Well, I am not a happy camper at the moment.
New airline restrictions banning electronic equipment includes Digital Cameras and Ipods, cellphones. My whole MUSH deal is to photograph the animals. I can't check my lenses and stuff.

Oh, let's hope for a quick end to that nonsense!
I know it's for our safety but :mecry: we would not be going back if not for taking our gear.

Wait -- you mean you can't take your photography equipment at ALL?? I haven't heard that. And cellphones? Is there a link to this info somewhere? I would be lost without my cellphone!

We're flying to Miami in two weeks for our Caribbean cruise, and we're certainly planning on bringing our cameras etc. Where cna I find more info about this?

Thanks for the heads up, Kathy!

I thought it was just in your carry ons. You have to check everything.

I know, I know! I've been dealing with things all day. Luckily I only have 4 people traveling right now. 2 are out in SFO so I was able to warn them ahead of time they need to get to the airport early and probably check their bags since they usually just carryon. If this were at any other time of the year I'd have a lot more worrying to do.

Hopefully things will calm down before we leave for MUSH!

My husband and daughter are flying home from NY today. According to him, the security lines were insane! They had these huge bins set up for people to dump anything liquid, paste or gel into. No toothpaste, no gel deoderant, no shampoo, no chapstick!!

At least they made through and are scheduled to land in an hour. I was freaked out this morning. Sure glad this didn't happen last week as I was headed to DIM SUM.

I just checked the TSA web site and the FAQ about new security measures says that cameras & laptops are still being allowed, contrary to what some news broadcasts are saying. tsa.gov

I thought I heard or read, that only out of London were they not allowing laptops, IPods and such. What I heard about flights in the US is the same as Vickie - but they are stressing the less you are carrying the faster you will get thru Security and that if you are carrying laptops, cameras, IPods, etc, plan on them being gone over thoroughly.

It does sounds as though this will all be in place for a month or more. Decided today for MUSH to take only a purse for carryon and put only the necessities in. Frank's carry on will probably be the camera bag, again will clean it out and make sure that only what we need is inside. We were planning to be at the airport a 0 dark hundred anyway (early morning at Washington Dulles is always a mess and very crowded) but now guess it will be -0 dark hundred! :(

What a mess huh? Not to mention just the thought of what might have happened - scary.

Kathy, where did you get that info???

Totally wrong!!!!

I am sitting here at DCA. Yes, I checked my bag to save a $2 tube of toothpaste. And I was held up slightly by the idiot gal in front of me trying to sneak through some purfume.

There was total ban on carryons ONLY on flights from UK. This is a SHORT TERM ban. I got to airport three hours early because of all the hype on the news. It took me only ten minutes to check in, check by bag, and through security.

Very frightening, indeed.

Thanks for your first-hand experience and stating the facts as they truly are, Marc.

Restrictions and inconveniences seem to be a tremendously small price to pay when you consider the ramifications of such a horrid plot being carried out.

I think that is correct JoAnn - Tony travels often for biz so he has been following airline sites for info and he was of the same opinion- I have only been following CNN so don't feel qualified to comment on what you can or can not bring -

Marc-
Excellent news about getting through DCA that fast. Listening to the radio @ 4:00- BWI- still long longs.
Jan

I got that from my KNBC Noon news alert which they've since updated the link. It originally said no electronics - this is from the email:

MORE DETAILS: <http://www.nbc4.tv/tu/5i2Ag1w6T.html>

Air Travel Ban: No Liquids, Electronic Equipment
Due to terrorist threats on Thursday, air passengers are banned from carrying
any type of liquid or electronic items aboard flights throughout the United
States

I cannot check my camera or lenses. They are too expensive and they are breakable.

Contacted Southwest Airlines on daughter's behalf as she's flying tomorrow. They said no change in carry-on policy EXCEPT nothing liquidy/gel-like..not even bottled water or toothpaste. Those have to be in checked bags.

From the TSA website:

Media have also reported that laptops, cell phones and electronic items are no longer allowed. Is that true.

No. TSA continues to allow laptop computers, cell phones and other electronic items.

Thanks for the real skinny.

I hate when media gets things all out of proportion. I was really upset about being able to bring my camera and laptop on MUSH.

Article I just received through Independent Traveler Newsletter:

Independent Traveler Article - Terrorism Plot

OK we are flying to Europe tomorrow and since we are already in NYC have the laptop, Ipod etc, so no option to leave it home. My understanding is that no liquids in carry ons is pretty much it exc to/from UK. My problem is we are flying home from Heathrow but not for 2 weeks. Do you guys think I should send my electronics home from here before we leave tomorrow?

When I heard the news I was very upset as next monday I leave for my safari in South Africa. I am now glad to hear I can take hand bags and cameras. Though it will be hard to go on a 17 hour flight and not use moisturer and lip balm!
I wonder if they allow you to buy these things after you pass security? Or do they make you dunp these things before getting on the plane?
Miriam

Thanks for the great info Denise!

Nancy

Wonderful info Denise -

Good info Denise, thanks!

Ms Understood: If you are staying somewhere pre-cruise, why not Fedex the equipment on to the hotel (with ample insurance). You'll have to pay quite a bit to get it there quickly, but on the return from London you can ship it home somewhat slower.

Thanks, Denise! That's exactly what I heard all day on FOX News Ch. I never heard that the US was adopting the same restrictions as the UK other than the LIQUIDS, gels, etc. - Michele

Always happy to share reliable and solid info.

Yeah, me too - if the source would report it that way! Shame on NBC for putting out mis-information.

Tony and I watched TV all day, several stations, and read reports from major newspapers- I mentioned, to someone, I was surprised no one had posted anything about the situation on LCT- I did not feel comfortable posting any information until I felt I knew what I was talking about - I just assumed info would not be completely accurate and I did not want to have to say "Sorry I was wrong"...I do that enough at home - the point, to me, that was missed?? The profound seriousness of what might have happened - I will gladly give up any toys and gadgets I have to insure safe flying - inconvenience?? Of course ... just the way things are today - Joanna

Okay, I've done my research, so I have a better idea what's going on. Kathy, thanks for starting this thread! I hadn't watched the news today, or visited any sites like Yahoo or whatever, so I had no CLUE what was going on.

My kids are relieved to know they'll be able to bring their iPods on our cruise in two weeks. ;) I'll tell ya, though, I certainly hope we'll be able to bring liquids on board come November when we fly to Auckland, NZ for our Mariner cruise. I can't imagine taking a 12-hour flight and not being able to brush my TEETH on board! Ick!

Let's all hope things are back to normal soon!! However, we'll be dealing with these issues for years to come - if not back to normal guess we'll have to chew gum ;) ;) ;)

Very well said, Joanna! I could not agree with you more!!!!!

I echo Betty in regards to what Joanna said and we will never go back to what we all perceived as normal.

Nancy

OK, I know some of you have had your luggage shipped. Can anyone provide some info on that as to price and a good outfit to use. Since we'll be flying out of Cape Town and thru Frankfurt and Chicago after the first leg of the WC, I'm thinking that it might be best to just ship the majority of our luggage rather than go thru the hassle in Europe. Don't know what Lynn's going to do about cosmetics if this continues until Jan. It will be interesting to hear what the folks on cruises in the Med and Baltic experience. I still don't understand why we have to be so politically correct.

We've been a very privileged country with so much freedom. I think what we're experiencing will be the new normal. Sad, but IMHO, true.

Sooo true Denise...maybe we need a wake up call from our "spoiled brats banner" - Marcie do not take it personally - I know you won't :( :( :( :( - we all are SB's and I am not proud of it!!!

The wake-up call sounded some time ago. We just need to pay full attention to it and act upon it.

Off my soapbox now.

Doug,
RSSC uses International Port Service (www.intlportservices.com) 1-800-395-8810.

It was a wonderful perk for the full WC'ers but I've heard it's quite expensive. It was wonderfully convenient! They picked it up at our home and the next time we saw it was in our cabin on the ship! I wonder about UPS, DHL or such?

Alan and I flew to Charlotte, NC today. Ladies, put those lipsticks in your checked luggage or they will go in the trash. Also, if you have any type of prescription creams, they must be in the pharmacy box with your name on them to go in your carry-on. Otherwise, put them in your checked luggage. Same for chapstick, stick deoderant, basically anything that melts into liquid form.

Before leaving this morning, we unpacked the liquids/gel type stuff to leave at home because we did not want to check a bag. When I went through security, I had prescription creams and some make-up items that would have been thrown away (was not aware they were on the banned list) so they let me go back to the ticket counter and check the bag. If I had known I was going to check, I could have kept the stuff I left at home like hairspray, shampoo, etc. Oh well, this is a short trip so no problem.

We went through two stages of security in Tucson. First, the regular security screening and then another hand check of carry-ons as we boarded the plane. We changed planes in Dallas and they were not hand checking at the gate.

Oh, I have my laptop and digital camera and had no problem carrying them onto the plane.

Also drink that Starbucks coffee that you bought in the terminal before boarding. No coffee cups, drinks or water bottles allowed.

Connections were running late but at least we made them. It's been a loooong day!

Thanks Donna....good to hear first hand experience. Daughter Jill is flying tomorrow so I shared all this with her. Who would have guessed deoderant to be confiscated if in carry-on.

It's all so sad but I'm so thankful this terrible plot was foiled in time! Thanks God!

Donna glad you and Alan made it safe and sound. I'm sure it was a very tiring day for you. I wonder how long this will be like this. So many of us nowadays try and pack so we don't have to check baggage...especially if flying to NY...baggage claim here can sometimes take over an hour.

Bottom line though is I'd rather be safe than sorry. A little inconvienence for the safety of us is certainly better than being unsafe.

Finally home. All was smooth for me (I had heard news this morning so I knew what to expect) until I got to Orlando. They had trains all screwed up so you could only use half the doors (seemed to be no reason). Then, after waiting for luggage (which I rarely do since, like Donna, I always hand carry) I found the strangest thing. I went down to "B-18" for my normal pickup for off airport parking. I called to let them know I was there. The lady said that the pickup would be at "B-28." After some near expletives to the gal on the phone, I walked down to B-28. Ten minutes later no van. I called again. I asked about why B-28. She said that they still pickup at B-18 but the airport told them that if anyone called for pickup, they were supposed to tell us to go to B-28. Now, it was real hard to keep away from using some choice expletives. After a total of 20 minutes standing in the muggy heat, the van comes towards B-28. Of course, four people have been sitting in the nice air conditioning.

After I relax, I am going to write the company a scathing email. I have always known that the Orlando Airport Authority was screwy; but for the shuttle to go along with such a ridiculous request, it made me wonder where were the cameras.

I have an easy trip Monday but I still hope this is fixed by then. It better be fixed by next Friday or you are probably going to have to pull me off the ceiling on MUSH.