Smuggling a surprise engagement ring through airport security? These staff have a secret code to help you out
Getting engaged on holiday is a romantic idea - but how do you get the ring through security without your partner seeing it?
PROPOSING to somebody is nerve-wracking enough – without airport security making it even more stressful.
So while the trend for people proposing to their other half somewhere abroad continues to grow, this creates a big problem with what do to with the ring.
If you’re going through airport security, there’s the danger that your bags could be fully searched.
If that happens, your unsuspecting fiancé or fiancée could see the ring carefully hidden away in your bag or pocket for later, ruining the meticulously planned surprise.
So East Midlands Airport has come up with a handy idea – a secret service for those smuggling an engagement ring through security.
If you contact them ahead of your arrival they’ll give you a secret code which you then tell security when you get there.
They’ll then make sure that your bags are searched discreetly in a lane away from your partner.
Head of security, Matthews Quinney, said: “It would put a big damper on someone’s meticulously planned romantic trip if their big surprise was revealed even before they’ve boarded the plane.
“Arguably, there are more romantic places to be proposed to than in our security hall.
“So, out of courtesy to those who have been planning this moment for weeks or months, we have put in measures to ensure we’re not the cause of failed marriage proposals."
Those going through East Midlands Airport from February 12 onwards should email love@eastmidlandsairport.com for more details, or direct message @EMA_Airport on Twitter.
Just in time for Valetine’s Day – handy, that.
One man who could have done with this kind of help is a dad was left devastated after his plan to propose was scuppered when Ryanair lost his hand luggage.
Daniel McGaughey, 27, was jetting out to Lake Garda with his teaching assistant girlfriend Amy Pinder, 26, and intended to pop the question on the trip.
However the holiday ended in disaster when the budget airline lost the white gold ring set with three diamonds, which took him weeks to pick out.
Staff at the Ryanair gate in Manchester Airport told Daniel that his hand luggage would have to go in the hold - and he had no chance to take the ring out as Amy was present and didn't want to risk spoiling the surprise.
Speaking to the he said: "I told them I didn’t want to but they said it would be fine.
"When I got there, the bag had gone - I kept complaining throughout the week’s holiday but it never turned up - no ring, no clothes."
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When the ring didn't show up, he eventually had to propose without it.
A Ryanair spokesman said at the time: "Our customer service team has advised the customer in question to provide receipts for the lost items.
"While we regret any inconvenience caused, Ryanair does not accept any liability for valuables - including jewellery - carried either in customers’ hand baggage or checked-in baggage, as stated in our terms and conditions of travel."