Flyers told not to wrap their Christmas presents

It’s inevitable that in the run-up to Christmas people will be flying home or flying out to spend the festive season with friends and loved ones. The urge to wrap the presents is natural.

However, passengers must resist that urge because when going through security, there is a chance those presents being carried through in hand luggage may have to be unwrapped.

The net effect will be a slow journey through security, queues and possibly some gift confiscations. The standard rules regarding what you can take through airport security including banning liquids over 100ml, including perfumes, drinks, and even innocent-looking snow globes. 

Heathrow Airport, the busiest and largest UK airport tells visitors to the website not to wrap “as security staff may wish to view them”.

 “Wrapped gifts can be viewed as concealed packages and may need to be screened, opened and searched by airport staff. If you are taking wrapping paper and gift bags with you, make sure they fold flat so they won’t get creased. And if you’re expecting a festive haul on The Big Day, make sure you pack a swag bag to bring them all back safely!”

The word from Gatwick airport is “Wrapped Christmas presents are not exempt from the current aviation security measures and are subject to searching and screening measures by airport security staff when flying from the UK. It is possible that passengers may be asked to unwrap any presents by security staff at the airport before their journey. Therefore, passengers should travel with any presents unwrapped.”

Liquid gifts should remain “unwrapped in hold baggage”.

Budget Irish airline Ryanair warned: “Don’t spend hours intricately wrapping gifts to carry in your hand luggage. Wrapped gifts may be opened, searched and screened by airport security staff.”

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