JK Rowling.......one law for the rich?

[ianess]

How come this rather over-rated celebrity was allowed to throw a tantrum and get away with by-passing the new regulaions about hand luggage?
What would have happened if we had tried the same trick.......or would we have been told to go forth and multiply?

[jno]

well, why don't you try it and see?

[sandyg2244]

the thing is JK hand-writes her first drafts and she had no back-up copy of the book.In this case it was something worth millions that she wanted to take on the plane.As she said, she would have gone by boat rather than take the plane if they didn't back down.Wouldn't you??

[mrrobbo15]

thing is....hasnt she a private plane ?

.....if not, she shud get one....i cudnt b without mine (lol)

[sandyg2244]

never thought of that.but at the same time she does try to lead a normal life as much as she can.she could afford loads of planes but i think she wants to keep her feet on the ground.(pardon the pun)

[Grunty]

These restrictions would be more acceptable if they were consistent. Professional musicians have had to cancel engagements because they have been unable to book a seat for their instruments. Many of the instruments are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds and would be ruined by the extremes of temperatures etc. in the hold. Apart from the handling which could be less than sensitive.
A photocopier could have solved JK's problem.

[admarlow]

I don't think you can say she is over rated since she if actually famous doing something, selling millions of books

[Loosehead]

It's a tantrum yes, but I don't think there is any logic to the hand luggage etc restrictions. They are based on what some middle manager thinks will make the public feel better not actually on security. For example, 911 pretty much removed hijacking as a terrorist tactic but I still can't take my swiss army knife in a plane!

[sp1814]

From what I heard, she wasn't allowed to bring the transcript of the new Harry Potter book...but it was handwritten...on paper...so what restrictions did THAT break?

[andy-hughes]

I would take issue with your observsation that Ms Rowling is a 'rather over-rated celebirty' - in my experience Ms. Rowling has done nothing what ever to court publicity for herself personally, and since the cult of 'celebrity' demands an individual is famous for simply being recognisable for a short time, then Ms. Rowking failes on both counts - she is a massively successfaul author, and most people wouldn't recognise her if they fell over her.

As to the by-passing of regulations - I haven't seen the news story, but it wold appear that the enforcement of several draconian and pointless restrictions are to be lifted now anyway, so she obvbiously thought it worth making a stand to protect the privacy of her work.

I would suggest that anyone making a similar stand under similar circumstances would have received a similar reaction - the airlines have all calmed down now, and the ability to carry on 'unsuitable' hand luggage will inevitably be restored.

[netibiza]

I was perfectly able to book a second seat on my Easyjet flight on 22nd Sept, so why couldn't she? (in actuality I didn't need too, but was offered the option). I was also allowed to bring in more handluggage than stated.