Bad, bad Heathrow

Ok, I know that the new hand luggage restrictions are pretty strange. And new is also relative (they were introduced more than a month ago). In my travels over the last 24 hours, I have been through 3 airports (I write this in airport number 4), 2 in the USA and now in the UK.

Now, I am not the biggest fan of airport security at the best of times, and I understand why but I have to say that the American TSA is far more efficient than security at Heathrow. It took me 2 hours to get through security! And they aren't doing anything more than the americans. The only thing that I can identify is that here at Heathrow, we as the public can't take the trays. We have to wait till a very bored looking individual decides that our belongs require a tray. Also at Heathrow they have a strange thing whereby you can only take 1 bag through security - so take a big plastic bag to put your handbag and carryon in - even if they don't both fit properly. Once you are through security you can take them out and carry them separately. Apparently by holding up the queue to get people to repack their hand luggage makes the entire process more streamlined - HA I laugh...

In fact, with all the "security measures" that Heathrow imposed, I ended up carrying a bag of toiletries, my laptop, my coat, hat, boarding card and a precariously balanced backpack with my camera on top. It took longer for me to wait for the tray than it did to take it all off to get into the queue.

I have to add that in the USA, I also had to take out my liquids, laptop, and take my coat & shoes off, so I didn't do anything less there, but security took less than 20 minutes to go through. Well done, TSA!

Ok, so know I have just less than an hour to wait till my overnight flight to Cape Town. Wish me luck...

Later

M