Travel insurance - Tips & Advice - Holiday planning guide

With changes to security and baggage allowances at the UK’s airports, it’s important to know what to expect before you take off. And you should check that you are properly covered with adequate Travel Insurance.

The tragic events in New York on 11 September, 2001, left an indelible mark both on the city and the lives of those who lost loved ones. It also shocked the rest of the world and changed the way many of us look at air travel, not least with regard to the security required.

Since 2001, there have been a number of attempted terrorist attacks on planes – including the so-called ‘shoe bomber’ Richard Reid in 2002, and the alleged plot to detonate liquid explosives on a number of planes in 2006. Thankfully, those plans were foiled, due, at least in some part, to added vigilance by airport security staff.

Check before you go

Of course, all of the above has had an impact on security procedures at airports. Most recently, the alleged attempted ‘liquid’ attacks prompted regulations to be introduced at airport security, which affected most travelers and what they could carry onto planes in their hand luggage. Initially the restrictions were exceptionally tight, but in November 2006 were relaxed slightly, and have remained in force since.

According to the latest report from the British Airports Authority (BAA), the company that runs some of the UK’s larger airports: “Passengers can now carry a limited quantity of liquids, i.e. gels, lotions, pastes, liquid cosmetics, foams and foodstuffs, in their hand baggage when going through airport security checkpoints.”

BAA does recommend that you pack any liquids you don’t need on the plane in your hold baggage. Otherwise, the following restrictions apply to all liquids you want to take through an airport security checkpoint:

• All liquids must be in individual containers not greater than 100ml capacity. They must be placed in one transparent re-sealable bag, no larger than 20cm x 20cm (8" x 8") in size, and fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be fastened closed
• Only one bag per passenger is allowed.
• Each passenger must remove their clear plastic bag from their hand baggage and place it on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening
• Liquids in containers of more than 100ml capacity can be packed in your hold baggage.

You can 'fly with everything you buy' after security including to the USA and Canada. The exception is Australia where you can’t bring in any liquids over 100ml. However, if you are transferring to another flight, a domestic journey for instance, then this is treated as a separate flight and rules may apply.

This is a simplified version of the rules as they stand now. It’s also important to remember that rules also apply to the size of your hand baggage. To make sure that getting on to your flight is as stress-free as possible, it makes sense to check out the full regulations on BAA’s website, the website of the airport you are flying from, or the airline you are flying with.

Airlines and airport authorities do appreciate that these regulations may cause delays at airport security and ask that travellers be patient. Ultimately they are for the benefit of everyone travelling.

Protect yourself

With airports doing as much as they can to protect you as you travel, you shouldn’t forget to make sure you have the right travel insurance cover. You can do this with affordable travel insurance from Direct Line.

Our single trip, annual multi-trip and Discoverer policies will cover you for the loss of personal belongings – including money and your passport, cover for emergency medical treatment as well as cancellation and curtailment cover. You are also covered for flight delays and delayed baggage.