Christopherson Business Travel will continue to monitor the air travel security situation and provide updates as needed.
Passengers should be prepared to face long delays and cancelled flights as tighter security has been enforced at European and United States airports. International passengers will be subject to additional security screening at the boarding gates.
In Europe, most short-haul (intra-country) flights have been cancelled for today. Flights are scheduled to resume on Friday under the new security restrictions. Some limited long-haul flight (UK to U.S.) flights are operating as scheduled today.
Christopherson Business Travel recommends that all travelers check online flight status sources prior to departure for the airport. Some international flights have already been cancelled and security delays will impact the flight schedule as the day progresses. Our travel counselors are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to handle any issues that may arise while managing your travel quickly and efficiently.
The Department of Homeland Security has taken immediate steps to increase security measures in the aviation sector in coordination with heightened security precautions in the United Kingdom. Over the last few hours, British authorities have arrested a number of extremists engaged in a plot to destroy multiple commercial passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States. Currently, there is no indication of similar activity within the United States. The Department of Homeland Security believes that these arrests have significantly disrupted the threat, but cannot be sure that the threat has been entirely eliminated or the plot completely thwarted.
Security Threat Levels at Highest Levels
Security officials at major airports in Europe and the United States have raised the security threat level to the highest level ever due to the foiled terrorist plot involving aircraft in the United Kingdom.
The United States Government has raised the nation's threat level to Severe, or Red, for commercial flights originating in the United Kingdom bound for the United States. This adjustment reflects the Critical, or highest, alert level that has been implemented in the UK. To defend further against any remaining threat from this plot, the threat level has been raised to High, or Orange, for all commercial aviation operating in or destined for the United States.
Travel Recommendations for Flights Originating in the United States
- Arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to departure for domestic flights and 3.5 hours for international flights
- NO LIQUIDS OR GELS OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED IN CARRY ON BAGGAGE. ITEMS MUST BE IN CHECKED BAGGAGE. This includes all beverages, shampoo, sun tan lotion, creams, tooth paste, perfume, hair gel, and other items of similar consistency. Exception: Baby formula and medicines must be presented for inspection at the checkpoint.
- Beverages purchased in the boarding area (beyond the checkpoint) must be consumed before boarding because they will not be permitted on board the aircraft.
- Passengers traveling from the U.K. to the U.S. will be subject to a more extensive screening process at the boarding gate.
- International passengers be aware that although you may carry laptops, etc. from the United States to the UK, all carry-on luggage is prohibited on flights originating in the UK
- Cooperate with security officials and be prepared for security screening
- Pack lightly - use clear plastic bags to facilitate faster screening. Review the list of TSA banned items when packing.
Additional Check-in Requirements for Flights Originating in the United Kingdom
All cabin baggage must be processed as checked baggage and carried in the hold of passenger aircraft departing UK airports.
Passengers may take through the airport security search point, in a single (ideally transparent) plastic carrier bag, only the following items:
- Pocket size wallets and pocket size purses plus contents (for example money, credit cards, identity cards etc (not handbags));
- Travel documents essential for the journey (for example passports and travel tickets);
- Prescription medicines and medical items sufficient and essential for the flight (eg, diabetic kit), except in liquid form unless verified as authentic.
- Spectacles and sunglasses, without cases.
- Contact lens holders, without bottles of solution.
- For those travelling with an infant: baby food, milk (the contents of each bottle must be tasted by the accompanying passenger) and sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight (nappies, wipes, creams and nappy disposal bags)
- Female sanitary items sufficient and essential for the flight, if unboxed
- Tissues (unboxed) and/or handkerchiefs
- Keys (but no electrical key fobs)
All passengers must be hand searched, and their footwear and all the items they are carrying must be x-ray screened.
Pushchairs and walking aids must be x-ray screened, and only airport-provided wheelchairs may pass through the screening point.
In addition to the above, all passengers boarding flights to the USA and all the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, must be subjected to secondary search at the boarding gate. Any liquids discovered must be removed from the passenger. There are no changes to current hold baggage security measures.
These measures will be constantly evaluated and updated when circumstances warrant. Additional information links may be found on Christopherson Business Travel's Web site and updates will be made as needed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your account management team.
All information is provided "as is" and without any representation or warranty. Every effort has been made to be as thorough and accurate as possible.
