Airport Security Story- laugh, or cry?

Runs With Scissors

Runs With Scissors

Joined
Dec 3, 2000
Messages
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Well, folks.....I just got in from a week in South Carolina about an hour ago (and the first thing I do is log on here, pathetic, huh?)

After hearing all the horror stories of our new and heightened security standards, I have now had a chance to experience it all first hand. My flights went from Anchorage, to Minneapolis, to Detroit, to Greenville SC. and then back again. My first encounter with our new better trained professionals was when I came through the screening gate here in Anchorage and I set the buzzer off. I was immediately SHOVED into a corner and talked to in a very abrupt tone of voice by some fat pollywog about twice my age with drool running down his chin. After resisting the urge to break his arm off and beat him profusely about the head and shoulders with it, I proceeded to the next guy who went over me with a little wand expertly checking behind my belt buckle, in my boots, etc (it was my steel toed boots that set the buzzer off) and allowed to pick up my carry on from the conveyor belt and proceed. slightly irate I proceeded to my departure gate and after waiting for a few minutes discovered I had been flagged as a security risk, and they once again dug through mine and my sons carry on bags and let us proceed. Finally the plane took us to Minneapolis. (I later found out that there is an odd coincidence that 90% of the flagged people are friends and family of airline employees flying buddy passes and non-rev, so they don't piss off paying customers. (my brother works for the airline)

So, in Minneapolis I was "randomly" flagged again and they checked me and my carry on luggage.....again....

they left me alone in Detroit and Greenville on the way down.

On the way back this morning however, we went to check in with the nice ticket lady that certainly believed in service with a growl that we would not be permitted to carry ANY carry on luggage, due to the security risk of such an endeavor. When my brother informed her that was absolutely insipid, especially for anyone flying standby with a four year old child she said he was beligerent, didn't like his attitude, and warned him that he better watch what he was saying while he was down there. By the way, no one checked my ID. We talked to another ticket lady who more or less informed us the first one was full of sh!t and then politely proceeded to rifle through all of our belongings. make a note here, this was FOUR times my bag was picked through and checked. So, after escaping Witch Hilda the ticket agent we proceeded to the security checkpoint, where they zipped my bag through the conveyor belt, disassembled my sons back pack to ensure his Etch-a-Sketch wasn't of the assault variety and then let us through, to give them credit, at least they displayed some common courtesy, kept thier damn crabscratchers off of me and spared me the "command presence" BS....make a note here....this is FIVE times my carry on has been checked through.

While waiting to depart from Greenville I was once again "randomly selected" for a security check. they AGAIN patted me down, waved the wand, and rifled through my belongings. Finally, I was able to board the plane by this point without being the recipient of a body cavity search or anything. Make a note here...SIX times my bag was checked.

I was on plane from Minneapolis back to Anchorage when I realized I had been carrying my Leatherman Wave in the top most immediately accessible pouch for the WHOLE ROUND TRIP!! completely unconcealed other than that! I just had the rest of the pouch filled with snacks for my son and I. Now please, bear in mind I was not deliberately breaking the law, or trying to decieve anyone here, I had my carry on luggage packed in the same day pack I use for backpacking, and sometimes pack my EMS supplies in, and I never would have deliberately done this....but SIX checks, and it was NEVER found??!! I'm quite honestly a bit flabbergasted. And I'm not sure which incident has made a larger impression on me, the time I got through the gate after putting my SIFU in the little collection tray, or the Leatherman incident, amazing huh? anyways I apologize if my post is a bit erratic, I'm pretty bleary eyed as I type this but....I just couldn't wait to relate my little experience here. Y'all have a good 'un!
 
The morons ransacked yer stuff six:eek: times and you managed to accidentally sneak a Leatherman thru anyway.
You sir, are hereby flagged for a random cavity search next time you fly.:barf: ;) :D
 
Man what a pain in the butt. It is hard to believe that they did all this and never found your Leatherman. Actually, come to think of it, it doesn't surprize me all that much. The stories of what is getting on to airplanes are scary. Someone got on with a gun for gosh sakes.

Good to hear that there were no cavity searches. They must have been in good moods. I wonder if you catch one of these people on a bad day what you would have to go through?

BTW, what is pathetic about wanting the first thing that you do when you get home to be getting back to the forums? We know you missed us.
 
Increased security is no excuse for airline employees to be rude to customers. If you encounter any that are, take note of their names and complain in writting directly to the airline. The address is on the airline's website. You can not legitimately complain about the employee's judgement (though highly questionable decisions that display a complete lack of common sense should be reported) but you certainly can complain about the employee's conduct.

Air travel and, indeed, our society in general, can be secure, polite, and enjoyable all at the same time. Coming out of Alaska, you have fewer options (You were on Alaska Airlines, I'll bet. There're about my favorite airline and I've alway had pleasant dealings with them), but all airlines are hurting right now and competition is fierce. The last thing any airline wants to do right now is violate security procedures. But, the second to the last thing any airline wants to do right now is loose a paying customer.

But the way, last time I flew, just a couple of weeks a go, I noticed that all of the folks who were getting selected for "random" extra searches were little old ladies. Apparently there's a concern that granny may have an Uzi under that pillbox hat.
 
Runs With Scissors,

Your problem is undoubtably that you look like an Alaskan. All Alaskans are big, hairy, and ugly looking dudes that appear to be half a bubble off. Random my ass! You've been profiled.

Bruce:barf:
 
Hey, man, sorry you had to go through all that crap -- especially since it was for nothing.

Yeah, you've had your awakening to the fact that this extra-security crap is just so much window-dressing and disingenuousness. They (the airlines, the FBI, everyone) are absolutely full of ****. Even if they had found your Leatherman (which would have been confiscated, and you might have been *charged*) they are not ending the potential threat with what they're doing. Who here has never heard of those plastic knives you can get through catalogs or at gun/knife shows? THEY don't get detected by the metal detector doorway or wand. If you're the flight attendant or pilot with a delta dart to his throat, does it matter much to you whether it's plastic or metal?

Now that you have seen that all the bullshit they put you through cannot be resulting in the elimination of all "weapons" from aircraft, aren't you indignant? Don't you want to scream on CNN that they are screwing with us for NOTHING; that our rights are being traded for security and then they are NOT DELIVERING THE SECURITY?!

Hey, has anyone thought about putting a Spydercard into a wallet, putting the wallet into the tray, and then picking it up on the other side of the doorway? I'll bet that'd work really easily.
 
I wrote a huge piece about my two trips since 9/11, but I'll summarize it:

Hey, has anyone thought about putting a Spydercard into a wallet, putting the wallet into the tray, and then picking it up on the other side of the doorway? I'll bet that'd work really easily.
Click to expand...

Everything your not carrying goes through the X-ray machine now. Pagers, Wallets, Cell Phones, Computers, Change and all. Used to be the tray went around the detector.

One young lady walked into the Security area with a two liter water bottle like you would get at 7-11. They had her take a big drink from it before they would let it in. I asked about it and was told they were looking for anyone carrying in Acid in common containers. :D That test made me smile.

They were "randomly" searching bags. But every place I went, they "randomly" picked out single males or two males together. Not once in my travels did I see families being searched. I should also note that everyone I saw get "randomly" searched were sourpuss looking folks. I could pick out the folks they were going to choose before Security "randomly" selected them.

All in all, I've had no more problems flying then I did before 9/11.

John
 
I actually managed to get through a court house security check...downtown NYC no less...by placing my Police Model along with my keys and minii maglite in the key tray. Now, remember...it is a FELONY to carry concealed weapons in court buildings...ESPECIALLY FEDERAL COURT HOUSES!!! But I was on the clock, and would have needed it for work anyway.

Now, having recently put in for a CT carry permit...my friend who trained me NRA style couldn't get into a Movie theatre the next week with his Ruger SP101 !!!


Something is up here!

Steve in CT

God Bless the men and women of our amred sevices...
 
Airport security is about making the masses feel good. The chance of them actually stopping a person who is intent on mayhem is probably pretty remote.
 
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