Yes, many of us travelled this week, didn’t we? The Chances headed for glorious Chicago for a few days to see the folks (and to announce this).
But, as always, I consider airport security, despite all the foofarah that the Department of Homeland Security will make us safe and taking off our shoes will keep the terrorists down I found myself getting through security…
At Dulles International Airport (just outside Washington, DC) they literally made EVERY single person (and my three year old) take off their shoes (Baby Kate was crying that they can’t HAVE her shoes because they’re her BARBIE shoes!) and their winter coats. Well enough though I have no illusions that this actively makes me safer.
But I’m carrying a didjeridoo. No fooling. Her birthday is the 24th and that’s what I got her. It was in a soft fabric case and had dimensions of 3.5 feet by about 3 inches in diameter.
Security Guy: What’s that?
Me: A didjeridoo.
SG: A What?
Me: A didjeridoo.
SG: What’s that?
Me: A musical instrument. Wanna see it?
SG: No, go on ahead.
So I got through security with a closed package big enough for all manner of nastiness. And nary a challenge. I did go through the metal detector with it. But I find that fairly unreassuring as one could do some badness with no metal at all.
Top it off there was a woman on the flight with metal knitting needles.
And yet more…at Chicago O’Hare on the return the security guy at the metal detectors said, “OK, we’re supposed to check everyone’s shoes…how’s everyone’s shoes? Comfortable?” to the crowd.
Though they DID make Lady Chance unpack her backpack at O’Hare because one of Baby Kate’s plush toys had a speaker.
I heard the FAA approved knitting needles. I was going to bring some on but decided I’d rather sleep. I packed them all in my checked stuff.
I did, however, bring a Suspicious Item on my flight out to CA, and had it put through the xray machine twice (it was a fossil for my dad). They wouldn’t tell me what they THOUGHT it was.
On the way back yesterday morning, I checked the sewing machine I had gotten for christmas, and got selected for SSSS (extra security screening). Guess only terrorists check sewing machines?
I still remember the time I flew to CO just after September 11 (I think it was a week after they started flying again) and wore my faux kilt, complete with kilt pin. They didn’t even blink at it. I think I could have (theoretically) done a LOT more damage with my huge metal pin than I could ever do with my crochet hook that they WOULDN’T let me on with.
I didn’t go anywhere over the holidays. However, a few years ago (before 9/11), I was flying and didn’t realize until the plane was already in the air that my carry-on bag had emergency road-flares in it.
Wow! Just… wow! Your “Homeland Security” guys are even crazier than our security! :eek: (Almost makes me glad I haven’t been in the US since 1996. No, actually I miss it…).
(If you don’t think that’s saying much, turn your head 5°s left and look at my “Location” field…)
If we hadn’t been selected for a handsearch by the agent at the ticket counter, we would have passed onto the plane with a loaded handgun in a carry-on bag. Yep, passed right through the x-ray machine without a peep from the “security guard.”
Uh… you actually tried to board a flight with a loaded gun? Not being judgemental here, but the US sure does weird me out sometimes. It seems cool and all, it just weirds me out.
While I was in Egypt I took an internal flight. I put my bag through the x-ray machine and the security guy saw something he didn’t like. He looked through my bag buy couldn’t find anything. He made me put my bag through the x-ray again. STILL saw something he didn’t like and checked my bag again. He gave up and let me go.
Not an airport but still security. About a month ago I went to sit in court. I had to go through security to get into the building. I gave the guy my bag and coat (which he didn’t look through). I then went through the metal detector which I set off.
Guy - “Do you have any metal on you?”
Me - “Yeah. A belly button bar.” *Lifts up top slightly.
Guy - Handing back coat and bag “Erm… okay, you can go in.”
Honestly, the fiercest security I’ve ever gone through was El Al in (I think) 1988. I was travelling to Israel on what amounted to a spring break pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
I was going (with my mom) for just over a week. And I was travelling with a backpack and another larger carry on.
And they grilled me eight ways from Sunday. The first screener, her boss and HIS boss all met with me privately before I even got through the process.
well, yes - that’s exactly my point! That security outside of Israel seems to be more strict than inside it.
You describe extremely harsh measures applied outside of Israel to someone trying to go to Israel. I don’t see those… I’m already here!
Guess once you’re in, you’re considered “safe” or something
When I was flying back from San Jose last july, the zipper on my bag got stuck. I tried and tried, but I could not get it closed, so I gave up and duct taped my suit case together. Obviously, this looked a bit suspicious, and my bag was selected for search. In doing so, they were able to fix my zipper! Such nice airport security guys.
We travelled over the Thanksgiving holiday. In a bum bag I sent through Security it contained some prescription sunglasses and a mini-flashlight.
Problem was the X-ray superimposed the wire frames of the glasses over the flashlight, which is made of titanium. After eight TSA staff and supervisors checked the X-ray, they finally decided to ask me about it. Still, they couldn’t open the bag and wouldn’t allow me to open it so they called the airport police.
Airport police asked the right questions, opened the bag and gave me the okey-dokey. They were very professional and apologetic that the search held me up. I was grateful they were thorough. Apparently, too many going through Security act like assholes when stopped and the Police suffer the brunt of the abuse.
