January 20, 2010 Canada lifts carry-on ban
The Canadian ban is over:
(Canada Air Transport News Release) OTTAWA — Canada’s Transport Minister John Baird today announced that airline passengers who are travelling to the United States are now permitted to bring one carry-on bag with some small exceptions. This new measure replaces the temporary restriction on carry-on bags introduced as a result of the December 25, 2009 security incident on Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit.
Following the incident, Transport Canada and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) accelerated its actions to protect air travellers. In addition to introducing carry-on bag restrictions, Transport Canada quickly took action to issue security notices, invest in full body scanners and announce our intention to implement a screening method known as behaviour pattern recognition.
The new one carry-on bag rule takes effect on January 20, 2010 in all Canadian airports. Details are provided in the attached fact sheet.
“The Government of Canada is strongly committed to ensuring that air travel is safe and secure, but also to ensure passengers have a reasonable level of comfort and convenience during their trips,” said Baird. “The public has been extremely patient and cooperative with the measures mandated by the United States. Effective today, there is a new and practical carry-on rule for passengers travelling to the United States, which upholds important security considerations.”
The new rule modifies restrictions in place for flights to the United States only and does not have an impact on passengers travelling within Canada or to an international destination.
As a general rule, passengers are reminded to check with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (www.catsa.gc.ca) or their airline for items that are permitted in carry-on luggage.
Fact sheet:
Transport Canada now permits one small carry-on bag for airline passengers who are travelling to the United States. This carry-on bag must not exceed a size of 23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm (9 in x 16 in x 22 in), which is equivalent to the size of a small gym bag. The carry-on bag must fit into an airport’s carry-on baggage sizer.
Items such as reading material, personal electronics, and medications must be stored in the passenger’s carry-on bag, and packed prior to the security check.
As always, the Government of Canada is ensuring that exceptions are made to accommodate travellers with medical conditions or travelling with small children:
- A cane, walker, crutches or other life-sustaining items may be carried in addition to the carry-on bag.
- Medical equipment (oxygen tank, doctor’s bag) may be carried in addition to the carry-on bag.
- Diaper bags and other essential items for those carrying infants may be carried in addition to the carry-on bag.
Exemptions Include:
One of the following will be permitted in addition to the carry-on bag:
- a purse or laptop or briefcase or camera bag;
- a musical instrument;
- pets;
- all duty free items purchased after the security check.
Frank@OBOW
Purse-cution?
But, what about a purse? The short answer: Yes, but CATSA is still having purse-cution issues. The latest regulations state a purse must be “small,” which CATSA spokeman Mathieu Larocque says is “a little smaller than a laptop,” about the size of a football.
Now, set aside the fact women are prevented from carrying on purses as big as laptop bags. Purses are often soft – the size and volume changes depending on how they’re handled. So, will your almost-empty bigger bag be allowed, if it can be folded to football size?
That will be up to the individual CATSA agents who should be seen as the rough equivalents of border guards. What they say goes – simple as that. - Globe and Mail
Reader Comments (11)
This one line makes me wonder about "stuffing pockets" (such as using a ScotteVest to keep the bag weight low.)
But not only that. The sentence is semantically a bit off. One could interpret it as "one must carry these items". :)
The real question, though, is whether it is now forbidden to carry books and medication in the checked bags! That would be the other conclusion to draw from that sentence.
It is sad to see that CATSA is not smarter than TSA.
Although as you point out, parsed literally the sentence says that electronics and reading matter may not be checked, pretty clearly the intent is that your laptop and reading matter count against your carry-on total. If that's the intent, then will CATSA require the emptying of pockets (especially of oversized pockets) to make sure no one gets on the plane with substantially more than anyone else?
So once your books, iPods, and other items to help you deal with the rigors of flight are stored in your small carry-on am I to assume that they may not to be removed during the flight? I haven't flown from Canada to the US recently to confirm.
I have been told by three business executives this past week alone that it's no longer worth the trouble / hassle to fly down to the States from Canada for a business meeting. A two hour meeting in Boston or New York from Toronto technically takes all day as most of the time is spent at the airport waiting in line for security. An hour to get to the airport, four hours early, one hour flight, and then turn around and do it all over again. Sure there are conference calls, etc that can do the same thing as that two hour meeting in person. But perhaps not good in the long term for customer relations.
The "extra security" will influence the economy far more than the supposed extra security measures at the airport would ever warrant. (Another topic, but perhaps that is what the underwear-bomber and his bosses wanted!)
Personally, I would like to think the Canadian CATSA would be different than the TSA in the States. Alas, I think they not only follow the American knee-jerk reaction, but decide to add their own spin on it - just to claim they had an idea of their own too!
I'm not planning on getting on a plane to the US for some time now. Europe, Asia...but not the States. (I'm not good when confronted with such "security" measures. I'll have to travel with a lawyer beside me!) :)
1. forest through the trees. (Making a fuss over toothpaste that's not the right container size vs. big picture communication between departments, people on watch / no fly lists allowed to get through without passports etc)
2. Fewer carry on items should mean less work / stress for the security staff, hence technically should save the flying public time getting through security faster. Alas, the theatrical circle or running around like a hamster on a wheel means more frustration and time wasted for all.
3. True security? You cannot "see" it working, unlike the theatrics to give us some semblance that someone is doing something to protect the flying public. If we can "see" smoke, they must be working on putting out fires, yes? Rather than "see" a smoke screen.
Alas, I do not have a private jet, so like many others - I'm stuck with the above. Still, no travel to the US for some time for me.
I have also been studying my packing list for quite a while, seeing what I can leave out, how I can streamline it to the barest bones, although I think, subconsciously, I just want an excuse to go shopping in the UK and Spain in Aug-Sept. ;-)
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