Originally Posted by
Unimatrix One
Just saw a notice on the JAL web site announcing that effective February 1 (I think), all international departures from Japan will be subject to essentially the same stupid liquid rules as US flights. Passengers are limited to one 1-liter "freedom baggie" and can only take containers of liquids of 100mL or less.
And the press release also said that all passengers will be required to place laptops, freedom baggies, and coats in separate bins for x-ray screening. (Until recently Japan has never required removal of laptops.)
At least it sounds like domestic flights are not subject to the new rules (yet). I've taken a number of domestic flights recently, and the security process is far saner (with people who are actually competent and polite) than in the US.
Any chance they're doing this to avoid having "second" / special screening for passengers on flights to the US & EU? It would put pax traveling to "sane" nations at a disadvantage, but it would mean everyone gets screened at the same level and eliminates the need for a 2nd search for specific items at the gate. (?)
If liquids, etc., were a serious threat to Japan, the policy would have been implemented a long time ago.