Public still confused over restrictions on luggage

At Piarco International Airport, a passenger to Canada yesterday said she was told by a worker with Travel Span that she should not buy anything to take on board, so thinking she could not buy from the duty free shop, she purchased “outside, which was more expensive.”

Another passenger who was waiting in line for the same flight informed her that she could have purchased from the duty free shop and the goods would be brought to her on the plane.

However, the passenger said she was not taking any chances of having her duty free goods taken away.

At the airport, regular announcements are made reminding passengers that liquids, gels and aerosols were not allowed. These include beverages (juice, soda), shampoo, suntan lotion, creams and toothpaste.

Baby formula and expressed breast milk and juice would be allowed for small children who are travelling. Prescription medicine is allowed but it must bear the passenger’s name. The restrictions were introduced in the UK, US and other countries over a week ago following British intelligence’s discovery of a plot to detonate liquid explosives in up to ten planes bound for the US.

A man who had a bottle of alcohol in his suitcase had the item closely scrutinised by Airport’s Authority staff, while a woman who had packed what appeared to be food items had to leave them behind. A worker with Zoom airline which had a flight to Canada said some people complained or were “difficult,” but everyone should be aware of what is going on. She said “only clothes” would be allowed in hand one’s luggage.

She said some passengers tried to get by with pepper sauce, but even this local condiment was not allowed. Passengers taking the 20-minute flight to Tobago must obey the restrictions. A Tobago Express worker checking in passengers said carry-on luggage was allowed but it should not contain any restricted items.

Shelda Stange, from St Lucia could not understand why regional flights would enforce the stringent restrictions. Her BWIA flight from St Lucia to Trinidad on August 13 was cancelled and she had to use Caribbean Star. She had no toothpaste, or a change of clothes, hence she had to wait at the airport.

Abigail Aleong, who was travelling to England via BWIA said the restrictions were an inconvenience.

She said, “I always take water, and now I feel it is an inconvenience to ask the air hostess.” Aleong said she would be going straight to work upon her arrival, but had no toiletries. “I have to open my suitcase in the airport and take out things,” she said.

Other passengers said they had no problem with the new restrictions.

A passenger travelling to the UK was seen with his documents in a transparent bag while his wife had other personal effects in a zip lock bag. The use of transparent bags for hand luggage was instituted in the US and UK. Dionne Ligoure, BWIA corporate communications manager said the restrictions are only on carry-on luggage since checked baggage goes through an X-ray and any suspicious items are removed.

She said the US Department of Transport has stipulated that duty free items must be taken to the aircraft and delivered to the passenger on board. She reminded that “no food” is to be taken to the US. Ligoure said the restrictions on liquids and gels also applied to items of “similar consistency.” She said pepper sauce would be considered a food. She said the public has been compliant to the rules.