Airport Security

Security updates – with the stepping-up of airport security and changes to threat levels, travellers may not be entirely sure what security measures are now operating. For up-to-date information, the UK Department of Transport has a resource here…
In brief, the one bag hand-luggage restriction was lifted at many airports in January 2008. Since the revelation of a plot to use innocent looking liquids to create an explosion, there are still some recommendations in place namely:

1. Where possible, put all liquid items in your hold baggage. This includes water and other drinks, creams, sprays, pastes and gels.
2. Liquids, gels and aerosols are only allowed in individual containers of 100ml. All containers must fit comfortably in one, transparent, bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm.

Contact your airline for up to date information relevant to your travel plans.
Some interesting side-issues here are that if you take baby food onto a plane, you may be asked to taste it before you are allowed to take it with you (that's enough to put me off flying, or at least my in-flight meal!), similarly if you take nappy (daiper) cream with you, you can be asked to apply it to your own skin.
You can check alcohol into the hold baggage and any duty free you buy in the departure lounge can be taken with you on board. But do remember that the liquids restrictions apply at all EU airports and a growing number of other airports across the world, so you might need to pack duty free in the hold baggage for your return journey.
Happy traveling

BAA breakup

BAA are in the process of losing some of their grip on UK airports as the Competition Commission reported that common ownership of BAA airports is not conducive to a competitive market.
BAA currently own seven airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Recent criticisms of developments at Heathrows' Terminal Five has not placed BAA in a positive light, and rival companies Ryanair, bmi and the like are crowding in to offer their opinions...

The main criticism remains that the three main London airports offer no competitive choice as BAA owns them all, and to a lesser degree this also applies to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. It is widely believed that BAA may be forced to sell at least one London airport and continue to operate there, possibly using their own terminal so that the impact on the traveler remains minimal.