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Blame Canada: The Travel Detective on New Security Rules

Canada, Luggage & Packing, Olympics — on January 11, 2010 12:32 pm

Canada flag buttonLet me now present my most recent award for stupidity in action. Earlier last week I spoke about the new security rules put into effect after the December 25 incident in Detroit.

And one of them—initiated by both the Canadian and UK governments—is to limit carry on bags to one small bag.

Can someone please tell me what this will accomplish?

This is just the latest example of what governments do when they don’t know what to do after a security breach: punish millions of passengers for the actions of one stupid would-be terrorist—rules that neither provide security or safety—and call into question whether there is any common sense left to airline/airport security.

Lost luggageThe one carry-on bag rule has been tried before, by the UK airports following the liquids ban in 2006.

What did it accomplish … thousands of misdirected checked bags that would otherwise have been carry-ons. Huge delays, and increased costs.

It also accomplished something else: thousands of business travelers, myself included, who consciously decided to boycott all British airports until the one carry-on bag rule was rescinded.

It was, to say the least, a huge mess. Passengers flying from the U.S. with two carry-on bags and then connecting through a British airport to their final destination were denied boarding in England because they had exceeded the one-bag rule. It was absurd, insulting, wasteful, and anger-inducing.

On more than one occasion, I saw disgruntled business travelers refuse (and rightly so) to check in their laptops and return home, canceling their onward flights and business meetings.

Frequent fliers shouldn’t miss our Business Travel section. And for packing tips, don’t miss our Luggage & Packing Tips section.

Now, enter Canada. The Canadian authorities have now enacted a similar one-bag rule, just in time for the winter Olympics. Once again, not a single security authority has been able to logically explain this new rule to me (because they CAN’T). But they’re out there, earnestly enforcing it.

SuitcasesAnd I was a victim of it this week, flying back from Vancouver. I was denied boarding (with hundreds of other passengers) even though I had only one carry-on bag, because they said my briefcase was too big. This is the same briefcase that has logged over 1.5 million air miles carrying my laptop, wallet, airline tickets and notebook. But not acceptable in Vancouver because of heightened security. WHAT heightened security? It’s heightened hysteria!

And so I watched people—some of them crying—being forced to check laptops (now that’s suicidal), and then waiting nearly two hours to get through security lines. In my case, I removed everything I possibly could—other than my laptop  and wallet—from my briefcase and jammed it into a bag I normally would NEVER check. So let’s add it up: two hours to get through security; forced to check bags; and, assuming my bag was actually on the same flight I was, another hour to wait to get it at my final destination. And I was denied the opportunity to work/read/write during the flight because all my important papers had to be checked.

Note to Canada: In less than 33 days the winter Olympics begins.

Click here to get a complete guide to Olympics Travel.

If you want me to come, please eliminate at least one form of high hurdles from your airports, for which there will NEVER be medals—the ridiculous one carry on bag rule. Can you imagine what will happen when Olympics fans, loaded with souvenirs, try to leave after the Games only to be told only one small carry-on bag?

I for one am boycotting all travel to Canada until common sense prevails. I’ve always believed that if you make a rule you need to explain and at least justify it.

No security official anywhere has explained or justified the one bag rule. Because they can’t. I love Canada. But security without common sense is stupidity, and right now there’s a lot of stupidity north of the border, eh?

By Peter Greenberg for PeterGreenberg.com.

Read more from Peter’s Travel Detective Blog.

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  • Anonymous

    Hi Peter. You seem to have entirely overlooked the fact that Canada’s new rules are a desperate attempt to respond to/conform to the ever-changing and entirely insane new TSA regulations put in place in response to the attempted bombing over the holidays. You’ll note that these rules only apply to US-bound flights – and yet you assume we’re the source of the hysteria and stupidity?

    “I’ve always believed that if you make a rule you need to explain and at least justify it.”

    I look forward to seeing you apply this belief to your own homegrown TSA – will you be boycotting domestic travel as well? Or do you prefer simply to blame others?

  • Shawn

    Maybe a constructive or informed opinions will serve you better next time. The TSA demands these flight restrictions on flights entering the USA. This post is little more than uninformed crying.

  • Anonymous

    The TSA is a repository of overpaid political hacks who exult in abusing their authority. They are lifers who love the fact that they have pension plans and a health plan and only work 4 hours a day. CATSA, their Canadian equivalent, is a basic toadie, doing whatever Big Brother in Washington says. It is mostly staffed at airports by a contractor, meaning either low bid/low quality, or a sizable contributor to the Conservative Party. Either way, it has been headed up consecutively by 2 former Montreal cops, a city with the lowest crime-solution rate in the country going for it as a hiring reference. Maybe 1 of these highly-paid/under-worked bureaucrats can explain to me why it is “security” for me not to have a bag with me on a flight from Montreal to Newark, but it is “safe” for me to have one from Burlington,VT to Newark (on a flight priced at 1/3 of the exorbitant gouging I would get from Canada to boot). They can’t, they won’t, but they’ll be laughing at us with their fat pensions when they retire.

  • Anonymous

    Eva’s comment is right on. I wish Peter Greenberg would do a little research. If US “Intelligence” had connected the dots, Canada wouldn’t have to ban your precious carry-on. It’s an inconvenience, for sure. But if we don’t comply to the US “tightened security” mandate, there would be no flights into or over the US. Would you rather walk home? I hope your carry-on has wheels.

  • Andrew

    Eva has a point – but only partly. The Canadian rules are in response to the USA TSA, but they are an over-reaction. And, as for rationale, the idea was that by limiting the carry-on luggage to be screened, the CATSA staff would have more time to spend on a detailed check of each passenger. Unfortunately, common sense seems to be missing as I suspect that they are spending more time enforcing the rules and measuring bags that it would take to just put the darn things on the belt. Does it really take that much longer to screen a small purse than it does a big one? Of course not.

    I am dreading my early morning flight to the US next week. If these rules aren’t changed soon, business travel will grind to a halt (I’m already looking at trips that I can postpone) and the YVR will be a mess during the Olympics.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve always found Canadian immigration rude and suspicious. Dammit I was just coming as a tourist. Oh well compare with places like Indonesia, the Seychelles and Kenya (all this in the 70s); I had an awful time with all of them. And this ranks in stupidity with those infuriating onward-ticket rules in countries with land access like Kenya (I had an awful time) and such stupidity as you have to check your camera before visiting Buckingham Palace in London or Parlt. in Wellington, N.Z., and no pointing it at the Presidential Palace right behind the Carthage ruins in Tunis. And no photos in Parlt. House, Canberra–I couldn’t believe this. The height of stupidity.

  • John

    Peter,

    It’s amazing how much Canada gets blamed for all things wrong for the US. For the last 10 years, we Canadians hear that the terrorists come to the US from Canada. This of course is nonsense yet we hear all the time how bad our security is. The US has virtually stopped easy acsess going from Canada to the US, have beefed up wait times at the border, extra security ,e tc.

    Now because of another scare to a US airways plane going to the US, Canada beefs up airport security and you scream “blame Canada”.

    Boy – it’s hard to win. “Boycotting travel to Canada” over this.. wow. Seems strange way to support a country that you “love’.

  • Shelley Mesirow

    Not just Canada, Peter. Let’s just admit Bush and Co have eliminated all our Bill of Rights in the US. Since the beginning of TSA, I never know what will arrive in my baggage as I’ve been endlessly stolen from. Prescription medicines are taken, a 1 1/2 inch pen knife, a custom sweatshirt with a cat on it, even bras and underpants and more. In my recent trip, a TSA padlock was removed from one bag and an integrated TSA lock on an expensive bag broken. These people are absolutely lawless, poorly trained and stupid at best, criminals and thieves at worse. By the way, and this from a flight attendant, do you know who TSA is at Alaska Airlines route from Miami to Seattle? The Bloods and the Crips. I have never, ever been compensated for any of this. But the worst was in August when I arrived at Midway Chicago airport in a wheelchair after undergoing a toe amputation with a surgical shoe and bandage and TSA’s actions and personal inspection broke open the wound, thereby having my healing take months instead of the surgeon’s promised two weeks. Of course, no lawyer would take my case because it would involve going against the United States government. So do I feel safer with my life, health and ability to conduct business or purchase anything while TSA is on the job? Not on your life.

  • PuckishPixie

    The TSA is demanding that persons and baggage coming from specified 14 (or whatever) countries are extensively searched. Cana-DOH has decided that instead of searching only those bags, because it would be “discriminatory” to a small handful of people, instead they should subject this madness on the rest of the free world. The rest of the world, on the other hand, is not having ANY difficulty complying with the new TSA directive, which I’ll be the first to admit is dumb.

    While the TSA may be retarded, Cana-DOH is being far more so. I guess they are trying to be the king country of the asinine. Great Job.. King CanaDOH of Stupid.

    Boycott Canada. When they realize the economic impact of airlines, airports, hotels, rental car agencies, etc all having to layoff hard-working white northerners, they will step back into line.. I guarantee it.

  • Anne

    Amen – you said it well Peter. Imagine living in Canada and forced to go by these rules for most flights via US or to US. If we fly internationally the one bag rule doesn’t apply. So if you fly back to US via London England you’ll be ok as the rules are different *only* for US departures. I hear the US flight area of my airport is not busy at all. Airlines should be screaming at CATSA (our TSA) to get things back to normal as many people just won’t go with all this fuss. They have changed the rules slightly to make more sense – not much more but some on their website. Now you can take alot of stuff on but only on your person not in a bag or if you can cram it into a small purse/bag. They have removed size restrictions on laptop bags but have a specific type of bag they will allow. Continue to boycott and if there is less tourism from/to Canada during this economic time you will know who to blame. Not the Canadians but the government and CATSA. I thought the same thing as you it will be chaos in Vancouver Airport in a month. I suspect they will keep these restrictions up until they can get the body scanners in place. Sigh… lucky you – you live in the land of the free and sane . If you want to see something funny check this link out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZfbTlYpKYo

  • http://jetsetcitizen.com/ John Bardos – JetSetCitizen

    Sorry Peter but as the other comments point out, this restriction is only for flights going to the US. Your claims are incorrect.

    “As a result of recent security measures imposed by Canadian and U.S. government authorities on flights from Canada to the U.S., strict limits remain in effect for carry-on articles allowed in the cabin and longer security screening times should be expected at airports.”

    This is a result of American TSA policies. A fear mongering US government is the cause of your angst.

    It is funny that you say you are going to boycott Canadian travel, because I avoid all travel to the US because of the ridiculous customs procedures and harassment from overzealous customs officers. Traveling through Canada is quite civilized in comparison.