Passengers warned of airport queues this Christmas – 18 Dec 2006

Air travellers should expect substantial queues at check-ins and security over Christmas and allow at least two hours to get through the airport.

But airports operator BAA and British Airways are asking passengers not to turn up more than three hours in advance of a flight as this could also cause delays.

Most airline check-in desks, with the exception of Ryanair’s, will open three hours before departure. The Irish carrier has refused to open desks more than two hours in advance.

People who turn up four or five hours before a flight will be wasting their time and clogging departure areas, according to BA, which said travellers who did so at Heathrow risked “milling about stuck in limbo”.

The big problem is that many people still appear unaware of the security restrictions on hand luggage.

BAA said it would have 380 additional, fully trained security staff on duty at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, as well as office staff drafted in to advise passengers at check-in and on the way to security.

Passengers are allowed one bag, including a handbag, and liquids are restricted to a maximum 100 ml – meaning no bottled water or cans – and must be in a transparent plastic bag.

BAA advises:

• Check-in two to three hours before departure
• Pack Christmas presents in checked luggage
• Do not carry Christmas crackers
• Go straight through security
• Carry one cabin bag only, with no drinks, and toiletries in a transparent bag (maximum size 8ins x 8ins)
• Do not wrap any present carried in hand luggage

Those contravening the restrictions will be returned to the back of check-in queues and probably miss flights.