Bride-to-be faces terrorism hurdle before wedding

Phil Goodwin (left) and Emma McNamee, pictured with best man Damon Hardisty, face logistic problems once they arrive at Heathrow en route to Ireland. Picture / Martin Sykes

Bride-to-be Emma McNamee was left trying in vain to repack her wedding dress at Auckland Airport last night.

The Irish woman and her NZ fiance Phil Goodwin were heading to Cork in Ireland, via London, to get married.

They got to the airport to learn that all hand luggage on flights leaving London was banned and would have to be repacked as check-in luggage.

They were given the option of repacking their hand luggage at Auckland or waiting until they got to Heathrow.

"We decided to try and repack it here but it was too difficult because we didn't have another bag, so we will repack at Heathrow before our flight to Ireland," said Ms McNamee.

"Heathrow will be a nightmare ... I have got my wedding dress, wedding rings, jewellery and shoes in my hand luggage so it will be impossible to repack."

Mr Goodwin's best man, Damon Hardisty, who is travelling with the couple to Ireland for the wedding, said trying to repack the group's hand luggage had been an inconvenience.

"We haven't got a big bag to put all our stuff in. We will probably be stuck at Heathrow for hours."

Mr Goodwin's sister, Sue Stansfield, who is also going to the wedding, said the terror threat hadn't put her off travelling.

"It's my brother's wedding so I'm still going. You still have to travel. Anything could happen at any time but it doesn't stop us from doing things," she said.

Air New Zealand duty manager Keith Williams said the ban on hand luggage affected only flights leaving London.

"We have been reassuring passengers and will assist them where we can."

Another passenger who was heading to London said the hand luggage ban would not affect her because she was staying in London.

She said the terrorist threat didn't scare her.

"I'm glad the plot has been foiled but security will be heightened so it will be safe. It doesn't faze me."

Air New Zealand said passengers leaving New Zealand were not being delayed because of the British events and normal cabin-baggage policy was being applied.

But it advised its customers leaving Heathrow for Los Angeles or Auckland to arrive for their flights up to four hours before departure because the extra security meant checking in could take longer than usual.

Qantas, in contrast, said that because of the British security measures for flights from and passing through Britain, its customers travelling "from and to the UK are asked to allow additional time for check-in".

The airline was contacting any customers likely to be affected.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade updated its travel advice for the United Kingdom, highlighting that Britain had raised its terrorism threat level to "critical".

The level of the ministry's travel warning for the UK remained unchanged, however, saying "there is some risk to your security".