Long shot I know but... Due to fly out of the UK tomorrow and normally travel with a bunch of hard disks. Does anyone know if the new security checks / restrictions will prevent me taking them in my hand luggage? My laptops are already waiting for me at my destination so cannot connect up peripherals to demonstrate they work. Hold luggage seems best option but wads of bubble wrap probably won't even be enough to protect a HD.
From what I can gather the focus appears to be on gadgets with a battery and/or screen but guidelines aren't clear. Besides, there's always an occasional person in airport security that thrives on belligerence! BA helpline is understandably very busy.

Managed to speak to a very helpful chap at Edinburgh airport. He confirmed with their security manager that portable hard disks should not present a problem.

I'm flying off to Dubai in the morning and have heard nothing but delays, delays and more delays around electrical devices. I've banned the kids tablets and mobiles to ease my own pain but I'm not looking forward to the event.
I'd still be prepared for hard questions if I was you, just in case!

My daughters flew into and out of Stansted on Saturday with tablets and smartphones (charged), but were not asked anything at all.
I'd still be prepared for delays - if only due to other people...

I flew from Amsterdam to Munich and back last week no problem (and no checks on operation of the device).

I want to carry back a heavy duty lock (chain and large padlock) in my hand baggage but not sure if that will be allowed. Must investigate as it's £100 worth and I don't want it confiscated.

Thanks to petep of this parish, I once carried a 16VT manifold in my hand luggage. The security people looked at it and swabbed it, but allowed it through no problem!

I reckon you might struggle with this. It would be a great opportunity for someone with an agenda to make a right nuisance of themselves... Probably ok in the hold, but you'll pay for the privilege...

Yes, Jim - it's not called out in a list of prohibited items but I think I'd be pushing my luck.

I was glad to see that a parachute is ok in hand luggage

Not golf balls, though...

You mean the no-frills lot are now charging for landing?

Only a hand-thrown chute like my reserve. Free-fall parachutes include pyrotechnics to launch the reserve, triggered barometically, and they're sensibly banned.

Damn - that's something else I'm going to have to leave behind (along with my throwing stars, LAWS anti-tank weapon, 11-foot alligator, Samurai sword and demolition charges)

Excellent advice. Not lost on me either given that I have the tightest of connections including a transfer from T5 to T1 with obligatory second security check. Think I'll dump stuff on an older drive and encrypt all the contents. Apparently they'll hold or deliver anything that's confiscated but your property might not get much TLC.
Re heavy chains etc, might be worth contacting your local airport directly. Ignore any options other than 'speak to a human being' else you will probably get little more than an automated message.

If Joe couldn't get on board with his deadly weapon (i.e. my lambda sensor) I can't see much chance of flying with a chain.

I'm not even going to try

Seriously, they objected to a lambda sensor!??? Thought it was just sharps and liquids they didn't like.
There's certainly no way I've found to debate anything at all with airport security. Fortunate the majority are amiable enough.
Thanks to all for the feedback, I'll post up how it goes/went in a couple of days.

You'll not be in the US, where they've just introduced a cubicle body scan - everything (the lot, bogey-rags and all) out of pockets, hands in the air for 3 seconds with feet planted on precise spots.

Having said that the baggage went through ok.

Sorry, that wasn't a lot of help

I flew to Lanzarote and back last week, and learned that anything with a Lithium Ion battery should go in hand luggage, rather than hold luggage. I never knew that.

At Gatwick, I was forced through the "assume the position" check with my hands in the air and my feet on the marks in a goldfish bowl.....not sure why they chose me....apart from the obvious.

Lithium polymer (lipo) batteries are even dodgier if handled incorrectly, houses have been burned down with these, they are used a lot in rc models and have special balanced chargers and fireproof charging/storage bags


I think they are in iPads and iphones

Lol, I'm glad I don't go away on holiday.

I'd have to explain all my e cig liquids, batteries and chargers, etc and god help them if they took them off me

You'll have no issue. I put the batteries in my hand luggage and the liquid in the see through bag. Haven't had an issue, apart from leaving Australia, when they questioned the battery, told them what it was, rescanned it and everything was ok

We're flying from Manchester to Turkey on Saturday and have booked the Fast Track Security. A friend flew out of Manchester last Friday and they were in the line for security for 90 minutes

The trouble is every man and his dog will have done the same as us and the 'normal' security line will be half the size of the Fast Track

Well well, absolutely no difference in security at Edinburgh airport that I could tell. Unusually quiet but otherwise the same passing through security LHR T1.
Speaking to a BA stewardess on my first flight, she was under the impression that extra security was in place at destinations such as the U.S. Seems a little odd they would check devices as you leave the airport so I'm not convinced she has the right info.
Major delays with both my flights so security still isn't necessarily the biggest issue getting around!

Ha! What a queue at Manchester airport! 45 minutes and mass searches, then 3 extra xrays at dubai end. Wasn't end of world but not great with kids!

Dropped off the Mrs at Luton at five this morning, aiming for Berlin. She hasn't rung to complain, and the plane's supposed to have gone ten minutes ago...