One-bag, carry-on, light travel tips, techniques, and gear

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.

Update on January 22, 2010 by

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