first checked bag and that they must enforce a one SMALL bag rule for carry-ons. NO EXCEPTIONS for "purses" etc. If you have a purse it is your carry-on or you have to fit it into your carry-on. Same with laptops.

[Lasher]

33. I used to hate it when people would drag in their steamer trunks.

I would fly first class a lot because my frequent business travel made free upgrades possible. Sometimes when I would get on the plane there would be no room in the overhead for the small item I carried on, having checked a larger bag if I had one. This is because people would stuff their enormous bags in as soon as they got on the plane, then proceed further to the rear where their seat assignments were. I have never known a flight attendant to stop anybody from doing this.

A special moment came at the end of flights, when people would leap to their feet (sometimes before we had come to a stop at the gate) to get ahead of everybody else in deplaning. When they flung open the overstuffed overhead compartment, they would often dump items on the heads of those sitting beneath.

Thank God I don't have to fly anymore. There was a time when the crew at least considered us customers. No it appears travelers are treated like inmates.

[LisaM]

69. I agree with you. I dislike people who want to drag everything on the plane

though now, of course, since they have to pay to check it, at least I understand it.

In the old days, when you didn't have to pay, I totally didn't get it. It messed everyone up waiting for these selfish people to get their stuff out of the overhead compartment. Meanwhile, I, with just my purse and maybe a small tote bag for my books, waited and waited and waited.

[u4ic]

53. Not with Westjet - 2 free checked bags

Air Canada (once again) just instituted the second checked bag for $25. I think it's mid-January that takes effect.

Right now both the airlines are allowing free one extra piece of checked baggage to compensate.

[truthisfreedom]

16. Obviously there's only one answer.

Peace. We need someone of Islam to become the greatest peacemaker of all.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

28. There's no profit in peace.

DHS recognizes only two security levels: Orange and Red. The other colors may cause DHS budget cuts, and so they will never be allowed.

We need more restrictions, more TSA inspectors, more supervisors, more machinery, more, more, more.

:hi:

[DonkeyHoTay]

18. Canadian snowbirds will avoid Florida, Arizona, Nevada, Cali...

and head on down to destinations in travel-friendlier climes -
- sunny Brazil, Mexico, and Central America.  They'll also
patronize the Caribbean Islands especially the Bahamas, the
Caymans, Jamaica and, of course, Cuba where rather
conservative Canadian spenders ordering up their rummy
"Cuba Libras" have earned the name "two-drink
minimums."

I would also have to predict even more woes for southern US
gated golf communities with their foreclosure and short sale
inventories of unsold houses, villas and condos (plus all
those empty winter vacation rental units!) as Canadians avoid
that financial wreck. Disney ventures in the Orlando area will
probably record a drop in traffic from the Great White North
this winter season. Conversely, I'd also expect a bit of a
mini-boom in Mexican timeshares in Cancun or Cabo St Whatever
flying maple leaf flags???

Who knows? The airline industry thanks to swollen national
security concerns and media fearmongering has really shot
itself in the foot... again! 

Maybe Greyhound should come up with a Canuck special - - 
"We'll bus you straight from Moose Jaw to Mexico for $300
bucks!"  or "Bus me to the sun! - - Three Rivers
Quebec to Three Amigos Mexico in just three days..."

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

22. Truly a dumb idea

especially since they go through carry on bags.

[yellowcanine]

23. Too draconian but I would love to see stricter restriction on carry ons.

If the airlines really enforced a ONE SMALL bag rule and then did not charge extra for checked bags flying would be a whole lot smoother. Laptops and purses would have to fit into the carry on bag. No exceptions. Time for boarding and deplaning would be cut significantly and then maybe flight attendants could pay more attention to individual passengers and serve as a final check on terrorists who do manage to get through security instead of spending all of their time trying to find space in overhead bins for huge suitcases that should have been checked. Right now about a third of passengers can't even safely put their bag into an overhead bin without help even if there is room for it. Flight attendants should not be luggage handlers and I can't tell you how much time I have wasted standing in the aisle of an airplane waiting while other passengers were trying to get bags into or out of the overhead bins. Not to mention that terrorists could use the crowding on boarding to pass objects to one another. This is a safety issue as well as a comfort issue.

[kurtzapril4]

27. Re: Restrictions on carry-ons

Yes! Yes! Yes! Nothing bigger than a briefcase or small backpack...everything else must be checked! Nothing like waiting for half an hour after your plane has landed until you can de-plane while the doofuses who brought their huge carry-ons struggle to get them out of the bins. Personally, I think there should be a fee for carry-on luggage, not the checked stuff.

[yellowcanine]

29. Not to mention that the size of the "carry-on" seems to be inversely correlated with the size of the

person "carrying" the bag so much of the time someone else has to help them with getting the bag into and out of the overhead bin.

[MadrasT]

47. +1

If the airlines really enforced a ONE SMALL bag rule and then did not charge extra for checked bags flying would be a whole lot smoother. Laptops and purses would have to fit into the carry on bag. No exceptions.... I can't tell you how much time I have wasted standing in the aisle of an airplane waiting while other passengers were trying to get bags into or out of the overhead bins.

And it has gotten noticeably worse since the airlines started charging passengers to check bags. I am dumbfounded by both the size and quantity of things that pass as "carry on baggage" these days.

It is no mystery to me why airlines are failing. They are run by utter morons.

[MineralMan]

30. Security issues aside, I'd love it if they'd restrict carry-ons.

One small one, like a briefcase-size. Everything larger gets checked. People trying to stuff an over-sized rolling carry-on into the overhead bin slow down boarding and leaving the plane so much that it's more than just frustrating. And never mind that some of these things must weigh 50 lb. My wife got hit in the shoulder by one of them when the owner pulled it out of the overhead with one hand, then just let it drop of its own weight.

The paranoia about checking a bag is pretty strange. Get to the airport on time and your bag will arrive at your destination if you have a nonstop flight. For flights where you change planes, allow at least a one hour period for your bag to be transferred. If you're flying on two different airlines, allow two hours for the transfer.

I carry a briefcase with a laptop in it, along with whatever book or magazine I will read on the plane and any meds I must have with me. That's it. Everything else goes in the checked bag, where I can pack my full-sized toothpaste tube and other liquids or gels.

In many dozens of flights, not a single bag has not arrived on the same plane as I do. I always allow lots of time between flights, because I hate rushing and enjoy having a meal between planes.

I do hate oversized carry-ons with a red-hot passion, though.

[krabigirl]

57. Ok, so what about parents with toddlers? You do realize to keep the kids quiet rop

you need lots of things to distract them, plus food, etc.

[Scout]

73. put them in the one bag ... and learn to deal with it. you chose to have children, so suck it up n/t

[Thickasabrick]

64. Me too!!! Been flying for 30+ years and they've never lost a bag. nt

[Scout]

74. many, many flights and i too have never lost a bag.

i used to always check them in curbside, and tip the luggage handler. never, ever had a problem.

now that you can't check 'em in curbside, i haven't flown as often, but still have not had any problems with my bags getting to the same place i was.

get there early, have your shit together and know what's going on ... seems easy enough.

i can't stand people who bring too much/too large items on board, and i especially can't stand watching the flight attendants IGNORE people bringing on bags that clearly do NOT fit in the box to check the size of your items before boarding.

[prole_for_peace]

32. But where do I put my medication, camera and laptop

if I can't have a carry on bag? Do I have to juggle all this stuff? It won't all fit in my purse.

[Lasher]

34. You have to stuff it in your underwear.

New rule.

[MineralMan]

38. They're allowing laptops, which means they're allowing

laptop bags. That stuff will all fit in the laptop bag. At least it will in all the laptop bags I've seen.

[dipsydoodle]

40. That's fair comment.

From experience - the amount of hand luggage that Americans expect to take on board is almost comical compared with Europe where we're used to checking luggage in.

[Dappleganger]

43. That's all I carry anyway.

My laptop bag carries just about everything but a blow dryer.

[MineralMan]

48. I finally convinced my wife that she needn't pack her blow dryer.

I've yet to stay in a hotel that didn't have one, and all the people we visit are affluent enough to own at least one of those.

I also bought her a little kit full of small bottles in a watertight plastic bag. I carefully filled them with her preferred shampoo, conditioner, rinse, and body wash, and applied neatly printed labels. This was because one of her larger bottles split in our checked bag and created no end of problems after we arrived at a conference with all of our nice things soaked with hair conditioner. Very annoying, and requiring a trip to the convenient, but expensive, clothing stores in Caesar's Palace.

We've streamlined our travel these days, and get by with much less than previously. Since I'm the carrier of bags and hefter of things, I'm very happy.

[prole_for_peace]

54. I carry my laptop in a backpack

along with my meds and anything else I wouldn't want stolen from a packed bag.

So they aren't calling a computer bag a carry-on? This shit is so confusing. First they say "No carry-on" so that sounds like just my body and then they say that you can bring certain items on the plane but how do you get them there?

SHEESH!!

[Black Adder]

44. HOW SOON WILL IT BE BEFORE

Fox News and a number of Republican Congressmen and Senators claim that the flight 253 bomber came through Canada???????????????

[damntexdem]

46. We need high-speed rail -- so we could largely avoid flying altogether.

The problems with flying don't involve terrorists: they involve (1) idiotic security responses to terrorist incidents; and (2) the low-quality service imposed by the airlines.

[Posteritatis]

49. If things get a bit worse it'll probably be quicker and cheaper to simply walk

Affordability, sustainability, and exercise all in one!

Maybe the security theatre's an evil plot by the environmental conspiracy! :tinfoilhat:

[Thickasabrick]

65. That would be great. nt

[Darth_Kitten]

55. WHY? we didn't do anything wrong......

how can one put a camera in a small purse? :eyes:

[unabelladonna]

56. i used to love traveling

and had packing down to a science. i managed european trips (in the summer) with only a carry on and handbag. i don't intend to ever set foot in a plane again. it is soul-numbing to be crammed into a sardine can with 150 adults and their screaming babies. i can't put myself through the agony. if i must, i'll fly first class.

[BrightKnight]

58. I'm okay with that but Lentonitrat (PETN) is a medication.

They might want to regulate the amount of PETN permitted in carry on luggage. Some one might simply be bringing a 6 moth supply back from Canada but...

[comtec]

59. How pathetic

utterly pathetic.
I'm NOT flying to the US anymore.
it's going to cost me personally, but this is just IT!
there is no way I can survive a international flight without the comfort of what's in my carry on.
mostly just stuff. but stuff that wont fit into my laptop bag.
this is just intolerable!
I mean they FINALLY stopped weighing my carry on damn it!

and now I only get ONE fucking checked bag and it's 10 kg LIGHTER than before... FUCK IT ALL!!!

ok i feel better :)
:rant:

[tanyev]

60. We flew in from Toronto yesterday. It was a mess.

We had repacked so that I didn't have a carry-on, but hubby has diabetes and we figured he would be allowed to bring his backpack with his meds and food on board. Got to the check-in counter at 5:00 am and the check-in lady said "You won't be able to take the backpack on the plane." He explained the medical necessity and she said security would have to make that decision.

Next stop was customs where they were only letting people through in order of their flight time--a logical move, but it kind of negated all the warnings about needing to get there several hours early. We were there 4 hours ahead of our flight time, as were a lot of other people, so there was a huge crowd filling all the empty space around the doors into customs, waiting for their flight numbers to be called.

Hubby was freaking out about not being able to bring his backpack on, so he pulled out his fanny pack that had his most critical meds and we stuffed as much food as we could inside my small purse. Security may very well have let him take it on under the circumstances, but he didn't want to risk it. Once we were finally on the plane he made a grunt of disgust every time he saw someone else get on with a bag for their kids or a laptop bag.

There was a long line in customs, after that security was surprisingly quick, but there was a second security checkpoint set up in the hallway on the way to our gate. Men on one side, women on the other for individual pat-downs. After we got through that and got to our gate they had already started boarding. Fortunately we had stopped and bought some sandwiches before we realized there was a second security checkpoint. I bet the vendors on the far side of that checkpoint were ticked off.

I shouldn't complain too much--there were plenty of people on our flight that were supposed to fly out the day before and got hosed, but we are not going to fly again for a very long time. :(

[unabelladonna]

61. what a horror story...

they have finally made an already miserable mode of travel into an experience unfit for humans. it's like they're trying to see how far they can go before people will just not travel by plane.

[tanyev]

62. I'm tellin' you, the next step is to rip out all the seats, punch a big plastic number

in our ears and chain us in standing up (only in economy, of course). I so hate to fly.

[KansDem]

66. I'm a musician and need to carry my instrument on board...

I'm happy to read that musical instruments will be allowed on board! :D

[TrogL]

68. Do you play the tuba?

Then you'd have to decide...

...tuba or not tuba...that is the question.

[KansDem]

70. No, the instruments I carry on now fit under the seat in front of me...

I have had to put larger instruments through as checked baggage, and they have been badly damaged...:(


I travel light now...:)

[Manifestor_of_Light]

72. They destroy string instruments with glee.

I remember a story about a viola player whose instrument got destroyed and he sued them.
Apparently people at airlines do not understand the concept of "large" and "very fragile" as applied to musical instruments.

I have known people who bought a seat for their cello also, and asked to please serve it lunch, as the cello was hungry. :D

[ProudDad]

71. Osama Won!

Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!! Osama Won!!!

And the USAmerikan Empire is losing!!!

Thank Dog...