Flight experience on Saturday from Nice-Frankfurt-San Francisco

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Bob Hinden <bob.hinden () nokia com>
Date: August 13, 2006 10:27:02 PM EDT
To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Cc: Bob Hinden <bob.hinden () nokia com>
Subject: Flight experience on Saturday from Nice-Frankfurt-San Francisco
Reply-To: bob.hinden () nokia com

Dave,

For IP, if you find relevant.

I flew from Nice to Frankfurt to San Francisco on Saturday with two  
colleagues.  When we arrived at the check-in for our Luftanza flight  
to Frankfurt, we were told that we could not take our normal carry on  
with laptop, electrics, keys, camera, etc. as carry on.  This was a  
surprise as I had been reading the news reports and the United site  
and was assuming that this was only happening at the UK airports, not  
in France.  I had assumed that only liquids were being restricted and  
had planned to check my larger bag (I had done all carry-on for the  
trip over).  We were only allowed to bring prescription, passport,  
wallet, papers, money, and glasses.  We were told these restrictions  
were only being applied to people traveling to the US.  They checked  
us in and sent us over to a customer service center to get a plastic  
bag and resort and pack our stuff.  I was charged four euros for a  
plastic bag.  I made a quick call to my wife telling here I was going  
to not have my cell phone for the trip.  I shut down my laptop, put  
my cell phone in my laptop bag, and removed the stuff on the list  
above.   I then returned to the check in area, but was able to go the  
front of the line where I checked my laptop bag as luggage.  I did  
not lock it.

Going through security in Nice was about normal, but they did look at  
my prescription medications.  Liquids were being restricted for all  
passengers.  The flight was a little late, but we arrived in  
Frankfurt with plenty of time to catch our United flight to San  
Francisco.

Security in Frankfurt was more attentive then usual (and it's pretty  
extensive normally).  I had to remove my belt and shoes that I  
normally don't have to do there.  They do a pat down with metal  
detector and hands.  They were restricting liquids, but other  
passengers with laptop bags were OK.

When we got to the lounge, I noticed most people had their laptop  
bags.  There were a few people with plastic bags like us, but some of  
these people had laptops in the plastic bags.  I asked at the counter  
and was told that at this station (e.g., Frankfurt) only liquids were  
being restricted.  They were not able to give me any explanation as  
to why Lufthansa in Nice had told us that we could not bring our  
laptops, keys, and electronics onboard.  They were able to tell me  
that both of my bags were in the system and one had been loaded on  
the plane to San Francisco.  They could, of course, not tell me which  
bag it was.

Security at the gate was normal and the flight left on time.  We were  
one of the very few passengers who had plastic bags.  There was a  
passenger who I talked to who had arrived in Heathrow on Thursday and  
his luggage was still in Heathrow somewhere.  He was wearing the same  
clothes since he left the USA.

Flight arrive on time in San Francisco.  My laptop bag arrived intact  
and my Powerbook seems to be fine.  I did let it come to room  
temperature plugged into the power adapter just to be safe.  When I  
took out my cell phone, I realized I forgot to turn it off in Nice.   
Somewhere in the trip it had received a message with the status of  
the Frankfurt-San Francisco flight :-)

While this was no fun, it turned out OK.  Had the laptop bag been  
lost or the stuff in side damaged, I would be unhappy.  But the bag  
and the stuff inside are replaceable and I had backed up the laptop  
before the trip.  I am not replaceable and I am very glad that they  
caught these people.   Note, I was in the air during 9/11 flying from  
Frankfurt to Helsinki.

I do hope that the airlines and airports get a consistent set of  
rules together soon.

As I finished writing this, I note that UK has just downgraded it's  
threat level, so I suspect that the restrictions on hand luggage will  
be gone soon.

  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4789169.stm

Bob






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