Buzzy--Bee

[RANT]

Well this morning I escorted Mrs Buzzy and the twin 17 month old Buzzettes together with Mrs Buzzy's sister to Heathrow for their flight to Oz and NZ - I'll be meeting up with them in Melbourne in 4 weeks.

We had been advised by Qantas that we could take the girls car seats on the plane, but Quantas refused to confirm this in writing, saying "they didn't do that, but a note was on our booking". Well to my mind, if something isn't in writing it didn't happen (years in the corporate world), but Qantas refused to confirm it. Then a few days ago we got an unrequested confirmation from our travel agent and that had a note on it that we could take the car seats. Great! We had it in writing.

Mrs Buzzy had also checked all the right websites, including BAA, and had confirmed that milk could be taken on the plane for infants so long as the passenger tasted it in front of security.

I said goodbye to my girls and waved at them as they went through to the departure lounge.

Mrs Buzzy's sister rang me from the gate shortly before they boarded the plane.

Airport Security had had the most massive row with them about the car seats. They said under no circumstances could car seats be taken on the plane. Thank God we had that written confirmation from our travel agent (Travelmood if you're interested) otherwise they would have had to have been checked in the hold. Then the car seats were too big for the scanner and had to be taken to a scanner for oversize items!

Mrs Buzzy brandished the 2 litre, still sealed, bottle of Tescos milk at security, all ready to taste it for them. Uh-uh. In complete contradiction to their website advice, no milk may be taken on the plane, ever. At all. Don't even ask. So they took the bottle of milk off Mrs Buzzy, and told her she could buy another one once she was past security.

Hopefully the rest of the flight through Hong Kong, and on to Melbourne and New Zealand is less confrontational.

So, to summarize -

1. Heathrow Security staff love the aftermath of the recent terror threat because, in a traffic-warden type way, it increases their ability to bully people.
2. Heathrow security staff take milk from babies.

[/RANT]

You have been warned!



Buzzy

nightnurse2

Sorry to hear about the trouble you OH has had.
Hope the rest of the journey is OK.
Mind you with 17 month old twins, she needs a bloody medal (or a valium )

Tracey

Buzzy--Bee

I just had a thought about this.

Heathrow security took 2 litres of Tesco milk off Mrs Buzzy because they could not verify it wasn't explosive.

So how are they going to dispose of it

Will they call the bomb squad and blow it up on the runway?

Or will they, as I suspect, have hot chocolates all round?



Buzzy

Clairertw

sorry to hear about this... the good news is that, according to newspaper reports today, liquids (up to 1 litre volume) will be allowed on flights from 6 november onwards. so you can take baby milk on your flight when you join them... if you want to that is!!!

Buzzy--Bee

I suspect that no matter what it says on websites / newspapers etc, Heathrow security will still need milk delivered on a daily basis for their tea break.



Buzzy

stuckinblighty

sorry to laught but i did enjoy your comment 'Heathrow security staff take milk from babies'
On a serious note,even if would be suicide bombers are trying to board the plane testing a mouthful of explosive fluids aint gonna stop them....they want to die blowing up the friggin' plane !!!!!!!
take it easy buzzy,i'm sure 4 weeks will fly bye ... and in the meantime you get the telly all to yourself

regards,Lee

OzTennis

I'm not defending the security staff or measures, merely pointing out that the original plot involved making up devices on the plane from different ingredients. The baby milk, the contact lens solution etc were to be taken onto the plane by different people and mixed to make the device. So, the milk by itself wasn't dangerous. I guess the milk would just be tipped down the drain or put in a bin.

Sorry to read of their experiences. Has the size of permissible cabin luggage been increased recently? I used to put everything in a sports bag but after the original restrictions this type of thing would be too large.

OzTennis

Buzzy--Bee

My beef is that they don't stick by what they publish on their (BAA's) website! Why say you can bring milk if they are going to take it off you!

If they had said "under no circumstances can you bring milk on the plane" on the website we would have been better prepared.

Hand luggage sizes are back to normal OzT.



Buzzy

OzTennis

Thanks for that. I wonder if taking a printout of what BAA say to the airport would cut any ice? No doubt there will be a cop-out to say that individual airlines (eg El Al) can vary the BAA advice to suit themselves.

OzTennis

Buzzy--Bee

Yes but this was BAA staff going against BAA's published advice!!!



Buzzy

Jaycee1

Let's hope Mrs. Buzzy, the buzzettes and buzzette in-law have a better flight than they did arriving at Heathrow.
I must say, Mrs. Buzzy is a VERY brave woman taking twin buzzettes of that age on a flight to Australia
You have a woman and a half there Buzzy!! Well done Mrs. Buzzy
J x

Buzzy--Bee

Well the family has landed safely in Melbourne - apparently the Buzzettes were very well behaved on the flight.

Phew!

Next leg tomorrow - on to New Zealand to see Grandma and Grandad.

:Beer:

Buzzy

Pollyana

Hmmm...... Mrs Buzzy copes with the Buzzettes on her own on the flight while you stay back at home. When you come over you are going diving and partying......someone got a good deal out of this, how did you manage it?!!!

Buzzy--Bee

actually Mrs B has her sister with her - hence why she flew early. So she gets a 3 week holiday in NZ relaxing while her Mum does everything and I get to stay at home alone going to work to pay for her holiday.

And boy does she deserve it (takes cover behind large pile of nappies/washing/toys/whatever).

See you soon (do I understand you got Monday and Tuesday off?)



Buzzy

Pollyana

Yep, i believe we may all be sharing a beer on the Saturday (bit like an Aussie Mods Convention - wonder if gedge would like to fly up?!), then I have Monday and Tuesday off so can entertain you if you so wish