Cheapflights’ inaugural UK Airport Audit shows security inconsistencies across major UK airports
- Different security rules at each airport, even between terminals!
- 1 in 3 (32%) of people do not find airport staff helpful or knowledgeable
- Almost half of UK respondents (46%) find airport security a stressful experience
- More than half (54%) think security zones are poorly designed
For the thousands of Brits flying out on holiday this summer, airport security can be one of the more stressful aspects of travel. From the long queues and blunt airport staff, to confusing rules about what can be taken through security, it’s easy to see why stress levels can be sent soaring while still on the ground.
To produce independent data, Cheapflights commissioned an Airport Audit of the UK’s fastest growing airports, dispatching a researcher to take 38 flights in five weeks that included departures from, and returns to, every terminal at the participating airports. The results showed that what you are required to take off or remove from your hand luggage varies enormously, even between terminals at the same airport! Of the 19 terminals assessed, 94% required belts to be removed but the remainder did not; almost 1 in 5 (17%) required jewellery to be removed; and a growing number (6%) now require shoes to be removed as well. Little wonder passengers get confused.
Almost all now have updated signage indicating what can and can’t be taken through, but this leaves many scrambling to remove items while the queue of impatient people grows behind them. Of the 19 terminals, London Luton was found to be the one offender without proper signage.
Reflecting the data collected in the Airport Audit, a Cheapflights-commissioned survey of 2,067 people across the UK showed that 1 in 3 (32%) did not find security staff helpful or knowledgeable; almost half (46%) find passing through security a stressful experience; and more than half (54%) think security zones are poorly designed to cope with the volume of passengers passing through them.
The Cheapflights Airport Audit did turn up some innovative solutions to easing these issues that will hopefully be replicated at other airports in the future. This included the system used at Edinburgh International and at London City where trays are lined with stickers that show exactly what items must be taken out and where to place them including iPads, laptops, kindles and toiletries bags.
Based on the strictest requirements of those airports assessed in the Airport Audit, Cheapflights presents the simple tips for breezing through with minimal fuss that will help lessen the stresses of ripping items off or out of your bag as a queue forms behind you!
Ladies
- Keep jewellery to a minimum, particularly avoid wearing bulky necklaces or bangles and leave long earrings at home
- Wear slip-on shoes to avoid having to fuss with laces or buckles if you’re asked to remove your footwear
- Keep your cardigan to keep you warm on the plane in your bag until you’re on the plane as security will only make you remove it
- Take sample bottles of perfume to freshen up before landing as full-sized bottles are prohibited
- Take make-up wipes to clean your face on an overnight flight, liquid removers risk breaching the maximum allowance
- Be sure to take travel sets of makeup or toiletries to avoid having anything confiscated
Gents
- Unless it’s holding up your trousers, leave your belt off as it may be one more thing to take off
- Leave your jumper in the top of your carry-on bag until you’ve cleared security as you’ll have to take it off
- Make sure loose change is out of your pockets and in your bag
- Wear easy-to-remove shoes such as boat shoes or loafers so that you don’t have to waste time untying and retying laces
Children
- Leggings or trousers with a t-shirt are a fuss-free combination
- Crocs or other slip-on shoes are advisable
- Buggies and pushchairs will need to go through the security scanner so don’t plan to have the little one sleep through security!
