New Airport Security

A colleague of mine is flying back from AMS to the US and has had to not only remove laptop and tablet from his hand luggage but all associated cables and power supplies too including ear bud headphones. Can't see anything on any UK airport sites apart from Newcastle

Yes those rules have been in place for a few months now.

There's a short advisory on the VS website: http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/tr ... -news.html

And a much more detailed one on the BA website: http://www.britishairways.com/travel/fl ... faqid=5047

At most UK airports it appears the normal central security search is still as before, but passengers flying to the US may have to undergo a secondary search at the gate, when you'll be asked to take out electrical gear and prove it works.

No, these are new rules implemented in the last couple of days that mean not only do you have to take your laptop/tablet out of the bag but also all and every charger, extension cord, headphone, hard disk , thumb drive etc etc.

If these are new rules, it could just be something The Netherlands has decided to do. Rules are different in every country, the US can request we change our rules for flights to the US, but as has happened previously, this is usually done via secondary screening at the gate.

Its on Newcastle airports site too so not restricted to the Netherlands it would seem. Page was updated yesterday - http://www.newcastleairport.com/security-advice

Well the official government advice hasn't changed since 10th July: https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restric ... ical-items

So it seems unlikely that there's been a new directive from the government as I'm sure they'd have publicised it and it would have been in the news. And as you say, no other UK airports seem to have changed their screening policy.

The NCL website quotes that advice but for some reason they appear to have gone one step further. I can't imagine Newcastle's been deemed a particular threat (insert jokes here) so maybe it's for their own operational reasons.

Hopefully it will not become the norm across all airports. I cannot imagine the confusion it will cause at security over and above what it already does for infrequent travellers.......

I am not certain that there are new rules are they? Anyway, on Saturday I had to pull all the cables out, I had been doing this ever since my Kensington lock was identified as a potential garotte but then backed off for a while, but on Saturdai it picked up again for a trip to the US. The week before it had made the same trip to Israel with no additional processing. Anyway, it is no drama as it is all in one bag so will just throw that in with the laptop from now on.

Sounds to me like a question of how the rules are interpreted rather than a change to the rules.

Since the whole "prove your electrical device works" rule came in, I've not had to do it once - whether on intra Europe flights, domestic UK flights, Trans Atlantic flights or US domestics. Nothing different to the previous years.

On my flight to PHL last month, I was even singled out for a random security check as I had my BP scanned, and all that involved was a bit of a nosey through my bag - but no switching on of electronic devices.

Since the whole "prove your electrical device works" rule came in, I've not had to do it once - whether on intra Europe flights, domestic UK flights, Trans Atlantic flights or US domestics. Nothing different to the previous years.

On my flight to PHL last month, I was even singled out for a random security check as I had my BP scanned, and all that involved was a bit of a nosey through my bag - but no switching on of electronic devices.

I flew to LA last week and didn't have to turn on any of my electronics.
And I was randomly selected to use TSA pre screen or whatever they call the 'trusted flyer' lane now it was great to be able to leave my trainers on.

[buns]

The developing international situation may be the key here

I suspect all security will be stepped up in the coming days and weeks

buns

buns, I think you are right, I got a sense of that at LHR T2 on Saturday.