Increased aviation security at Australian airports

[kevrosmith]

I wonder how long before measures such as restrictions on LAGs which apply to international flights are applied to domestic flights.
I have always thought there is no logical reason to have two different security regimes.
Obviously this would be challenging for small airports but even if they remain more vulnerable that would represent a decrease in both the likelihood of an incident and the number of people potentially affected.

In the last couple years, they've been working on technology to actually reverse the LAGS restrictions, in particular for International, rather than expanding the restrictions. In USA, the restrictions already apply to both Domestic and International flights, but that more reflects their airport dynamics where there isn't any concept of an International Terminal and a Domestic Terminal: they mix both domestic and international flights throughout.

In Japan, where LAGS are not restricted on Domestic flights, I did notice they had additional screening technology where they could place clear liquids bottles on a scanner, but they asked us to open flasks (the kid's water bottles) and manually took a whiff of the contents (I assume they know when it doesn't smell like water...?!?).

 

[turnip666]

Banning meeters and greeters will not be welcomed by the retailers, bars and cafes that pay huge rents to the Aiport owners for access to those extra mouths.

Not saying it shouldn't happen, but expect screaming if it is proposed.

 

[JessicaTam]

Banning meeters and greeters will not be welcomed by the retailers, bars and cafes that pay huge rents to the Aiport owners for access to those extra mouths.

Not saying it shouldn't happen, but expect screaming if it is proposed.

... and the need for short term parking will drop as well, further impacting profits.

 

[Quickstatus]

Banning meeters and greeters will not be welcomed by the retailers, bars and cafes that pay huge rents to the Aiport owners for access to those extra mouths.

Not saying it shouldn't happen, but expect screaming if it is proposed.

That is true

I dont recall ever buying anything from an airport outlet in the last 10 years? or so. I am hoping others will do so and a bit will trickle down to my super.

 

[Pushka]

Or Adelaide Airport could cough up the funds to add additional lanes in busy periods and a shared priority lane for QF and VA.
I am not privy to the arrangements but I assume some of the funding for such priority lanes comes from the carriers.

There is no space to do this.

 

[Quickstatus]

While the recommendation is to check in early, the checkin closing times have not changed AFAICS.

 

[badseed]

It's all largely theatre - a show of force to keep the masses calm. Note that I'm not saying that alone is not a worthwhile exercise.

There's no indication at this stage that the device(s) in question would have made it through the regular screening points, or if it would have necessarily triggered the explosives residue tests. The real test will be in a week or so when the investigators have some interim data. If we get more changes to the security methodologies at that point it'll be much more instructive.

Realistically what it also tells us is that the alleged would-be bombers were not able to get their hands on much in the way of explosives or firearms if they were having to go to the trouble of targeting something 'hard' like air transport. Much simpler to stroll onto a local train or into a crowded station etc with a big bomb or automatic weapons. That alone should be reassuring, and tallies with what I'm aware of around supply-chain scrutiny by various bodies for these types of dangerous materials.

 

[Ansett]

Flying Wednesday MEL to BNE on the 6 am flight so guess I need to be there by 4 am at the latest which equates to a 3 am departure. Going to make a long day of it.

And no I am not complaining safety is number 1.

I just wonder if Qantas will open the Lounge earlier for all of us poor early birds

 

[Quickstatus]

Flying Wednesday MEL to BNE on the 6 am flight so guess I need to be there by 4 am at the latest which equates to a 3 am departure. Going to make a long day of it.

And no I am not complaining safety is number 1.

I just wonder if Qantas will open the Lounge earlier for all of us poor early birds

They will be hoping that the extra delays will mean less "annoying" FF to cater for in the lounge.

 

[Denali]

And then you have these coughs:

]>to> Qantas
I've just received the Qantas notice about "extra security
measures and expected delays adviding passengers to check in 2 hrs before for domestic flights. Coincidentally i've just arrived at Sydney domestic for a flight to Melbourne. No delays, no extra security measures....breezed through check in and security in about 3 mins. Irresponsible communication from Qantas.


Im wondering if he wants hourly queue updates with texts and website changes.

 

[Quickstatus]

Its like the BOM, announce that bad weather is coming and everyone should bunker down but usually nothing more than light rain.

I suppose better to send out a WCS (worst case scenario) than say everything is hunky dory

 

[Tassieoptom]

Flying Wednesday MEL to BNE on the 6 am flight so guess I need to be there by 4 am at the latest which equates to a 3 am departure. Going to make a long day of it.

And no I am not complaining safety is number 1.

I just wonder if Qantas will open the Lounge earlier for all of us poor early birds

My trips away from Hobart are normally on the first flight out on Virgin. This means a 6.45am departure, almost guaranteed as the plane overnights here. Now the real trickle down problems start, airport undercover parking have trips to airport starting between 2 hours and 90mins before 1st departure. The check-in lanes are not open that early either even for plat/business class travel, i am often sat drinking a coffee waiting for them to open. The security lanes are often not open till the first check in counters are active. So while not so much of a problem for major airports, will be a significant problem for regional airports. No lounge for Virgin in Hobart so no loss there.

 

[Ausbt]

At SYD T2, apart from the main security entrance and VA premium entry, there is one additional security screening point tucked away elsewhere. Any reports on how that was today?

 

[Solid]

I'm flying out of SYD T3 later this afternoon, can report live "from the front line"!

 

[HeavyElectricity]

The Guardian reporting long queues at Sydney and Melbourne today:
https://www.theguardian.com/austral...sydney-and-melbourne-amid-heightened-security

 

[Saab34]

Flew MEL-SYD Sat Arvo and SYD-MEL Sunday Night. Both in Peak times.

No delay at all, in fact it was the fastest time I've ever been through T2 security.

 

[Berlin]

Flew MEL-SYD Sat Arvo and SYD-MEL Sunday Night. Both in Peak times.
No delay at all, in fact it was the fastest time I've ever been through T2 security.

Mhm, quite differing reports there. Would the actual mess only have started today for some reason? The media reports surely sound like it...

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

No delays at MEL domestic at 0430 this morning.

A friend posted this on Facebook this morning - she was flying to Tassie - I think the photo was between 7 and 8am Melbourne

 

[Melburnian1]

The queues look long - great photo mrs.dr.ron - but as far as I can observe, there still doesn't appear to be much if any adverse effect on timekeeping of all four major domestic airlines, or even Rex.

It is however impossible to always isolate one "cause" of delay if the weather is benign. There may be individual aircraft failures and that can compound a bit, but not to the extent of national air network-wide unpunctuality.

Monday morning is probably not as quite good a test as say a Friday afternoon, because with the latter, those arriving by road have to contend with what can be busy start of peak period traffic in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and meetings for business travellers (or socialising: Friday drinks at the barrr-rr as JohnPhelan call it) may preclude many of these passengers arriving much before an hour prior to their flights.

Reports from AFFers as to whether individual airlines are varying their policies if travellers 'miss' flights in the major cities would be great. We already know that traffic delays on say Melbourne's CityLink can be extreme at times, and so prior to this July 2017 weekend announcement, there were suggestions that airlines pretty much accepted travellers' claims of 'tollway delays' and rebooked passengers (at least on higher frequency routes like MEL - SYD.)

 

[Denali]

Seriously people, add some colour!

My husband has decided we're going to stay at a airport hotel in case we need the extra 45mins to get through security. The Argentinean hotel restaurant menu was the deciding factor