Delays and long queues feared at EU airports after 100ml liquids rule reversed – see if your holiday spot is affected
PASSENGERS have been warned that they face “travel chaos” this summer after a change to the 100ml liquid rules.
Airports across Europe are set to have the strict 100ml liquid rules reintroduced from next month, after they had been scrapped in some places earlier this year.
Airports Council International Europe (ACI) has u-turned on the rules, reintroducing the 100ml liquid hand luggage limit, even at airports with new C3 scanners.
The new cutting edge technology means passengers will no longer have to adhere to the strict 100ml rules, while laptops and electronics can also be scanned inside bags as well.
It is hoped that once the scanners are up and running, passing through airports will be much a easier and smoother process for travellers.
However, the tight restrictions will return temporarily from September 1 at airports in all EU countries, even if they have the new scanners in place.
That applies to travel hubs in countries including Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden, where the new technology has been installed already.
Included in those are Munich Airport, Dublin Airport, Amsterdam Schipol Airport, Malta Airport, Rome Fiumicino Airport, Milano Malpensa Airport, Frankfurt Airport and Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
With the rules being brought back in at such short notice, travel experts have warned that confusion, delays and chaos will follow at airports.
Anton Radchenko, aviation expert and Founder of passenger rights website AirAdvisor, said: “This sudden reintroduction of the 100ml liquid regulation is a big blow to the passenger experience.
“It raises serious questions for the EU regulatory authorities because their decision-making has been all over the place.
“Who are passengers supposed to trust? You lift the ban one day and then within a month, reintroduce it. It’s a big mess.
“There was already immense confusion regarding 100ml liquid rule changes in June when C3 scanners were launched in select UK airports.
“It took considerable effort to educate passengers about increased liquid limits, which makes no sense now.
“The decision is overturned, adding to passengers’ woes. They’ll be confused again, needing fresh guidance, which won’t be easy considering September is less than a month away.”
Anton predicts that passengers will arrive at airports with more liquid than they’re permitted to carry, which will in turn result in queues and “chaos”.
Sun Travel's flight attendant's advice for travelling with liquids
Our resident flight attendant told passengers to stick to packing 100ml liquid bottles in see-through cases for the time being.
They said: “The new scanners might be in place in your local UK airport, but they aren’t in place in a lot of holiday destinations.
“Plenty of airports in Greece, Spain and other favourite destinations haven’t updated their security systems just yet, meaning anyone planning to take bigger bottles with them should be prepared to leave them behind.
“This is something a lot of people are overlooking and it’s understandable.
“No one wants to think about their flight home before they’ve even left the country, but it will affect how you pack your suitcase.
“Therefore you should check whether or not your destination airport has the new scanners in place before you travel.
“If not, I’d recommend just packing your liquids as you ordinarily would for a flight – in 100ml bottles, in a see through plastic bag.
“It’ll save you having to leave your favourite cosmetics behind, or spending the last day of your holiday tracking down a transparent toiletry bag.”
He continued: “A lot of passengers will arrive with liquids exceeding the 100ml limit not realising that the rules have changed.
“This will lead to delayed screenings, long queues, and chaos at airports with snowball effects resulting in flight delays and passenger discomfort.
“Are we prepared to handle this?
“Unless airlines and airport authorities inform passengers ahead of time through effective communication channels, we’re looking at a possible travel chaos in September.”
For the time being, passengers have been advised to pack for their travels as they would ordinarily have done so, with their liquids restricted to 100ml.
This way, they will be able to pass through security as quickly as possible, regardless of what rules are or aren’t in place.
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