Gaffer tape, on a plane?

[Fascadale]

I returned home from sailing in the Greek Islands last week.

In my cabin luggage I had a roll of gaffer tape: no trouble getting it through security in Greece but it set the alarms off in security at Gatwick. It was confiscated as a security risk.

It seems gaffer tape is identified as a means off restraining the crew and as such is banned

Don't say you have not been warned!

 

[Old Harry]

I returned home from sailing in the Greek Islands last week.

In my cabin luggage I had a roll of gaffer tape: no trouble getting it through security in Greece but it set the alarms off in security at Gatwick. It was confiscated as a security risk.

It seems gaffer tape is identified as a means off restraining the crew and as such is banned

Don't say you have not been warned!

How about cable ties

 

[Giblets]

Are you saying it was confiscated after you had landed at Gatwick? If so 'horse' and 'stable door' springs to mind!

 

[MoodySabre]

I shall try to remember that my bondage handcuffs are put in the hold luggage.

 

[Fascadale]

Are you saying it was confiscated after you had landed at Gatwick? If so 'horse' and 'stable door' springs to mind!

Indeed, tape passed through security in Greece and onto flight to UK, then collect bags in Gatwick, (Easyjet, so no through ticketing) then back through security at Gatwick. Tape confiscated!

Having passed through security one enters the departure lounge, a mecca of glass pint glasses, glass bottles, and real metal knives. You can probably even buy sellotape in the shops. Not sure that I see a "continuity of security" in all this.

 

[Giblets]

Ahh, I was a bit confused there and didn't realise you were travelling onwards on a domestic flight.

 

[Graham376]

Having passed through security one enters the departure lounge, a mecca of glass pint glasses, glass bottles, and real metal knives. You can probably even buy sellotape in the shops. Not sure that I see a "continuity of security" in all this.

There isn't much continuity. Going through Liverpool security last week, noticed a large box at security half filled with confiscated tinned goods, ones that would need a tin opener to open. Returning through Lisbon tomorrow, I doubt my tins of piri-piri sardines will be confiscated. OTOH each of us can take 100ml of liquid aboard which could easily bring a plane down if they contained the correct cocktail. Straps off carry-on back packs would also make good restraints.

 

[pandroid]

Gaffer tape, indeed any type of tape, is not on the list of banned items at UK airports, so you could have contended it, however I notice there is now a sneaky clause on the UK government's banned items page which says: "Airport security staff won’t let anything through that they consider dangerous - even if it’s normally allowed in hand luggage". That's just a licence for anarchy.

 

[penberth3]

...You can probably even buy sellotape in the shops. Not sure that I see a "continuity of security" in all this.

Sellotape should be Ok, you can never find the end!

 

[jbweston]

Sellotape should be Ok, you can never find the end!

A bit like some of the threads on here. Not this one though, which is short and to the point.

 

[prof pat pending]

Apparently you’re only allowed to use gaffer tape to repair the plane

 

[Amulet]

Unfortunately the list of "banned items" is what airlines are OBLIGED to turn away. They are allowed to use their discretion to add to this list. Probably, on balance, that's a good thing.

 

[Seven Spades]

I saw an amazing video of an American who went through security bought a load of things including an aerosol, battery and other items and constructed a bomb and exploded it on his farm. His position was that with a little knowledge airport security is a joke. However, the comments on youtube were all very hostile towards him saying how irresponsible he was. He did not post instructions on how to do it only describing what he did, I don't know if the video still exists. Bit I have always though that airlines should ban duty free in glass bottles. Apart from the obvious weight saving glass bottles represent a huge risk as they are easily converted into a very nasty weapon.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Flying from Orkney yesterday morning, I was paged to return to ‘Baggage Reconciliation’ where they wanted to check the cylinder in my life jacket in my checked bag. (They’d found it when the bag was x-rayed) I think they were more interested in checking me up and down as they didn’t even open the lifejacket up but gave it a quick grope through the cover to see if it was tight and put it down again in seconds few. . I was all for showing them the Hammar device and light were in date and how it had been checked and serviced (to show it was all ok..)but the security man wasn’t interested once he’d seen me.

 

[Stemar]

I saw an amazing video of an American who went through security bought a load of things including an aerosol, battery and other items and constructed a bomb and exploded it on his farm. His position was that with a little knowledge airport security is a joke. However, the comments on youtube were all very hostile towards him saying how irresponsible he was. He did not post instructions on how to do it only describing what he did, I don't know if the video still exists. Bit I have always though that airlines should ban duty free in glass bottles. Apart from the obvious weight saving glass bottles represent a huge risk as they are easily converted into a very nasty weapon.

People hating him doesn't make him wrong. I rather think airport security is a bit like speed cameras, catching out the bloke going a few mph over the limit without doing any harm, but completely missing the idiot in his souped up Nova at 100, because he's taken the trouble to copy someone else's plates.