Hand baggage, do they check after security?

[LoveryJ]

I was wondering if your hand luggage is checked for a second time after the first security check? Does it depend on the airline? I'll be travelling on Virgin and Dragonair.

It's been over a year since I last flew ( British airways, London to Hong Kong) and I realise new liquid restrictions have come in place but I'm more concerned about adding weight to the baggage by buying goods after security. I topped up on duty free goods last time I flew and was well over the 6kg limit but managed to board without problems as there were no additional checks. Are rules much more strictly enforced nowadays?

[jno]

I've never had it weighed a second time. After all, they're only too happy for you to spend money on bottles of alcohol in the duty frees. Very occasionally they do a second security check at the boarding gate but this may only be after attempted bombings when they are trying to look alert, and as I say it's never involved weighing again with me at least. But yes, they generally seem to be stricter about weight these days - so if you're over 6kg when you check in, keep your fingers crossed. Remember you may be able to save an hour or two by checking in online with Virgin.

[lady_p_gold]

Nope never had it checked again on Virgin, in fact half the time its never checked the first time!

[heathfield]

After passing through a central security search-point, random spot checks are sometimes carried out on entry to the boarding gate waiting rooms. But they're not interested in the weight, only what's in your bag.

The purpose of the weight restriction is largely to do with preventing injury to others should your bag fall from the overhead locker. But there's no weight restriction on goods bought in duty free. You could buy a 40kg crystal vase in duty free and walk on board with it!

Some airports are now doing away with those centralised security search-points that all passengers have to pass through. It's been realised that these produce the chaotic queues seen at, e.g., Heathrow. Instead, security search-points are being set up at the entrance to individual gate waiting rooms, so fewer people need pass through at any one time.
At such airports, your duty free will be put in fully sealed clear plastic bags on purchase.