Image credit: Brandrodungswanderfeldhackbau [shifting cultivation] October 2007

The batteries are now contained in a fireproof steel box with a chimney that vents outside the aircraft.  That’s what you get for an extra 200,000 hours of engineers’ time.

The actual root cause of the problems previously experienced “may never be determined” but some 80 battery-related technical features have been upgraded.

Why try a new battery design

The Lithium-ion batteries on the 787 are characterised by being able to provide a large amount of electrical power in a short period of time.  They are about the size of a car battery and are much lighter than older types of battery.

By way of comparison, the 787’s batteries provide up to 150A of current and weigh 29kg (excluding the new modifications), whereas the older battery design used on the Boeing 777 weighs 49kg and provides just 16A of current.

What are the batteries used for?

There are two identical lithium batteries carried on the Dreamliner.  The one in the middle of the craft is used to start a small turbine at the tail of the aircraft, the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).  And it powers the navigation lights.  The APU, in turn, provides the power (1100 shaft horsepower) needed to start the main engines.

The battery in the forward electrical bay, under the main cabin floor,  powers certain accessories when the aircraft is on the ground, and powers various electrical systems prior to the APU starting up.

All craft being modified

Ten teams of engineers, averaging 30 per team, are converting the 50 Dreamliners already delivered so they can be returned to service.  The modifications are scheduled to be completed mid-May.  The first commercial flights have resumed without incident.

The modifications are also being applied to aircraft that have been built but not delivered.  All deliveries scheduled for 2013 are expected to be delivered by the end of the year.

No problems have been experienced with craft that have been modified and returned to service.

Singapore publishes lists of the drugs that are banned or restricted, which provides the assurance that you can at least check to see if you are okay, well before you leave home.

All medicines containing any one of a number of ingredients require specific authorisation from the Singapore authorities before you can safety take them with you.  But if you have obtained the authorisation, and have the necessary documentation with you, then you will not experience any problem with the authorities.

Judicial system

The rules of the Singaporean judicial system are such that you basically want to avoid even being regarded as a suspect.  The law constrains judges to apply sentences harshly and there are very few extenuating circumstances permitted.  Attempts by foreign governments to apply pressure for a lighter sentence are frequently seen as interference.  Recent changes to the sentencing laws in 2013 give the judges some leeway in commuting mandatory death sentences to life imprisonment if they find that there are special circumstances.

Recreational drugs

The Misuse of Drugs Act (1972) creates a presumption of trafficking based on specific quantities of drugs found in your possession.  So in a legal sense, “trafficking” does not need to be proved, merely possession.

You may be searched or required to provide a urine sample for analysis, by any police officer without a warrant on “reasonable suspicion” that you may have a controlled drug or other contraband.  Any premises may likewise be searched without a warrant on “reasonable suspicion”.

If a urine sample tests positive, you will be charged with drug possession, even if you consumed the drugs prior to entering Singapore.  If you use recreational drugs, you should stop sufficiently far ahead of your trip to Singapore that you are “clean” on arrival.

Mandatory death penalties

Mandatory death penalties are applicable for amounts exceeding the following:

• cannabis mixture: 500 grams
• cannabis resin: 100 grams
• cannabis: 500 grams
• cocaine: 30 grams
• hashish: 200 grams
• heroin: 15 grams
• methamphetamine: 250 grams
• morphine: 30 grams
• opium: 1,200 grams

It has been estimated that 70% of the death sentences carried out in Singapore are for drug offences.  For lesser amounts the penalty may be life imprisonment.  For really tiny amounts you may be sentenced to judicial beating.

Official list of restricted medicines

It can take quite a bit of searching to locate the official list of medicines restricted in Singapore.    We provide a summary list below.  At the time the article was written the authoritative link was at http://www.hsa.gov.sg/publish/hsaportal/en/home.html   There you should scroll down and click on the menu item on the right that says “Bringing Personal Medications Into Singapore”.

Authorisation is required for medicines

If your medication contains ANY of the substances in the “Appendix A” list (copied below) then you should complete a form available on their web site and apply for authorisation to take it into the country.  This must be submitted no less than ten days before entry.

Once you have completed the form the official procedure is:

Email the form to: hsa_info@hsa.gov.sg   or

• Fax to: (65) 64789068; or
• Mail to:
  Audit and Licensing Division
  Health Products Regulation Group
  Health Sciences Authority
  150 Cantonment Road, Cantonment Centre
  Blk A, #01-02, Singapore 089762

The following documents and information are required to be submitted with your application:

1. Names and dosages of the medicines (both trade/brand names and names of active ingredients contained in the products)
2. Total quantity of each type of medicines that will be brought into Singapore
3. Your doctor’s letter or medical prescription verifying for the need of the medicines
4. Your flight details and intended length of stay in Singapore (applicable for visiting tourists)
5. Your passport or identity particulars and contact details (address, fax number and/or email)

No more than three month’s supply of ANY medication (even if you have applied for authorisation) may accompany you.  For prescription medicines not on the list  you are required to have a letter from your doctor and a copy of the medical prescription with you as proof that the medicines are for your personal use.

Singapore Health Products Regulation : “Appendix A”

The Singapore Government’s Health Services Authority maintains a list of scheduled substances on their web site.  This is their “Appendix A” of Controlled Substances subject to Import/Export controls.

The list below was retrieved from their site on 6 April 2013, at which time it had last been updated on 2 April 2013.  We do not regularly maintain this list, which is here to give you a general overview of the medicines that are restricted or forbidden in Singapore.  You should check with their web site for updates.

The following substances and products or any stereoisomeric form, ester or ether, and salts of a substance specified below,

n-(1-methyl-4-piperidyl)-N-phenyl formanide, 1-Hydroxy-3-pentyl-6a, 7, 10, 10a-tetra hydro-6, 6, 9-trimethyl-6-H-dibenzo [b, d] pyran, 2-Methyl-3-morpholino-1, 1-diphenylpropanecarboxylic acid, 1-Methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid, 2,5-Dimethoxy-4,alpha-dimethyl-phenethylamine, 2,5-Dimethoxy-alpha-methylphenethylamine, 2-amino-1-(2, 5-dimethoxy-4-methyl) phenylpropane, 3-(1,2-Dimethylheptyl)-1-hydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-6H-dibenzo [b,d] pyran-1-ol, 3,4,5-Trimethoxy-alpha-methylphenethylamine, 3-Methoxy-alpha-methyl-4,5-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine, 3-Methyl fentanyl, 3-Methylthiofentanyl, 4-Bromo-2,5-alpha-methylphenethylamine (also known as Brolamfetamine), 4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, 4-Cyano-1-methyl-4-phenyl-piperidine, 4-Cyano-2-dimethylamino-4, 4-diphenylbutane, 4-Ethyl-2,5-dimethoxy-alpha-methylphenethylamine, 4-Methylaminorex, 4-Methylthioamphetamine, 4-Phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester, 5-Methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine,

Acetorphine, Acetyldihydrocodeine, Acetylmethadol, Alfentanil, Allobarbital, Allylprodine, Alphacetylmethadol, Alphameprodine, Alphamethadol,Alpha-Methyl fentanyl Acetanilide, Alpha-Methyl fentanyl, Alpha-Methylthiofentanyl, Alphaprodine, Alprazolam, Alpha-Methyl-3,4(methylenedioxy) phenethylamine (also known as Tenamfetamine), Amfepramone, Aminorex, Amobarbital, Amphetamine, Anileridine.

Barbital, Benzethidine, Benzphetamine, Benzyl fentanyl, Benzylmorphine(3-benzyl-morphine), Betacetylmethadol, Beta-hydroxyfentanyl, Beta-hydroxy-3-methyl fentanyl, Betameprodine, Betamethadol, Betaprodine, Bezitramide, Bromazepam, Brotizolam, Bufotenine, Buprenorphine, Butalbital, Butobarbital.

Camazepam, Cannabinol derivatives, Cannabinol, Cannabis and cannabis resin, Carfentanil, Cathine, Cathinone, Chlordiazepoxide, Chlorphentermine, Clobazam, Clonazepam, Clonitazene, Clorazepate, Clotiazepam, Cloxazolam, Coca leaf, Cocaine, Codeine, Codoxime, Cyclobarbital.

Delorazepam, Desomorphine, Dexamphetamine, Dextromoramide, Dextropropoxyphene, Diamorphine,(Heroin) Diampromide, Diazepam, Diethylthiambutene, Difenoxin, Dihydrocodeine, Dihydroetorphine, Dihydromorphine, Dimenoxadole, Dimepheptanol, Dimethylthiambutene, Dioxaphetyl butyrate, Diphenoxylate, Dipipanone, Drotebanol.

Ecgonine, and any derivative of ecgonine which is convertible to ecgonine or to cocaine, Estazolam, Ethchlorvynol, Ethinamate, Ethylloflazepate, Ethylmethylthiambutene, Ethylmorphine (3-ethylmorphine), Eticyclidine, Etilamfetamine, Etonitazene, Etorphine, Etoxeridine, Etryptamine.

Fencamfamin, Fenetylline, Fenproporex, Fentanyl Fludiazepam, Flunitrazepam, Flurazepam, Furethidine, Gamma hydroxybutyric acid, Glutethimide, Halazepam, Haloxazolam, Hydrocodone, Hydromorphinol, Hydromorphone, Hydroxypethidine, Isomethadone, Ketamine, Ketazolam, Ketobemidone.

Lefetamine, Levomethorphan, Levomoramide, Levophenacylmorphan, Levorphanol, Lofentanil, Loprazolam, Lorazepam, Lormetazepam, Lysergamide, Lysergide and other N-alkyl derivatives of lysergamide, Mazindol, Mecloqualone, Medazepam, Mefenorex, Mephentermine, Meprobamate Mescaline, Mesocarb Metazocine, Methadone, Methadyl acetate, Methcathinone, Methamphetamine (also known as Methylamphetamine), Methaqualone, Methyldesorphine, Methyldihydromorphine (6-methyldihydromorphine), Methylphenidate, Methylphenobarbital, Methyprylon, Metopon, Midazolam Monoacetylmorphine Morpheridine, Morphine methobromide, other pentavalent nitrogen morphine derivatives Morphine N-oxide, Myrophine.

n,alpha-dimethyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine, n,N-Diethyltryptamine, n,N-Dimethyltryptamine, n,[alpha-methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy) phenethyl] hydroxylamine, n-ethyl-alpha-methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine, Nicocodine, Nicodicodine, Nicomorphine (3, 6-dinicotinoyl-morphine), Nimetazepam, Nitrazepam, n-methyl-alpha-ethyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine, Noracymethadol, Norbuprenorphine, Norcodeine, Nordazepam, Norketamine and its dehydro derivatives, Norlevorphanol, Normethadone, Normorphine, Norpipanone.

Opium, Oxazepam, Oxazolam, Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, para-fluorofentanyl, Parahexyl (3-hexyl-1-hydroxy-7, 8, 9, 10-tetrahydro-6, 6, 9-trimethyl 6h-dibenzo [b, d] pyran), Pemoline, Pentazocine, Pentobarbital, Pethidine, Phenadoxone, Phenampromide, Phenazocine, Phencyclidine, Phendimetrazine, Phenmetrazine, Phenobarbital, Phenomorphan, Phenoperidine, Phentermine, Pholcodine, Piminodine, Pinazepam Pipradrol, Piritramide, Poppy-straw and concentrate of poppy-straw, p-methoxy-alpha-methylphenethylamine, Prazepam, Proheptazine, Properidine (1-methyl-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid isopropyl ester), Propiram, Psilocin, Psilocybine, Pyrovalerone.

Racemethorphan, Racemoramide, Racemorphan, Remifentanil, Rolicyclidine, Secbutabarbital, Secobarbital, Sildenafil, Sufentanil, Tadalafil, Temazepam, Tenocyclidine, Tetrazepam, Thebacon, Thebaine, Thiofentanyl, Tilidine, Triazolam, Trimeperidine, Vardenafil, Vinylbital, Zipeprol, Zolpidem.

While every effort has been made to verify the contents of this list, we advise travellers to check their medication with the Singapore consulate before travel and to apply for prior permission.

Web site bug

On the Singapore Health Sciences Authority web site there is a Frequently asked questions section.  You can only access that using Internet Explorer.  More modern browsers fail with a Javascript error that says “POST requests are not permitted from foreign domains.”

Complementary medicines

Many complementary medicines contain no pharmacologically active ingredients and would consequently not run foul of regulations, other than perhaps on the import of alcohol.  However, those that contain Schedule 1 or Schedule 3 “Poisons” (according to the list available on the Health Services Authority web site) are subject to similar regulations to medicines. viz. doctor’s script (must be a registered medical doctor, not a shaman, beauty therapist or coach, etc.) , the documentation required, and a 3-month limit on supplies.

The Singapore Health Sciences Authority recommend on their web site that for further information you should contact: hsa_info@hsa.gov.sg  Alternatively, you may call Tel. (65) 6866 3522 or (65) 6866 3592 for assistance.

Others of the supposed ‘value adds’ are simply ruthless money-grabbing.  The major airlines are increasingly adopting the approach of the low-cost carriers by charging extra for things that have always been part of the ticket price.  British Airways have been one of the leaders in this dubious practice.

Here are the major cost-cutting and earnings-boosting tricks currently in use:

Paying for an extra seat because you are deemed too large by the airline.  There are two arguments for this, one being that it is the fat person’s fault for being fat and the other that it should be the same price for everyone to make it fair.  One could argue for example that a thinner person should get smaller seats that only fit skinnier folks in.  But that wouldn’t be popular either.  So, the answer from some airlines?  You have to pay for an extra seat if you are over a certain weight.

While some folks really do need two seats, they are in the minority.  The unfairness of charging passengers by weight is that heavy is the new norm, despite what people might think.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states on their site that more than one third (35.7%) of US adults are obese.  It is widely acknowledged that the current generation is bigger than their lighter counterparts of thirty years ago.

It should be mentioned that the 35.7% percent of the US population represents huge buying power.  Everyone has a choice as to who they will book with, whatever their shape may be.  Heavy people will gravitate to those airlines that do not make a fuss about their weight.  Also, if people are being charged for being big then they will demand that in exchange for their extra money that the airlines provide a safe amount of legroom, and enough space to open their tray-table properly.

Paying to pre-seat.  When the low cost carriers came out, many of them did not offer pre-seating for all.  Seating was on a first-come, first-served basis.  Boarding a plane was chaotic.  Now some of the major airlines such as British Airways and KLM are exploiting this by also introducing charges for pre-seating on their lower fares.  They will happily sell you an emergency exit row and bulkhead seats, which have a bit more space.

Bear in mind that paying for an exit row seat guarantees nothing if the cabin crew arbitrarily deem you to be ‘unfit to operate the emergency exit door’.  You will then be summarily seated elsewhere.

Paying for checked-in baggage.  Back in the day your baggage was always included.  Now there are airlines that charge for each bag at check-in.  Only your hand luggage is included in the fare.  Be very careful to read the fine print on a ‘cheap’ fare.  It may work out to the same price as a regular airline that includes food, something to drink and standard baggage allowances.

One report pointed out that on one airline the extra bag charge is so high that you would be better off if you bought a ticket for a friend so he or she could carry your extra bag for you, rather than checking it in and paying the extra charges!

Paying for boarding pass printing.  Despite it having been declared illegal, if you fail to preprint your boarding pass on an A4 page and have it with you for your Ryanair flight, they will charge you.  The cost is more than you would pay to buy a low-end printer.

Worse yet – you have to check in online, and they charge for it.

Paying for online check-in.  This is normally included as who rightly expects to pay for having checked in online?  Well a certain rogue airline charges €7 or £7.

Our advice then is to look at the full price once everything has been included.  You may be surprised to see that it is often cheaper to fly with a full-service carrier between, say, Heathrow and Dublin than a so-called low-cost carrier where you have to add on checked baggage fees, online boarding passes, pre-seating, and paying for your onboard snack.

Image credit: Adadahass 2008

Most of the major airlines other than the cheapies accept unaccompanied minors.  The number of unaccompanied minors permitted on a flight is limited by aviation regulations and depends on how many flight attendants are available to keep an eye on the children.  It is not always guaranteed that the request will be confirmed.

Airline requirements for unaccompanied minors

A ticket will never be issued until the request has been confirmed.  If you are making the booking yourself rather make the booking over the phone, in preference to online, to ensure that the payment will only be made once the request has been confirmed.  If you do it online without doing this, the likelihood is that your child would not be permitted to check in, let alone board.

Some low cost carriers do not accept unaccompanied minors.  Check with the airline to find out if they do.

What sort of information will the airline require to process an unaccompanied minor request?

• Age
• Language
• Name that they are known by (if different to that on the passport, eg Kate where name on passport is Katherine)
• Contact details of the person accompanying the child to check-in and contact details of the person coming to collect at the final destination.  This must include telephone number and home address.

Confirmation of a request to book for an unaccompanied minor will take between 24 and 48 hours.

Most airlines are very strict about who comes to collect the child.  It cannot be anyone other than the person whose details were given initially.  The person will need to bring suitable photo identification with them, such as a passport.

Who is classified as an unaccompanied minor?

For most airlines anyone under the age of sixteen who is not travelling with a responsible person (usually a parent) is an unaccompanied minor.

Child fares

Child fares are only applicable to the age of eleven, after which an adult fare applies.  Adult fares also frequently apply to domestic journeys, particularly on low cost carriers or budget airlines.  Taxes however, are always the same for adults and children.

Unaccompanied minor fares are slightly more than for accompanied children.  Where the average child fare is usually between 67 – 75% of the adult fare, for the same child travelling unaccompanied the airline may decide to charge 90% of the adult fare.

Image credit: Leonid Mamchenkov June 2007

Not very long ago I had a passenger who, despite being well on time, kept phoning from the airport to report that he had missed flight after flight.  This was deeply mysterious.  After he had missed three successive flights we realised that he did not know that he had to check in!  He was an absolute novice flyer, but could not bring himself to admit that he did not know what was going on and ask either us or the airport staff for assistance.

Here is what to do if it is your first time.

You will need:

• Your eticket, if you do not have your boarding pass
• A print of your boarding pass if you have checked in online, or at a self-service kiosk at the airport
• Photo-identification (according to local regulations and airline requirements: driver’s licence or national id. or passport for domestic flights, passport for international flights)

Check in online before you leave home

We strongly suggest that you check in online ahead of time.  You can usually reserve your seat and obtain your boarding pass online (our handy links are here http://diytravelexpert.com/airline-check-in/) or at a kiosk at the airport, but you will still need to have your luggage weighed in.

If you have your boarding pass and only carry-on luggage, that’s it – you’re done!  No need to go to the check-in area.  Go straight to security.

Find your check-in area

Unless you are at a terminal that only serves a single airline (such as Heathrow terminal 5 serving BA, or New York JFK terminal 5 that serves Jet Airlines) you must first locate the check-in area serving the airline you are travelling on.

For a flight operating on a code-share, where members of an airline alliance issue tickets on other member’s flights, you may need to check in at the area run by the airline operating the flight.  This information will be on your eticket, usually in the format of a statement saying “Airline A, operated by Airline B”.  Then you should know to go line up at Airline B’s counters.  If they do not state that, then you probably just need to go to your airline’s counter, even if they are not operating the flight.  In other words, Not your problem.

The name of the airline is usually on a board (nowadays on a screen) above the desk.  There are usually further indications of the class of passenger (viz. already checked-in online, first class, business class, frequent-flyer members, etc.).  Make sure that you are in the correct queue so that you do not get directed to queue again, at the back of the next queue.

At the check-in counter

• Your eticket or boarding pass will be verified.
• If you have not checked in online your seat will be assigned.  You may have seat choices, some of which may cost a premium on some airlines.  It sometimes happens that the seat that you have reserved online (or that your travel agent has reserved for you when booking) is reallocated at this time.  If you are lucky you could even be upgraded, as recently happened to me on a long flight within Europe.
• Your luggage destined for the hold will be weighed and taken into care.
• Your boarding pass will be issued unless you have printed it yourself.  A certain airline charges absurdly large amounts if you have not printed your own boarding pass prior to arrival at the airport!  If you are travelling in a group this omission can cost you dearly.  Sometime the boarding pass will be replaced, if you have been re-seated by the airline.
• For international flights your passport will be verified.

Be early

The earlier you check in for your flight the less likely you are to be bumped and the more likely you are to get a seat that you desire, be it leg room, a window seat , an aisle seat, position in relation to the wing, or proximity to toilets.  If you are sufficiently late you will be denied boarding altogether.

The usual latest recommended check-in is an hour prior to departure for domestic flights and two hours for international flights.  However, this may differ according to the airport and the airline concerned.  El Al security is particularly tight and you should plan to be there three hours prior to departure for international flights.  Any international flight to the USA will also have particularly stringent (some say unnecessary) security and the long queues that this causes make it advisable for you to give yourself an extra 30 minutes to an hour.

Luggage limits

You should check with your airline what your luggage weight limit is, the size (for carry-on, cabin luggage), the number of pieces permitted, as well as what can and cannot be carried at the time.

Whilst some travellers enjoy getting vouchers for free flights, most of us simply want to be on the flight on the date and time that we originally booked.

Some airlines have so many rules about the use of their vouchers that people actively avoid them.  For instance the complicated Ryanair voucher rules include the following:

• the name on the voucher must exactly match the name on your passport,
• if the voucher does not cover the full amount then you will have to pay the card fee when you pay the difference,
• the vouchers are only valid in the issuing currency,
• if the voucher is for more than the fare then you lose the excess portion,
• there is a fee for handling the vouchers,
• you cannot use more than four vouchers per flight,
• you can only redeem the voucher online, and
• they expire after six months.

Be there way before time

If you are on a domestic flight and the check in time is one hour and it’s a busy time, such as holiday season, be there two hours before departure,  If its an international flight and its two hours before departure, rather spend an extra hour at the airport, safe in the knowledge that you are on the plane than miss some important non-repeatable event such as a wedding or funeral, or a get-together or special family occasion.

Pre-seat

Airlines are increasingly getting on the bandwagon of squeezing more revenue from their customers by charging for pre-seating.  However it is still worthwhile to be pre-seated and actually have a seat number assigned to your name before check in.  Why?  It is much easier for the airline to bump someone with no seat number.  They can still do it, of course, but the likelihood is reduced.  (Over-booking is illegal in terms of consumer protection laws in some jurisdictions, but even that does not seem to give the airlines pause on the practice, since it is easy for them to obscure the fact.)

Online Check in

If your travel agent has warned you that flights are full for the time in which you are travelling, we strongly recommend online check-in.  Same rule applies as the pre-seating, in that you have an assigned seat number, but being checked in adds much more protection against being bumped than just pre-seating.

We have online check-in links for many major airlines here http://diytravelexpert.com/airline-check-in/  [There is also a permanent link from the top menu of this site]  This feature of DIY Travel Expert is now being copied by a number of travel agent’s sites, who first saw it here! (*)

(*) We saw the visits from their domains in the log files, then a few days later … a similar feature appeared on their site.  No credit given, unfortunately.

Image credit: Andrey Belenko, January 2010

The first stage in taking a flight, particularly for the first time, is to get to the right airport and the correct terminal.  Many airports are so large these days that even being at the right airport but the wrong terminal may cost you your flight because it can take so long to get to the right place.  And if you arrive at the wrong airport you will likely stand no chance of getting to the correct one before your flight leaves.

Our advice is to ensure well ahead of time that you know exactly which airport your flight departs from, and the terminal that you need to get to.  You should find this out for all of the airports that you will visit on your journey.

Different cities, different problems

Finding the right airport in New York can be quite daunting for a first-time traveller.  The Big Apple is served by: JFK airport, LaGuardia, Newark,  Westchester and Long Island airport.  JFK alone has 7 terminals.

At the other end of the scale, in some cities it is pretty easy.  For instance Cape Town has a single airport serving commercial flights.  After the massive rebuild there, there is now a single combined terminal, with international and domestic arrivals and departures all within the same concourse.  There are still challenges though as the rush hour traffic can add an extra hour’s travel from the Cape Town central business district to the airport.  In the Cape’s wet winter it can get a lot worse.

Modern airports are big.  Beijing Capital International Airport, the main airport serving the Chinese capital, has three terminals and is truly gigantic – one part of terminal three is separated from another by two kilometres!  And worse yet, it is not the only airport: Beijing Nanyaun Airport serves domestic and regional flights operated by China United Airlines.

Moscow has three airports: Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo (which is for domestic flights).  Sheremetyevo has two groups of terminals (totalling six in all) that are a 20 minute bus ride away from each other.  In common with most large cities, Moscow traffic is bad and you need to allow at least an hour extra to get to the airport.  You can also get to Domodedovo by train, a journey that takes two hours.

The apron-side shuttle bus at Dubai airport takes 30 minutes to travel from terminal 2 to terminal 3.

In Paris there is the Charles de Gaulle airport.  There is also Paris Roissy airport.  These are two different names for the same airport!  To complete the confusion, it was originally known as Aéroport de Paris Nord.  The other main Parisian airport is Orly.

Transit passengers

Do not think that because you are transiting that this will not affect you.  It may!  In some cases you will even need to obtain a visa for the country you are transiting in.  For example, at Heathrow airport, only BA fly out of terminal 5.  So if you arrive on BA but depart on another airline, you will need to go through customs and catch the tube to another terminal, in order to continue your flight.

On one of my China trips I had to go through customs, leave the airport and catch a bus on the freeway to get to the right terminal of Being Capital International for my regional flight!

Even if you do not change flight number, you may still end up in the terminal if there is a refuelling stop.  (Refuelling stops are not always indicated on the itinerary.)  I do not know of any transit passengers (with the same flight number) who have had to move to another terminal to resume the flight, but very often the gate you enter by is not the same one as the exit one.

Size of terminals – finding the gate

With airport terminals so large, even when you have the right airport and terminal, you may still be faced with a Herculean task to get to the right gate.  Emirates have exclusive use of terminal 3 in Dubai.  So if you are travelling on Emirates you may think you are going to be fine.  If you are flying to London, then you probably are – you will usually depart from one of the 24 “A” gate numbers, which are in the main building.  But if you are flying to maybe Dusseldorf then it is another matter.  You are going to have to walk rather far.  After you have walked the full length of the main terminal you will turn right and then keep walking.  There are another 50 “C” gates!  Here’s the ugly little secret – Concourse C is actually part of the old terminal 1.  You have walked all the way to the next terminal.  The area around the “C” gates looks old and out of date.

In Dubai a brisk walk from terminal 3 to the far end of terminal 1 takes 45 minutes!

Australia has had some bad experiences in this regard.  Rabbits were introduced in 1788 and then again (yes, really!) in 1859.  Scientists misguidedly imported cane toads in 1935.  The country is still struggling with the destruction that the introduction of these pests is causing.  Biosecurity has become a major concern.

Nature itself is the enemy

Most natural products could fall foul of the rules.  In essence you need to declare all food, wood, animal and natural fibre products.  Our advice is to learn the rules, examine the database, leave the more troublesome items at home, and declare everything that could possibly fall within the regulations.

The government maintains a database of about 20,000 materials that have the potential to cause trouble.  (We have a very abbreviated overview of the list below, as well as a link to the official, online database.)  If you fail to declare them when you arrive you are almost certain to have them confiscated, and may in addition pay a fine that could exceed A$66,000.  You could even face a jail term if you give evidence of trying to smuggle such goods into the country.

Any food that you bring with you must be declared, even if you got it on the plane.  The authorities are likely to okay and return to you commercial foods that are packaged and unopened.  Things like biscuits and sweets are seldom a problem.

Granny’s home-made cake and preserves are more likely to be confiscated.

Some States in Australia do not even allow fresh fruit that is coming from elsewhere in the country, to protect against pests endemic in those areas.

Declare everything

If you have declared all the items in the Incoming Passenger Card that you will have to complete onboard before landing then you will be okay.  Even if the goods are not permitted and are confiscated, but you have declared them, you will not be liable for a fine.  The authorities are not unreasonable, just strict.

For items that are not in themselves illegal you will be given the choice of having them decontaminated if that is technically possible (for example by fumigation or gamma-ray irradiation), to store it for you during your stay in the country, to ship it out of the country or to have it destroyed.  You will have to bear the decontamination, storage or shipping costs.

Food, plant material or animal products that are not permitted can be dumped in the quarantine bins located in the airport terminal.

Baggage examination

On arrival sniffer dogs will give the baggage a going-over and X-ray imaging is used.  Your goods may also be examined by biosecurity officer from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).  The other official bodies involved in the process are the Customs and Border Protection Service, and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).

The officials have a good record of stopping contraband.  If caught you face a A$340 on-the-spot fine, to be settled immediately.  For more serious cases, which obviously involves more than the odd misplaced rusk or Snickers bar, you could face prosecution, which could result in being fined over A$66000.  In serious cases the law allows for up to 10 years imprisonment, which would result in a criminal record.

Large sums of cash must be declared

There are no limits to the amount of money that can be brought in or taken out, but if more than A$10,000 is involved then you are required to declare it and fill in forms.

It is part of Australia’s international commitment to the prevention of money-laundering.

Short list of Goods to Declare

The following list covers the main categories of goods that you must declare on entry to Australia.

Food

Airline food and snacks, commercially prepared, cooked and raw food and ingredients, dried fruit and vegetables, instant noodles and rice, packaged meals, herbs and spices, herbal and traditional medicines, remedies, tonics and herbal teas, snack foods.

Dairy and egg products

Infant formula (must be accompanying a child), dairy products (fresh and powdered) including milk, cheese and non-dairy creamers, cheese must be commercially prepared and packaged and originate from countries free from foot and mouth disease, all whole, dried and powdered eggs, and egg products, such as mayonnaise, egg products including noodles and pasta that are not commercially manufactured.

Animal products

Meat, including fresh, dried, frozen, cooked, smoked, salted or preserved from all animal species, sausages, salami and sliced meats, fish and other seafood products, pet food including canned products and raw hide chews, rawhide articles and handicrafts including drums.

Seeds and nuts

Cereal grains, popping corn, raw nuts, pinecones, birdseed, unidentified seeds, some commercially packaged seeds, and ornaments including seeds.

Fresh fruit and vegetables

All fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables.

Plant material

Tea containing seeds, fruit skin (for example citrus and apple peel) and fruit pieces, remedies and medicines containing herbs, seeds, bark, fungi and dried plant material, fresh or dried flower arrangements and potpourri, dried herbs or leaves, handicrafts including wreaths and Christmas decorations containing seeds, raw nuts, corn, pinecones, grapevines, bark, moss, straw or other plant material, wooden items with bark or signs of insects present.

Live animals and animal products

All mammals, birds, birds eggs and nests, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects, feathers, bones, horns, tusks, wool and animal hair, skins, hides and furs, stuffed animals and birds (taxidermy certificate required) some may be prohibited under endangered species laws), shells and coral (including jewellery and souvenirs), bee products including honey, beeswax and honeycomb, used animal equipment including veterinary equipment and medicines, shearing or meat trade tools, saddlery and tack and animal or bird cages.

Other items

Biological specimens including tissue culture, craft and hobby lines made from animal or plant material, used sporting and camping equipment including tents, footwear, hiking boots, golf equipment and bicycles (need to be checked to ensure they are clean and free from soil contamination), used freshwater watercraft or fishing equipment including rods and nets, waders, kayaks, paddles and life jackets.

In many cases items you declare will be returned to you after inspection.  If you have obtained an Import Permit prior to departure your goods may be allowed in, or they may be allowed in after suitable treatment.  Or, of course, you can dump them in the quarantine bins for disposal.

The official Import Conditions database

The Import Conditions (ICON) database lists some 20,000 foreign plant, animal, mineral and human commodities and the import conditions attached to each.  These are the conditions under which it will be possible to bring them into Australia.  Most times the condition is considerably more strict than merely carrying it with you in your luggage!

Link to Import Conditions Database – ICON – produced by AQIS

Consequently, it is recommended to leave all but absolutely essential medicines at home if you are going to or via Dubai, even as a transit passenger.  In some cases the consequences are pretty severe, but many other people have been inconvenienced to the extent of being detained for some hours before being released.  One might say “no harm done”, unless of course, it happens to you.  A few hours of detention by customs officials is not at all pleasant anywhere in the world, but all the more so if people are shouting at you in a language that you do not understand.

The UAE uses highly sensitive equipment to search for the slightest trace of drugs.

Some of the horror stories

Some of the cases that have been reported by the BBC:

• Keith Brown: Four-year jail term for possession of 0.003g of cannabis, stuck to the bottom of his shoe
• Robert Dalton: On trial for alleged possession of 0.03g of cannabis
• An un-named 20-year-old: On trial for alleged possession of 0.02g of cannabis
• Tracy Wilkinson: Held in custody for eight weeks for possession of a painkiller containing codeine (prescribed for back pains) before release
• Swiss national: Four-year jail term after three poppy seeds found on his clothes
• Cat Le-Huy was arrested in Dubai for carrying Melatonin jet-lag tablets, which are sold over the counter in the US and Dubai.

Extent of the problem

Carrying more than 10 paracetamol tablets has been known to cause trouble at Dubai customs.  (“Trouble” meaning being detained, strip searched and interrogated.  It’s best avoided.)  Even such traveller’s basics such as Lomotil are banned!

Catherine Wolthuizen, chief executive of Fair Trials International, said Dubai customs authorities were using highly sensitive new equipment to conduct thorough searches on travellers.

“So many people now travel to Dubai and, as we’re seeing, many have no idea what risks they’re taking or their vulnerability to this very strict approach,” she said.   “If they find any amount – no matter how minute – it will be enough to attract a mandatory four-year prison sentence.

“What many travellers may not realise is that they can be deemed to be in possession of such banned substances if they can be detected in their urine or bloodstream, or even in tiny, trace amounts on their person.”

Strict Islamic principles

“Dubai’s culture is rooted in Islam, providing a strength and inspiration that touches all aspects of everyday life.” — Dubai Government web site.

Even international web sites promoting drugs banned in Dubai are blocked.  The Ministry of health coordinates with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to block them.

So what sorts of drugs are banned?  Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licenses gives the official perspective that these are “especially weight loss, body building, hormones, sexual stimulants and other unapproved medicines”.  In reality, any medication could cause you problems.

No official list available

No list of banned or restricted substances is available from UAE embassies, web sites or other official UAE sources!  That makes compliance considerably harder and leads some to the conclusion that the intention is to catch people out rather than to keep the country drug-free.

Furthermore, in addition to a banned list, the Dubai customs authorities also reportedly are using an “approved” list.  A particular medicine may not be on the banned list, but if it is not yet on the approved list then you will still be treated as a criminal suspect!

Take lots of documentation for life-sustaining medication

If you absolutely must take medication with you, because it keeps you alive, then ensure that you have as much documentation as possible.  Not only should you have a prescription to cover each medicine, the doctor should explain in a letter what the purpose of each drug is.  Get letters from specialists and hospitals.  Have it authenticated by the local UAE embassy well ahead of your travel date.

In practice, it is not safe to take any medicines with you to Dubai.  Passengers on aircraft diverted to Dubai, or in transit, who did not expect to pass through customs have been arrested and spent time in jail, even when in possession of valid prescriptions.

Fair Trials International list of banned or restricted substances

Fair Trials International has compiled an unofficial list of controlled medicines for Dubai and the UAE.  This is based in part on the schedules to the UAE Federal law No. 14 of 1995, and the General Authority for Health Services Guide to the Management of Controlled Drugs in the Private Sector, March 2007

Narcotics

Banned outright.  May not be imported into UAE. Possession of these drugs, with or without a prescription, may lead to a prison sentence. In addition to the medications listed below, this category includes cannabis, cocaine and opiates, from heroin to poppy seeds (the kind used in everyday baking).

Listed narcotics (active ingredients):
Alfentanil, Amphetamine, Buprenorphone, Codeine, Fentanyl, Ketamine, Methadone, Methyphenidate, Morphine, Pentazocine, Pethidine, Remifentanil, Sufentanil

Listed narcotics (some trade names):
Ketalar, Physeptone, Ritalin, Sosegon, Subutex, Ultiva

Class A Psychotropics

These are drugs for which a prescription must be held. The more verifying paperwork from the authorising doctor which can accompany any drug in this category, the better. In UAE, they can only be dispensed upon production of a registered (health authority-approved) prescription. They include some common sleeping tablets, painkillers, anti-depressants and hormone replacement therapy

Listed Class A Psychotropics (active ingredients):
Acitretin, Alprazolam, Aripiprazole, Bromazepam, Buprenorphine , Butorphanol, Chlopromazine, Chlordiazepoxide, Clobazam, Clonazepam, Clorazepate, Diazepam, Dihydrocodeine, Droperidol, Flumazenil, Flupentixol, Fluphenazine, Haloperidol, Isotretinoin, Lorazepam, Medazepam, Mephenoxalone, Midazolam, Misoprostol, Nalbuphine, Olanzapine, Phenobarbitone, Pimozide, Prazepam, Prochlorperazine, Propofol, Prostaglandin, Quetiapine, Risperidone, Sulpiride, Sultopride, Temazepam, Thiopentone, Tiapride, Tramadol, Trfluoperazine, Zaleplon, Ziprasidone, Zolpidem, Zuclopenhtixol

 Listed Class A Psychotropics (some trade names):
Abilify, Anexate, Arthrotec, Ativan, Barnetil, Buccastem, Clopixol, Cytotec, Deanxit, Dehydrobenzperidol, Demetrin, DHC continues, Dialag, Diapam, Diprivan, Dogmatil, Dormicum, Dorsilon, Frisium, Gardinal, Genprid, Haldol, Intraval, Largactil, Lexotanil, Limbitrol, Neotigason, Nobrium, Noctran, Nubain, Orap, Prolixin, Propess, Risperdal, Rivotril, Serenace, Seroquel, Sonata, Stadol, Stelazine, Stemetil, Stesolid, Stilnox, Tekam, Temgesic, Tiapridal, Tramal, Tramundin, Tranxene, Valium, Xanax, Zaldiar, Zeldox, Zyprexa

Class B Controlled medicines

Possession of these drugs must be accompanied by a prescription. Many of these drugs are available over-the-counter in other countries (or even in Dubai!) and travellers to or through UAE should ensure they obtain a prescription before carrying any of these drugs to that country. They include many common cold and cough remedies.

Class B Controlled medicines (active ingredients):
Amitriptyline, Baclofen, Benzhexol, Biperiden, Buspirone, Carisoprodol, Citalopram, Clomipramine, Codeine, Cyclobenzaprine, Dextromethorphan, Diphenoxylate, Dotheipin, Duloxetine, Escitalopram, Estradiol, Ethinylestradiol, Etonogestrel, Fluoxetine, Flupenthixol, Fluvoxamine, Imapramine, Isotretonin, Lithium Carbonate, Maprotiline, Menotrophin, Meserolone, Methocarbomol, Mianserin, Milnacipran, Minaprine, Mirtazapine, Moclobemide, Naltrexone, Nandrolone, Nefazodone, Norethisterone, Norethisterone, Norgetrol, Noscapine, Octreotide, Oestradiol, Opipramol, Orphenadrine, Oseltamivir, Oxazepam, Paroxetine, Pholcodine, Pimecrolimus, Procyclidine, Propoxyphene (with paracetemol), Pyrisuccideanol, Reboxetine, Sertraline, Somatrophine, Testosterone, Ticlopidine, Tizanidine, Tretinoin, Trimipramine, Vecuronium, Venlafaxine

Class B Controlled medicines (some trade names):
123 Cold, Actifed Compound, Actifed DM, Activelle, Adol Cold, Adol Compound, Adumbran, Akineton, Algaphan, Anafranil, Andriol, Artane, Athymil, Aurorix, Benxtrone, Bepro, Broncholar, Broncholar forte, Bronchophane, Buspar, Cancolite, Cantor, Cipralex, Cipram, Climen, Codaphen, Codaphen plus, Codilar, Codipront, Codis, Coldex-dD, Cymbalta, Deca durabolin, Decutan, Dextrocuf, Dextrolag, Diarsed, Diaxine, Dicton, Distalgesic, Edronax, Efexor, Elidel, Estracomb, Estrofem, Faverin, Femoston, Flexiban, Flozak, Fluanxol, Flumed DM adult, Fluneurin, Fluoxone, Fluran, Flutin, Fluxetyl, Genotropin, Insidon, Intard, Ixel, Kafosed, Kemadrin, Kliogest, Lagaflex, Linz, Lioresal, Lomotil, Ludiomil, Menogen, Muscadol, Myogesic, Noracod, Norcuron, Norditropin, Norflex, Norgesic, Nuvaing, Oxetine, Paracodol, Phensedyl, Primotestone, Progyluton, Prothiaden, Proviron, Prozac, Remeron, Revacod, Rhinotussel, Riaphan, Roaccutane, Robaxin, Robaxisal, Robitussin-CF, Romilar, Saizen, Salipax, Sandostatin, Saroten, Sedofan DM, Sedofan-P, Seroxat, Serzone, Sirdalud, Somadryl compound, St Joseph cough, Sterandryl, Stivane, Surmontil, Sustanon, Tamiflu, Ticlid, Tixylix, Tofranil, Trexan, Tripofed dm, Trisequens, Tryptizol, Tuscalman, Tussifin with codeine, Unified DM, Vesanoid, Virormone, Zoloft

While every effort has been made to verify the contents of this list, where in doubt, we advise travellers to check their medication with the UAE consulate before travel.

Fair Trials International  recommend on their web site that for further information you should contact: UAE Embassy Medical Department 71 Harley Street, LONDON, W1G 8DE Phone: 02074866281

Related: Other interesting and informative articles

Dubai sights:  “A day in Dubai”, with an interesting way of seeing the city.

Similar drug information for Singapore: “Singapore risks: medicines, drugs, death sentences and tourism”.

Image credit: Altair78, 22 December 2009

The European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) has followed the lead of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) in grounding the entire Boeing 787 fleet.  Ethiopian airlines are also grounding their planes on routes that do not fall under the EASA or FAA jurisdiction.

Concerns are focussed on the Lithium ion batteries, which we had identified as a risk in our previous article on the plane’s woes FAA questions safety of Boeing 787.

While Airbus make some use of Lithium ion batteries, they do not have the critical dependence on them that the Dreamliner has, because of its extensive use of electrical control of flight surfaces.

If investigation proves the problem to be a manufacturing defect in the batteries then the Dreamliner fleet will not be grounded for long.  If, however, the fault lies with the aircraft wiring or the design of the electrical systems themselves then there could be major delays.

If there are significant delays it will undermine operator confidence in the Boeing 787 and they will start cancelling orders, preferring perhaps to wait for the Airbus A350, which is currently scheduled to make its maiden flight in mid-2013.

In the mean time, The Guardian newspaper pleads, “Please do not call it the BinLiner”!