With increased violence and terror worldwide, airline restrictions have tightened for the benefit of travelers’ security. There are strict rules now on what can be brought onboard commercial air flights by travelers in the interest of security and public safety. Many people have not considered any airline carry on restrictions and are denied access to the loading gate or have to dispose of their restricted items. Therefore, one should be sensible enough to get knowledge of these restrictions beforehand to safe side from embarrassment and inconvenience later on.
Recently all liquids were banned from carry one luggage, and then the airline restrictions were eased to allow certain products up to three ounces, in a small clear bag to be brought on board in a flyer’s carry on bag.
Airline restrictions regarding luggage are constantly being updated and you should check with your carrier prior to packing for your trip to insure your luggage will be allowed onboard the aircraft. Let us look at some examples. Most airline carry on restrictions are similar and allow on those that are between 14 and 16 inches high, 21 and 24 inches wide and six to eight inches deep. Many airlines are becoming stricter with their carry on limits and if your bag is over the size limit you may be forced to check it. If you already have two checked pieces of luggage you could also get hit with an extra luggage charge. Most airline restrictions will limit each person to two bags as well as having a 70-pound weight limit per bag. Many airlines will tack on an overweight charge to your luggage if you exceed the flight restrictions. Some airlines may work with you, if you have two bags and one is slightly larger than accepted, a second one significantly smaller may be accepted with it.
In addition to the extra security precautions, airline restrictions for flight baggage require all checked luggage to be unlocked to allow access by screeners who are required to open and check luggage they term as being suspicious. Travelers must keep in mind that many of the airline restrictions are a result of new airline restrictions mandated by the local government as means of making air travel safer.
Airline restrictions vary according to country, region and state of politics etc therefore each country and state has their own rules. Let us take a look into some of the general security restrictions which are practiced worldwide in one way or the other. Photographers should note that cameras, lenses and electronics are not covered by the airline's lost or damaged luggage policy, so if at all possible photographic equipment (and computers) should be placed in your carry-on baggage instead of the checked baggage. In fact most airlines won't compensate you for anything that they lose or damage in your checked baggage except for clothing. If you have no choice but to ship photographic items in checked baggage, make sure you either have them independently insured or that you can afford to lose them.
Air travelers may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in their carry-on bag when going through security checkpoints. But they must be in three-ounce or smaller containers. All such items must be placed in a single clear bag. Travelers are required to remove their clear bag from their carryon and place it on the conveyor belt for x-ray screening. There are however exceptions to these airline restrictions in case of baby formula, breast milk and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines. It should be kept in mind that these rules and others are developed after extensive research and understanding of the present threats within a region. They are intended to help air travelers bring essential items only which are meant for short trips. Piercings are not prohibited, but may alarm the metal detectors. Therefore it is ideally to remove body piercing(if any) before security screening.
Mobile phones are not allowed to be attended onboard; this is also a major airline restriction which few people seem to care about. But we should all understand that each restriction contains a little if not much security for us in one way or the other.
