What's going on with Airport Scanners?

What's going on with Airport Scanners?

Author
Discussion

munroman

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

191 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all

Geffg

1,232 posts

112 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
Technology is great when it works but not often it’s totally reliable. And hen the inevitable happens we can’t cope.
They could always switch it off and back on again if it’s faulty.

Simpo Two

87,026 posts

272 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
Geffg said:
Technology is great when it works but not often it’s totally reliable.
Smart motorways being a fine example. They should have spent the money on pothole filler-inners...

aeropilot

36,528 posts

234 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
I take it no one bothered to read the article, which given its the BBC is actually pretty accurate.
Its not the scanners that are at fault, its the fact that installing them at most of the airports have needed major re-engineering and re-configuring of the search lanes (while keeping existing ones in use) and in some cases, as highlighted by the BBC article, floor strengthening, in the older terminals, as the new scanners are much heavier than the previous type.


gmasterfunk

467 posts

155 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
But the ones at lba are installed and were operational.

Why would they stop using them...?

munroman

Original Poster:

1,882 posts

191 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
I take it no one bothered to read the article, which given its the BBC is actually pretty accurate.
Its not the scanners that are at fault, its the fact that installing them at most of the airports have needed major re-engineering and re-configuring of the search lanes (while keeping existing ones in use) and in some cases, as highlighted by the BBC article, floor strengthening, in the older terminals, as the new scanners are much heavier than the previous type.
The article relates to unspecified issues with the already operational scanners, I'm interested where you manage to conflate that with the fact that floors need strengthened for machines yet to be installed at other airports.

Can you quote where you got your original statement from?

aeropilot

36,528 posts

234 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
munroman said:
aeropilot said:
I take it no one bothered to read the article, which given its the BBC is actually pretty accurate.
Its not the scanners that are at fault, its the fact that installing them at most of the airports have needed major re-engineering and re-configuring of the search lanes (while keeping existing ones in use) and in some cases, as highlighted by the BBC article, floor strengthening, in the older terminals, as the new scanners are much heavier than the previous type.
The article relates to unspecified issues with the already operational scanners, I'm interested where you manage to conflate that with the fact that floors need strengthened for machines yet to be installed at other airports.
They are nearly all installed everywhere, but not all are operational as yet, as the search lanes aren't all finished along with other associated works, hence the extension to the liquids rule, as the rule can't be changed until it can be applied to all airports, you can't make the rule applicable to some airports and not others as that's just chaos.
Its been a mare of a job at some airports, especially the ones that needed major baggage hall changes.

ecsrobin

17,821 posts

172 months

Sunday 9th June
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
as the rule can't be changed until it can be applied to all airports, you can't make the rule applicable to some airports and not others as that's just chaos.
But they have been running a rule applicable to some airports, city has been allowing over 100ml liquids for over a year.

Dave J

894 posts

273 months

Monday 10th June
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Doesn't the law also need changing as it currently only permits 330ml ?.


aeropilot

36,528 posts

234 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
aeropilot said:
as the rule can't be changed until it can be applied to all airports, you can't make the rule applicable to some airports and not others as that's just chaos.
But they have been running a rule applicable to some airports, city has been allowing over 100ml liquids for over a year.
Aah, OK, wasn't aware City had been doing that.
Probably shouldn't be surprised though as I was working on City's scanner upgrade project back in 2018, so they've been finished for quite a while.


limmy01

182 posts

141 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
Just been through BHX, and it was still a better process with the new xrays. 100ml is still in place but I didn't need to remove the liquids and electrics from my bags..

toon10

6,461 posts

164 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
limmy01 said:
Just been through BHX, and it was still a better process with the new xrays. 100ml is still in place but I didn't need to remove the liquids and electrics from my bags..
Yes, being able to leave my laptop and liquids in the case was so much quicker and more convenient. Newcastle to Heathrow T5 then departing out of T3. Both security checkpoints were a breeze. Pain in the backside coming back though as Vienna airport had the old rules. I can't wait for all airports to get the new scanners and for the bugs to be ironed out.

drmike37

497 posts

63 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
My experience is that it’s just the uk being sh&@ and not investing properly in infrastructure.

Came back through Berlin airport a couple of weeks ago and it was a real shock - no queues at security, took our bottles of water through (and shampoo) no need to empty bags or take shoes off etc. done and dusted in 5 mins.

ecsrobin

17,821 posts

172 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
drmike37 said:
My experience is that it’s just the uk being sh&@ and not investing properly in infrastructure.

Came back through Berlin airport a couple of weeks ago and it was a real shock - no queues at security, took our bottles of water through (and shampoo) no need to empty bags or take shoes off etc. done and dusted in 5 mins.
I disagree (although probably varies depending where you fly from in the UK) Gatwick & Heathrow are very good airports and clearly having money continually spent on them. I’ve done a fair bit of travelling and think they’re in the top airports in the world for facilities and ease of moving through (as a complete airport package).

Munich was awful at Easter with long lines at passport control, lack of seats, no control of the lines at gates and lack of food options. Nice is another disappointing airport with a crap security system that is slow, and again a lack of options for food. Split & Salzburg are just halls with some seats.

djc206

12,753 posts

132 months

Monday 10th June
quotequote all
drmike37 said:
My experience is that it’s just the uk being sh&@ and not investing properly in infrastructure.

Came back through Berlin airport a couple of weeks ago and it was a real shock - no queues at security, took our bottles of water through (and shampoo) no need to empty bags or take shoes off etc. done and dusted in 5 mins.
You don’t have to take your shoes off in the U.K. unless you’re wearing boots do you? I can’t recall the last time I did at Heathrow.

It could be a lot worse, we could be the US where each TSA agent has invented their own rules and gets pissy with you when you’ve taken something out of your bag that they didn’t require you to despite that having absolutely no negative impact on them at all.

Steve vRS

5,037 posts

248 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
limmy01 said:
Just been through BHX, and it was still a better process with the new xrays. 100ml is still in place but I didn't need to remove the liquids and electrics from my bags..
My bag was flagged for a manual search at Aberdeen as the fancy X rays couldn't see through a my paperwork. Next time, even though I don't have to, I will take the laptop out of the bag as it will be quicker than waiting for my bag to be searched.

2HFL

1,456 posts

48 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
Went through LGW (N) this week.

Toiletries in the usual plastic bag, in a tray with my iPad, keys, phone, etc.

Tray got tugged as the liquids were on top of my iPad and they stated it didn’t scan properly as a result? Is that really a thing, I was surprised?

Oh and they completely missed all the energy gels in my carry-on luggage, which I had forgotten are effectively liquids.


DP14

274 posts

46 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
I've travelled from one of the aforementioned airports to a German airport between 1-3 times a month over the last 5 years, so say 90 times at least. This week upon almost exiting the baggage hall I, along with others, was pulled aside and my bags x-rayed. That's the first time I've ever had that, that's the first time I've ever even seen them doing that.

I suspect there's an elevated threat behind all this.

ecsrobin

17,821 posts

172 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
2HFL said:
Went through LGW (N) this week.

Toiletries in the usual plastic bag, in a tray with my iPad, keys, phone, etc.

Tray got tugged as the liquids were on top of my iPad and they stated it didn’t scan properly as a result? Is that really a thing, I was surprised?

Oh and they completely missed all the energy gels in my carry-on luggage, which I had forgotten are effectively liquids.
Normally they say IT in separate tray think it might even be on the little screens that display the messages.

2HFL

1,456 posts

48 months

Tuesday 11th June
quotequote all
ecsrobin said:
2HFL said:
Went through LGW (N) this week.

Toiletries in the usual plastic bag, in a tray with my iPad, keys, phone, etc.

Tray got tugged as the liquids were on top of my iPad and they stated it didn’t scan properly as a result? Is that really a thing, I was surprised?

Oh and they completely missed all the energy gels in my carry-on luggage, which I had forgotten are effectively liquids.
Normally they say IT in separate tray think it might even be on the little screens that display the messages.
I just find it odd, as I flew out of SSH recently yet didn’t have to remove any IT or liquids from my cabin luggage.

I would have thought the machines at LGW should be more than capable of scanning an iPad irrespective of some toothpaste, sun screen and deodorant in a clear bag.

The lack of consistency does raise doubts for me as to the real need to keep doing this. I can’t believe the 100ml rule has been in force for 18 years redface

It’s probably some major racket so that everyone keeps buying those extortionately priced ‘mini travel toiletries’ rolleyes