Simon Calder has warned parents travelling with children about "complicated" and "varied" security measures at UK airports, after it emerged that squishy toys containing gels or liquids could be confiscated if packed in hand luggage.
Comfort items at risk
Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Thursday, Calder responded after travel blogger Kate Donnelly pointed out that for some children, squishy toys serve as a major comfort in busy and stressful settings such as airports. "For some young children, this might be their security blanket so to speak," she said. "So taking that away from them at the very start could be extremely traumatic for the child and for the parent. It's not how anyone wants to start a holiday."
Rules vary by airport
Calder explained that whether a squishy toy would be confiscated depends on the rules of individual UK airports. He said: "The airport rules are so complicated and variable at a number of airports, including the Belfast airports, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick, and Heathrow." He added his three-word conclusion: "It wouldn't matter."
"You're allowed two litres, and that is not two litres, even I can tell that," he continued, referencing a toy that presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt had brought on the show as an example. Gatwick allows up to two litres, but other airports have a 100ml liquid allowance.
Confusion persists
"However, at most UK airports, the rule is still 100ml. At some of them, you still have to put them in a resealable bag. Even at Edinburgh airport, if you've got a metal water bottle like this, and you can't tell what's in it, it's got to be empty, so the rules are still incredibly complicated. Remember, these liquid rules were brought in 20 years ago as a temporary measure and here they still are causing, unfortunately, a lot of upset to people every single day."
According to the BBC, the Department for Transport has advised travellers to check airport rules beforehand, and ensure that these types of liquid-filled toys are typically placed in hold luggage.
