Metal cutlery allowed on board again...

....the Department for Transport advises that airlines operating out of the UK from 25 April can again use metal cutlery for cabin services and that airport security personnel will have much more flexibility in allowing sharp items onto aircraft.

Nail files should be OK as will be knitting needles, tweezers and scissors with blade lengths of up to 3cm.

[preiffer]

Does this mean they have to throw them away when they land? (Presumably, the TSA haven't cleared planes to leave the US with metal cutlery...?)

I wonder if this is based on the registration of the aircraft, or the country it departs. If it's the latter, then maybe UA could use metal cutlery on ex-LHR routes...

quote:Originally posted by preiffer
I wonder if this is based on the registration of the aircraft, or the country it departs. If it's the latter, then maybe UA could use metal cutlery on ex-LHR routes...

I'd guess that it has more to do with country of registry, for example, VS flights to the US don't have to keep their curtains open at all times, whereas UA have to keep curtains open (or have removed them altogether).

However, I know with the metal cutlery thing, LH have been using metal cutlery in Business Class wherever possible (even in Europe), but weren't able to use it on flights to/from the UK.

Cheers,
Mike

Kinda related but anyway, here goes!

A few months ago, an australian journalist brought some knifes from the Business lounge and on to the plane and planned to present them to security at the other end to show how unsafe the procedure was. It would have worked well, except that he started to show other pax on the plane and they alerted the FAs, who in turn alerted the capt. He was then promptly arrested upon arrival!:D

Cheers,
VS045

[Scrooge]

quote:Originally posted by VS045
Kinda related but anyway, here goes!

A few months ago, an australian journalist brought some knifes from the Business lounge and on to the plane and planned to present them to security at the other end to show how unsafe the procedure was. It would have worked well, except that he started to show other pax on the plane and they alerted the FAs, who in turn alerted the capt. He was then promptly arrested upon arrival!:D

Cheers,
VS045

LMFAO...cool

[Pete]

Having just spoken to Virgin it seems although they haven't got immeadiately plans, now that British Airways are re-introducing metal cutlery to the premium cabins, it's quite likely it will also reappear in Upper Class in the future.

Looking forward to the day!

Pete

Virgin's old cutlery fails to meet new specifications. BA will be using cutlery that has been in storage since it was banned.

[preiffer]

Originally posted by freeway
Virgin's old cutlery fails to meet new specifications. BA will be using cutlery that has been in storage since it was banned.

Interesting... Please tell us the new 'specifications' don't mean "all knives must be blunt"...[:0]

[Nottingham Nick]

Originally posted by preiffer

Interesting... Please tell us the new 'specifications' don't mean "all knives must be blunt"...[:0]

LOL - Brilliant [8D]:D[}:)]

Nick

[preiffer]

From this thread on FT, BA introduced their metal cutlery on LHR CW flights last Thursday. CE apparently follows in June.

I found this quite amusing yesterday (in the Evening Standard) - it always makes me smile when BA gets things wrong.....!

"THINGS are looking up elsewhere in the air. Banned post-9/11, metal cutlery has been re-admitted to the aircraft cabins. But it has meant a bill of more than £1 million for British Airways. Regulators worldwide have given the green light to the use of real knives, forks and spoons again. But BA's forks were found to be 4mm too long not to be a threat in the hands of terrorists or over-refreshed celebrities. Hence a costly fleet-wide revamp. Strangely, Australia has refused to adopt the rule relaxation. Passengers going to and from Oz will still have to make do with plastic."