Hand luggage...

Well... apparently there are new rules for hand luggage at all EU airports. New rules on what is permitted in hand luggage will take effect on 6 November 2006.

Here is a short instruction from our national carrier...

Liquids, gels and aerosols are only allowed in hand luggage in small quantities (no more than 100 ml per item) and if correctly packaged. The same rules apply at all airports in all 25 EU countries (departing or changing airplanes). Similar rules for hand luggage apply in the US and Canada.

The new rules cover liquids such as water and other beverages, gels, pastes, lotions and the contents of aerosol cans. Toiletries such as toothpaste, shaving cream, hair gel, lip gloss and creams also fall under the rules. So, no more taking your drinks to the airplane or transfer premises... You will have to buy overpriced drinks there...

These are the rules for liquids in your hand luggage:

1. You can only take liquids and gels in containers of no more than 100 millilitres on board the aircraft.
2. These containers must be carried in transparent plastic bags.
3. There is a limit of one transparent plastic bag per person.
4. The volume of the transparent plastic bag may not be greater than 1 litre.
5. The transparent plastic bag must be re-sealable.

You may bring a suitable plastic bag from home. And apparently most airports will have free plastic bags, at least at the beginning.

There are two exceptions to the above rules:

1. Baby food needed during the flight (hmmm... i guess parents will again need to eat half of the dose, just to check if it is OK);
2. Medicines needed during the flight.

Good thing is... You can still make purchases, including duty-free purchases, after ticket and/or passport control and on board European airline flights. Liquids and gels that you buy after ticket and/or passport control or on board will be packed and sealed for you as necessary by the shop or cabin personnel. The seal is valid for one day. If you must change planes, you may not break the seal until you reach your final destination.

To sum up... do I agree? Not really. It will just make cues much longer (especially on Ljubljana airport) and more hassle. Will I feel safer, knowing there are no "dangerous" liquids on the board? Not really... But i guess others will... Beware when making purchases on non-EU airports or non-EU airlines... If you have after the flight still one connection flight to catch, it is most likely that you will be unable to take home any of the stuff...

But OK, i'm flying this sunday to Brussels, so, i will use the last day of good-old-days... :)