It’s nearly September, so the summer holidays are officially coming to an end. And for many people, that means the chance for a quick trip away is looking pretty last minute.
But it also means that there’s an important six-day warning for Brits travelling to Europe.
Picture the scene, you’ve just checked in for a flight, you’ve scanned the barcode on your boarding pass after five failed attempts and you’ve taken your absolutely crammed hand luggage off your shoulder ready for security.
Suddenly everyone around you is then scrambling about with clear plastic bags trying to squeeze in as many mini liquids as possible ready to put in the trays and pray it stays shut.
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Except if you’re in Europe, this hand luggage liquid panic has been far calmer thanks to relaxed rules.
Thanks to many airports in the Schengen area having the next-generation CT scanners, passengers were able to carry larger volumes of liquid in their hand luggage.
Many UK airports were also allowing this but the old 100ml rule had to be temporarily reintroduced on 9 June.
Following this, the European Commission is also temporarily reinstating it on 1 September. So, if you’re flying back from Europe any time after then, you mustn’t have any liquids, aerosols, gels, pastes or cosmetics in containers over 100ml in your hand luggage.
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And yep, that basically means you need to be prepared for some possible lengthy delays as Europe’s branch of Airports Council International (ACI) says the change could result in ‘significant operational strain’.
Previously installed advanced CT scanners enhanced security and meant liquids and laptops could stay in people’s bags.
Olivier Jankovec, ACI Europe director general, told the Independent: “Security is non-negotiable, it is at the very top of priorities for Europe’s airports. As such all airports will comply in full with the new restriction.
"However, the fact remains that those airports which have been early adopters of this new technology are being heavily penalised both operationally and financially.
“They had taken the decision to invest and deploy C3 scanners in good faith, based on the EU having greenlighted this equipment without any restriction attached.”
ACI Europe has called on the European Commission and Member States to ‘urgently develop a roadmap’ so these rules are as ‘temporary’ as possible.
When the rules changed in the UK in June, it caused three-hour long queues at many airports, including Birmingham.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The temporary reintroduction of the 100ml liquid restriction at some airports is to allow time to further improve systems.
“It only affects those travelling from six regional airports where next-generation security checkpoints (NGSC) were already in full operation – around 6 per cent of all UK air passengers.”
So basically lads, just make sure you’ve only got liquids under 100ml in that clear plastic bag as the rules will roll out in Europe again this Sunday.
Jess Battison