Your Egypt

[Hedgehog]

Hi Everyone

I thought you might like to know my experience while traveling from the UK to Amsterdam. For family reasons I had to arrange a flight pretty quickly to get to Amsterdam.
Being a fairly seasoned traveler I book on line, and get my ticket via e-mail....no problems there.. :lol:

Prior to my booking there was a bomb alert, in the UK. We are told mainly aimed at the USA flights, but the goverment decreed that stringent security measures should be set in place. :? for all destinations :?

For those of you who do not know.... this ment all passengers leaving the UK were not allowed any hand luggage. All that was allowed was a plastic bag to hold your passport, travel documents, glasses without their case, urgent medicine, babies milk...which parent had to test by drinking in front of security people, nappies, and tissues without their box. Every thing else was to be packed in the main case and put in hold :(

By the time I was to travel, a small bag the size of a lap top bag was allowed. But the same items were only allowed, an NO liquid of any kind was permitted. These security measures caused long delays, resulting in flights being cancelled, take off delays, and really one heck of a mess :?

I normaly leave by Birmingham International, flying KLM. The delays applied here, so I thought I would try a lesser known airport, this being Coventry. Again for those who do not know, it is near the centre of the UK and is used mainly for cargo. But the owners are hoping to develop into a short haul 'holiday' airport.and is run by Thompson fly me. Planning permission has not been given for the company to build proper buildings as befits a small airport, and in place are what is referred to as the 'cattle sheds'.. :shock:

I was dully dropped off by a friend at the airport, and was told booking in would start in 10 minutes. There is only one small departure lounge.....well...if you can call it that....so it can only cope with one flight leaving at a time.. :lol: I had to show my small lap top sized bag to the clerk behind the desk...that passed :lol: But I was not too happy about packing the hedgy jewels in the main suitcase, together with my make up. Can you imagine what we girlies have to carry in a handbag, and now it all has to be stashed in the main suit case :shock: :roll: :shock:

I had arrived quite early so took a walk around the small airport before having a body search. Suddenly I had a fear, what if something went wrong?. We had to cross the north sea :shock: what if someone got through the security? I sat down outside, and did my usual 'people watching. :shock: :shock: :shock: There was an Indian guy staring at me, he was chain smoking....why? I thought :shock: There were a group of young Asian lads, laughing and shouting.....what were they up too?? Then two police appeared with guns, and looked around. A bit later two non armed police appeared. :shock: OMG I thought what's going on??...Totally irrational fears went racing round my body. So I got up and went to have my bag scaned and body searched. All fine every thing OK...Right! ...hedgy you are being stupid!

I sat looking around there were Chinese people, a very large Asian group, who must have felt uncomfortable as some put on the orange head square which denotes they are from the Sikh religion, there were the male groups off for a 'heavy weekend' in Amsterdam, some family groups and some all girl groups. And very late on came some Somali ladies wearing the veil Quite a mixed bunch you could say :D

But I still had this fear. So I decided to have my 'last meal' :lol: :lol: A bag of Walkers crips, a bar of cadbury chocolate, and a long cool glass of chardonnay wine. :wink: :wink: ....GREAT!!!

Time to get on the plane. I was surprised it was a 737, and its name was 'Star of Doncaster'. I didn't know planes had names painted on them!!! :D we had to cross the tarmac, to get on to the plane, so I was glad it wasn't raining, but we did not have to walk far. The flight was uneventful, my fears unfounded, but I still can't help thinking that some people out there have no thought for taking lives, to further a cause that should be delt with in a more civilized manner :? :? :wink: I think I will still have s fear when traveling for some time to come..... :? :? :?

[moll]

:shock: :shock: :shock:

When you say 'body search', I take it you mean just the sort of frisking you sometimes get........or is it more than that now?

I kind of feel the opposite from you, hedge.......I don't feel any more scared of travelling than I did before, I just think when my number's up, my number's up and there's not a lot I can do about it..

[Hedgehog]

moll wrote: :shock: :shock: :shock:

When you say 'body search', I take it you mean just the sort of frisking you sometimes get........or is it more than that now?

I kind of feel the opposite from you, hedge.......I don't feel any more scared of travelling than I did before, I just think when my number's up, my number's up and there's not a lot I can do about it..

yes it was a body frisk...but it took longer...felt more like a search :shock: