People heading out on their holidays or travelling for business from Birmingham Airport (BHX) today (June 20), face another day of potential disruption after changes at the travel hub have caused delays and confusion among many passengers.
Physical changes to the security area, which should allow for the new technology required to relax the 100ml rule, mean passengers are now queuing on the ground floor and, at busy times, even out of the airport. Adding to this, a recent government flip-flop on relaxing the 100ml rule has left some travellers facing delays of around two hours, while airport staff deal with confusion.
New “liquid check” stations were rolled out at the airport yesterday, in a bid to cut the time wasted at security by those confused by the changes to hand luggage rules. Airport bosses have also said they are in the process of hiring a further 100 staff to help combat the lengthy queues faced by travellers.
But passengers flying from next month, who are looking to avoid the possibility of these queues by purchasing a security “fast track” pass, should consider booking soon – after Birmingham Airport this week announced it will more than double the price of the popular pass from £7 to £20.
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03:15William Morgan
What is this new ‘liquid check’ station?
To prevent scenes like those on Sunday, when passengers were stuck in long queues snaking out of Birmingham Airport, delaying some by hours, airport bosses have rolled out “liquid check” stations for people before they get to security.
An enlarged temporary structure will provide multiple ‘liquid check stations’ to ensure that customers’ cabin baggage complies with new Government regulations introduced this month.
The facility will be staffed by third party customer service specialists who will check that customers comply with the temporary liquid rules on cabin baggage rules. BHX bosses sas these extra liquid checking stations are essential to support the airport’s existing security and customer teams now subject to these additional restrictions.
Despite plans to relax restrictions on the 100ml liquid rule for hand luggage due to improvements in security technology, the failure to install these improvements at every airport caused the Government to change their guidance at the last minute, reverting the change just over a week ago.
You can only carry 100ml containers in your hand luggage. BHX states the rules explicitly on its website:
Only liquids, pastes and gels in containers up to 100ml can be carried in hand luggage – anything larger needs to be in checked in luggage.
No liquids above this size.
Anything above the 100ml will be removed and destroyed.
There is no limit on the amount of under 100mls containers that can be carried.
Containers that can carry more than a 100ml, such as insulated bottles, are permitted but need to be completely empty.
Do not put your liquids, pastes and gels into plastic bags (please leave them loose in hand luggage).
Do not take them out of your hand luggage when you’re in the security search area.
Leave all electricals in hand luggage during the security search.
When going through security please ensure all items are out of pockets including phones, keys, coins and tissues etc. Watches can be left on.
