Increased aviation security at Australian airports

[Berlin]

The terrace in Surry Hills where they've done one of the terror raids is right on my daily commute to work so this whole incident hits home quite close to myself. I've just driven past again and there are still numerous police cars all over the corner so they seem to still being investigating. I wonder what can possibly take several days to 'investigate'? Definitely am no expert though.

 

[Denali]

The terrace in Surry Hills where they've done one of the terror raids is right on my daily commute to work so this whole incident hits home quite close to myself. I've just driven past again and there are still numerous police cars all over the corner so they seem to still being investigating. I wonder what can possibly take several days to 'investigate'? Definitely am no expert though.

Ultrasound (or whatever they call it) in the walls, floor ect, looking for anything for their case?

As an example, its amazing where druggies hide drugs, an average person would never think to look behind electrical plates ect but yep, thats where stuff can be hidden.

 

[suze2000]

Yes well if the AFP were forced to move early, it wouldn't surprise me if they don't have enough evidence to make charges stick.

They also may have just swept up everyone that was there, and the person that they released may just have been a bystander.

 

[Quickstatus]

Mark Knight Cartoon.

Must not be in MEL - they only have black undies

 

[Berlin]

Must not be in MEL - they only have black undies

 

[Berlin]

Ultrasound (or whatever they call it) in the walls, floor ect, looking for anything for their case?

Okay, get ya. Guess these things take a bit longer in real life than on CSI

 

[jpk]

MEL QF at 930am, no queues for xray at all. Everyone was getting through immediately. The residue test after xray stopped me and another and swabbed us both at the same time though.

People wanting to use the check in kiosks were directed to a queue first (there are tensa barriers around all the kiosks, so you have to queue to get to one, and hand baggage was being searched and I think weighed, at the head of the line before you could get to a kiosk. Not sure what the point of that was.

I suspect the early morning queues are bad because everyone on an early flight is showing up at much the same time, overloading the screening. Rest of the day and evening seems to be business as usual.

 

[andyhui01]

I still can't understand why they are using 1 swab for 3 pax (which I experienced a couple of days ago).

I really wanted to ask him what happens if the initial group test was positive, and then each individual swab turned out to be negative? Would they keep doing it till 1 person gets a positive reading, send them to the room? But with the security these days, I chose not to just incase they think I was suspicious for asking too many questions.

 

[Quickstatus]

Mark Knight Cartoon.

Actually occurs now with certain airlines at certain airports. Nothing new...

 

[Baghoarder]

Does anyone have updated data points for SYD international express path delays for morning departures?

 

[docjames]

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

Looks like a fairly regular Monday morning at MEL.

 

[jpk]

Does anyone have updated data points for SYD international express path delays for morning departures?

Colleague went through early morning yesterday and said no queue at all for express and looked minimal for normal.

 

[jpk]

I still can't understand why they are using 1 swab for 3 pax (which I experienced a couple of days ago).

I really wanted to ask him what happens if the initial group test was positive, and then each individual swab turned out to be negative? Would they keep doing it till 1 person gets a positive reading, send them to the room? But with the security these days, I chose not to just incase they think I was suspicious for asking too many questions.

I felt exactly the same! I think it shows how rarely a positive result comes back, they know pretty much everyone will come up negative. More theatre than anything...

BTW just arrived in Sydney and had a look at the QF queues - at 2pm about 10 people in priority line, about 15 in the normal line, I'd guess a 5 min wait at most. Not all the machines were operating.

 

[texter]

Ditto in MEL - no queues for either chk in or security. QC appears more packed than usual - ?everyone came early

 

[Pushka]

QC appears more packed than usual - ?everyone came early

Ah, unintended consequences. I wonder how long before there will be complaints - from both parties!

 

[GDSman]

On way to MEL now for VA flight to HBA...hoping security via the Lounge will be a little better than via main entry.

 

[Melburnian1]

We don't know yet how long this will continue.

However given that with international flights that open for check in three hours prior. many passengers arrive prior to that to get a space in the queue (since amazingly lots do not pre check in via Internet), one can expect many domestic passengers to take airlines and airports at their word and arrive a bit ahead of two hours prior to official departure time.

When will airport facilities (kerbisde entrances to airport buildings landside, VA and QF lounges, airport shops, security scanning to domestic airside and so on) begin opening even earlier to cope?

For instance, QF normally has a Monday morning (Tuesday if a public holiday) 0530 hours flight from MEL to SYD. On that morning, will the Qantas Club and Chairmans Lounge begin opening at 0330 if they do not at present?

Will public transport such as the Sydney and Brisbane airport trains (private contracts at the stations for the first, and stations and operations for the second) or SkyBus in Melbourne have to commence earlier, or roster more trains and buses to cope at an earlier departure time from CBD railway stations or bus terminals?

I'm assuming with all this there is a lag effect and also a 'hey boys and girls, we'd better check with the government/ airport/ tenants/ security to see if this is the new reality, or just a passing fad that will see a return to previous practice in two weeks.'

 

[Melburnian1]

AFF member nutwood contributed to the QF delays/ cancellations thread and made an interesting point.

He suggested that the 'two hour rule' may mean even greater pressure on seating in the airline and gate lounges (especially if there are delays) and great consumption of food and drink in the airline lounges (and at retailers.) Many more passengers might be standing in the airport (even in airline lounges) prior to departure.

 

[Hvr]

<snip> or SkyBus in Melbourne have to commence earlier, or roster more trains and buses to cope at an earlier departure time from CBD railway stations or bus terminals?
'

Skybus already runs 24 hours a day as per their timetable. They may have to increase the frequency early in the morning if demand increases and remains high.

 

[Pushka]

Ditto in MEL - no queues for either chk in or security. QC appears more packed than usual - ?everyone came early

Ah, unintended consequences. I wonder how long before there will be complaints - from both parties!

AFF member nutwood contributed to the QF delays/ cancellations thread and made an interesting point.

He suggested that the 'two hour rule' may mean even greater pressure on seating in the airline and gate lounges (especially if there are delays) and great consumption of food and drink in the airline lounges (and at retailers.) Many more passengers might be standing in the airport (even in airline lounges) prior to departure.

Yep. Noted a couple of hours ago. For the QP anyway.