Heathrow T5 Security - Watch out !
Aug 2, 2018, 1:52 pm
#46
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,848
Metal detectorists find ancient Roman silver and gold coins. So presumably if the amount of gold\silver is large enough or the sensitivity is high enough then non ferrous metals will also set them off. A brass zipper won't set them off (neither will a single bullet) but a large solid silver necklace might (as would a gun). The pulse induction technique may owe more to the ability to carry a current rather than to magnetism. They do seem to be maybe twice as sensitive to ferrous as to non ferrous though.
Aug 2, 2018, 2:13 pm
#47
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Surrey, UK
Posts: 495
Sorry, but I'm no longer able to re-read it for clarification..
Aug 2, 2018, 4:10 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold; LH FTL; IHG Diamond; Marriott Gold; ALL Gold
Posts: 1,758
Aug 3, 2018, 4:37 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
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I have a convenient small outer pocket in my backpack. One one occasion, after bag-drop, I was outside in the T5 smoking shelter (full of BA crew as usual!) and was loading this pocket with watch and wallet, cigarettes and lighter prior to Security. One of the CC commented that I was clearly a Frequent Flyer 
Aug 4, 2018, 3:26 am
#51
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,848
You would now need to use a ceramic blade. For good or ill, these are available and much cheaper than Au Ag alternatives.
Aug 4, 2018, 1:37 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
Scanner/xray machines vary in both technology (older v newer machines) and sensitivity. Even to seemingly identical scanners at same airport but different gates having differences
I can fully undetstand why screening personel require all watches/belts removed, ie they don't want or even have time to rescreen fliers the 50% of times such metal objects would trigger an alert. Scanners are magnetic looking just for metallic iron/steel.
I do own some pricier watches i wear day2day and thus when traveling, my one personal vice. As such I am aware watches, even those with metal bracelets, such as steel+gold rolex, gold cartier do not necessarily set off the scanners.
I can fully undetstand why screening personel require all watches/belts removed, ie they don't want or even have time to rescreen fliers the 50% of times such metal objects would trigger an alert. Scanners are magnetic looking just for metallic iron/steel.
I do own some pricier watches i wear day2day and thus when traveling, my one personal vice. As such I am aware watches, even those with metal bracelets, such as steel+gold rolex, gold cartier do not necessarily set off the scanners.
Aug 4, 2018, 2:13 pm
#53
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,179
True. Except it’s not BA really is it? Its T5 security which is nothing to do with BA. As to the rest well, how anyone can be robbed of an extremely valuable item without anyone summoning the police?
That of course is being sarcastic.
That of course is being sarcastic.
Aug 4, 2018, 2:32 pm
#54
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
Make of that what you will.
Aug 4, 2018, 3:35 pm
#55
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 699
Stopped putting my checked luggage id attached to my checked bag a few years ago after hearing incidents of baggage handlers photographing name and address of tags and passing them on to house breakers
i know off topic from original thread but always weary
i know off topic from original thread but always weary
Aug 4, 2018, 8:41 pm
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
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I put a slip of paper in my bags that only has my name. flight number and phone/email on it. I have no other info on the outside not even the shiny tags that show status.
On the outbound I add the name of the hotel. On the return nothing else.
Aug 4, 2018, 10:19 pm
#57
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I have never had the metal detector go off on my watch. It's probably too small to set it off (alligator straps with 18 ct gold parts, 18 carat gold case, but not the face, and overall rather small (under an inch in diameter). However, my hair clip with very thin stainless steel parts usually sets it off if I forget to take it off. By weight it has far less metal than my watch though.
Umbrellas and spray cans are Australian favourites. Not for stealing, but for "picking on" at security (not necessarily meant to sound critical but a folded umbrella does amuse me).
Never try to carry a spray can without the cap there if you don't want to lose it. They don't want to steal your deodorant but they won't let you take it either.. (and some would say that they want some people around them to actually steal your deodorant if they promise to use it, but that's an entirely different story).
"Spoof" them by putting the address of your workplace if you happen to work for the police?
I do not put my physical address on my baggage tag, and I don't even put my phone number or email address on the outside of the tag. It goes on the back of the card inserted into the tag.
Never try to carry a spray can without the cap there if you don't want to lose it. They don't want to steal your deodorant but they won't let you take it either.. (and some would say that they want some people around them to actually steal your deodorant if they promise to use it, but that's an entirely different story).
"Spoof" them by putting the address of your workplace if you happen to work for the police?
I do not put my physical address on my baggage tag, and I don't even put my phone number or email address on the outside of the tag. It goes on the back of the card inserted into the tag.
Last edited by LTN Phobia; Aug 4, 2018 at 10:56 pm
Aug 4, 2018, 11:00 pm
#58
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Oxford (&Western Isles )
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; RyanAir MillionMiler :( ;
Posts: 756
A bit unfair/inaccurate. The watch appeared when th OP was insistent to see the CCTV, so it wasn’t needed in the end.
Aug 4, 2018, 11:45 pm
#59
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
And why delete the OP anyway?
Aug 5, 2018, 12:52 am
#60
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: somewhere north of stateside...
Posts: 4,153
Well don't put your full address on the outside of the bag then.
I put a slip of paper in my bags that only has my name. flight number and phone/email on it. I have no other info on the outside not even the shiny tags that show status.
On the outbound I add the name of the hotel. On the return nothing else.
I put a slip of paper in my bags that only has my name. flight number and phone/email on it. I have no other info on the outside not even the shiny tags that show status.
On the outbound I add the name of the hotel. On the return nothing else.
I just use a business card tucked into the address tag sleeve. If the bag goes missing, they can contact my office. It protects my home and privacy, and gives the airline a place to contact where they will certainly be able to reach someone.