As a spinoff of the “Can I pack this in my carryon?” thread, I was reminded of my last trip across California. I flew out of several airports, including LAX, and I forgot to leave my pocket knife at home. I just threw it into my backpack, along with a computer mouse and some USB cables and the like, and the screeners never saw it. Upon arrival I forgot to mail it back home, so I did the same thing on my return flight and they didn’t catch it either.
I always believed the TSA was security theater, but didn’t have firsthand experience with their uselessness before then. I’m even more disappointed now. All that unnecessary wait time for security that doesn’t work in the least.
Have you ever slipped a dangerous object past the TSA, accidentally or otherwise?
Same here. About seven years ago we went to Hawaii and had a long layover at LAX. I smoked at the time, so made several trips outside to smoke, so passed through security quite a few times. Got to our destination and realised that my Swiss army knife had been at the bottom of my purse the entire time. WTF.
Also I used to have a pair of earrings that were actually tiny, functional penknives. For years those were my go-to earrings every time I travelled.
There’s an article called “the Things He Carried” which is about how a journalist stocked his luggage over a period of months with super-suspicious items – jihadist literature, hotel receipts from Beirut, images of Khomeni, “death to America” type signs – as well as various liquids, lighters, and weapons including a box cutter. Nothing raised an eyebrow, except once they confiscated some nail clippers.
Yaaaaay.
Here in NYC, the TSA and NYPD have joint pointless-bag-check stations. Whatever problems the NYPD may have – and they are myriad – it’s pretty obvious the TSA goons aren’t fit to lick their boots.
Twice I’ve accidentally “smuggled” a forbidden item out of O’Hare only to have it confiscated on the return trip at another airport (Boston, Wash. DC). Once was a metal Zippo lighter I found in the parking lot, the other time was a small pocket knife. Both times I declined to have it mailed to me or move it to checked baggage and just let them keep it. Anyway, bang-up security job from O’Hare.
I’ve forgotten and carried liquids through a few times. Sometimes I get through on the journey out, then they get my liquids on the way home. Hardly seems worth the touble of looking up what is allowed or not allowed. I always carried nail clippers in my toiletries bag (take them if you want TSA) and they never say anything.
I know someone who always carried a handgun in his backpack and forgot to take it out before flying one time. Not found by TSA.
I had 6 canisters of mace in my laptop bag I completely forgot about them till I had travelled from Manila via Dubai and Charles de Gaulle to Libreville then Port Gentil.
Wow the thought of being banged up in an African gaol scares the crap out me. Can’t believe I did that
A couple of weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, I flew from Denver to Detroit with a multi-plier, which has a pocketknife-like blade, in my carry-on bag. (I didn’t realize it was in there until I got to Detroit.)
A set of nail clippers and a nearly empty tube of toothpaste that was over the 3 Oz. limit when full. Both of those got caught on the return trips (separate trips). They took the toothpaste, but for the nail clippers they just broke off the 1 inch nail file.
For over a year (2011-2012), and approximately 12 round-trip flights, I had a steak knife in my computer case which was never found until I decided to give the case a good cleaning.
I accidentally knocked my 3" steel blade Kershaw off a table and into a backpack. It fell in a small internal pocket and I didn’t notice it.
Over the course of two months I carried it through TSA checkpoints at LGA, JFK, ORD, MDW, HPN and PHL. I had very little respect for the TSA beforehand. Now I have zero respect. Zero.
