The official UK government line is that a terrorist attack remains "highly likely" . . . though what terrorist would attempt an attack when security is so tight? . . . and passengers are paying the price.

For business passengers, thousands of air miles and a coveted gold, or even platinum, club card, provide no ability to circumvent the stringent rules. Though used to special perks such as shorter check-in times and additional carry-on capacity, they are now finding that membership doesn't necessarily have its privileges.

Even though the British Aviation Authority (BAA) relaxed rules slightly last week, business travellers can still find themselves in a bind.

"No-one wants to travel through Heathrow now, " said David O'Grady, managing director of Dublin-based eTravel, which generates much of its business from corporate clients.

Any business traveller trying to pop over to London for a meeting who intends spending the night now needs to pack carefully. With a small carry-on bag not permitted to contain aerosols, liquids or gels (except baby food and essential medicines), travellers will be reliant on hotels to provide the essentials such as toothpaste.

If business travellers are happy to bring luggage for the hold, then they can pack whatever they like. They should be aware though that, with so many people now checking in baggage, there are often long delays waiting for it to appear off the carousel at the other end.

All this nonsense of course, diverts the spotlight from the anomalies that continue to permeate the airline world.

Imagine the reaction if you tried to bring a coat hangar on board, for instance. Naturally it could be used as a weapon. Fear not, though.

Aer Lingus, for example, kindly provides its premier class passengers with solid wooden hangars that include a metal prong that any selfrespecting terrorist could make use of while on board.

That's to say nothing of the plastic knifes, forks, drinks cans and other items dished out in their millions on airlines across the globe every day. Any of those pieces of service paraphernalia could be fashioned into impromptu weapons by someone intent on causing trouble. Which all makes carry-on restrictions look fairly daft.

David O'Grady points out that business travellers need to remain cognisant that the one small piece luggage they can take on board now includes laptops and the like.

That precludes them from even taking suit carriers if they opt to take the bag containing a laptop or other essentials.

Many business travellers would have previously stuck to a simple rule: if it can't be carried on, don't take it.

Thinking differently can help overcome some obstacles.

Karen Smith, head of travel at American Express in Ireland makes a smart recommendation to those who need to do presentations or provide other data when visiting clients or colleagues in London. Ditch the laptop, she said, and bring a memory stick instead. While that won't suffice for everyone, it will for many.

Any information required for Powerpoint presentations can easily fit onto a decentsized memory stick, removing the need to bring a laptop and freeing-up space for other essentials.

Despite the current inconveniences, O'Grady thinks the squeeze on passengers won't last. "I think that, in another couple of months, maybe by November, we'll see restrictions relax a bit, " he said.

O'Grady also points out that, with so many passengers now being forced to put luggage in the hold rather than taking it on board, security equipment can't cope with scanning the massively increased volume.

That's an obvious security risk and one that will ultimately outweigh the dangers of bringing a bottle of orange on board.

Last week's vociferous calls from Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary to lift restrictions imposed by the BAA, as well as threats from British Airways that it will sue to reclaim money it is losing as a result of the current situation, could create enough pressure to change the new regime.

O'Leary also said last week that Ryanair may sue the British government after being forced to cancel dozens of flights from its main base at Stansted. In all, ther airline had to cancel 270 flights up to last Tuesday.

While the packing restrictions are a headache for business travellers, it's the real benefits of frequent travel that are now being eroded.

Frequent fliers used to being able to check in quite late for a flight are now being advised by travel agents to arrive for departures well ahead of schedule. Etravel is recommending to any of its clients seeking to transfer to connecting flights in London to allow up to two hours to make the laborious journey to connecting terminals.

"Previously, when I was connecting from Terminal One in Heathrow to another terminal, I'd leave the airside, get a Heathrow Express or Tube to the other terminal and save about 25 or 30 minutes, even by going through security again, " said O'Grady.

"Now it's quicker to remain airside and transfer to the connecting flight in the normal way."

10 TIPS ON PACKING

1 Save time: Make sure there are no proscribed items in your carry-on bag.

2 Think smart: If you can, ditch the laptop and bring a memory stick.

3 Protect: If you want to stow your laptop in check-in luggage, bubble wrap it "rst.

4 Choose: You can take the hand baggage or a suit carrier on board, not both.

5 Measure: Make sure your bag "ts the dimensions: 35cm in height, 45 cm in length and 16 cm depth. Expect brutal adherence to the new rule.

6 Wheel away: Make sure your carry-on doesn't have wheels. If it does, it's most likely too big.

7 Lose the non-essentials: If you really only want carry-on, lose the pyjamas. Also, avail of your hotel's laundry service.

8 Do without, make space:

Forget about bringing the MP3 player, portable DVD player.

Carry a book.

9 Suit up: Wear your suit on the plane. Take it off when you reach your hotel.

10 Always remember your Italian: novelist Cesare Pavese said, "If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light."