The Case of the FORBIDDEN Knife

RDaneel

RDaneel

Joined
Apr 23, 2000
Messages
5,501
Another Airplane Story. I know, so what, but I thought this was a good one. A friend of mine saw this take place. Here's his story....

I saw my first knife bust at the airport yesterday. As I was standing in line waiting to board my plane, a TWA functionary escorted the perp up to the gate and told another TWA personage (someone dressed in the garb of a baggage handler) in an authoritative voice: "He has a serrated knife." This got my attention, so I turned to see what was up. I saw on the counter a closed black folder, no more than three inches closed, maybe the size of a standard
SAK, black zytel, metal pocket clip, no distinctive Sypderco hole or oval shaped rip-off, normal colored blade and spring (not subdued). The baggage handler said: "You can't take this on the plane. Serrated edges are FORBIDDEN." The hapless perp responded: "But they let me on the plane in
Little Rock." The TWA rep replied: "Little Rock should never have allowed that. This is FORBIDDEN." These words were spoken while holding this implement of mass destruction at arm's length, much as if it were a vial of bubonic plauge. At this point, I had just handed in my ticket and walked through the door, so I don't know what happened after this. Meanwhile, I'm thinking of the four knives I'm carrying: Micra, my vade mecum SAK, my toothpick holder SAK (Classic), my credit card SAK (Swisscard). I'm glad none of them had a FORBIDDEN edge.


 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by RDaneel:
Another Airplane Story. I know, so what, but I thought this was a good one. A friend of mine saw this take place. Here's his story....

I saw my first knife bust at the airport yesterday. As I was standing in line waiting to board my plane, a TWA functionary escorted the perp up to the gate and told another TWA personage (someone dressed in the garb of a baggage handler) in an authoritative voice: "He has a serrated knife." This got my attention, so I turned to see what was up. I saw on the counter a closed black folder, no more than three inches closed, maybe the size of a standard
SAK, black zytel, metal pocket clip, no distinctive Sypderco hole or oval shaped rip-off, normal colored blade and spring (not subdued). The baggage handler said: "You can't take this on the plane. Serrated edges are FORBIDDEN." The hapless perp responded: "But they let me on the plane in
Little Rock." The TWA rep replied: "Little Rock should never have allowed that. This is FORBIDDEN." These words were spoken while holding this implement of mass destruction at arm's length, much as if it were a vial of bubonic plauge. At this point, I had just handed in my ticket and walked through the door, so I don't know what happened after this. Meanwhile, I'm thinking of the four knives I'm carrying: Micra, my vade mecum SAK, my toothpick holder SAK (Classic), my credit card SAK (Swisscard). I'm glad none of them had a FORBIDDEN edge.

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Maybe the airline is just being discriminating, "we don't allow dogs or low class serrated knives on our planes".
 
There is no shortage of stupidity in the world, or rules that make no sense. The challenge is to Be Prepared for irritating nonsense, especially while traveling on airplanes.

Rick, please don't use the quote button just to make a post unless you have something you want to say. I could read the post just fine the first time.

Paracelsus
 
I have yet to find anything that even mentions serrations in the federal regulations. Of course, being right doesn't help when those in authority don't know the rules.

I still wonder what people have against serrations. I would prefer a plain blade for use against another human. Are the airlines feeling protective toward rope?
wink.gif


--Bob Q
 
and here I thought that you couldn't take a knife on a plane, period. what's going on here?

------------------
A true friend stabs you in the front.
 
If such a thing happens to you, just make notes of the names of the people you deal with. I find in situations like this (though I've never had a problem with a knife) that it helps to make this very obvious. Say, "Hello. I'm sorry, but I missed your name?"
"Carol? Is that your first name or your family name?" "And how do you spell that?" "Excuse me for a moment, but I want to write that down. I'm very bad with names, you know, always forgetting, so I like to write them down."

You see, if the security people deny a knife, the airline is probably not going to argue with them about it. But, they should quickly make arrangements for you to check the knife as baggage. Most airlines keep boxes behind the ticket counters for small articles denied by security or that maybe don't quite fit in the overhead bin or that exceed the two-bag limit. They should be more than happy to quickly provide a box and some tape, to add that box to your baggage record, and to see that it gets into the checked baggage on your flight.

If they don't, then that is poor customer service and you should report it and the employees involved to the airline immediately.

BTW, if you get into such a bind and an airline employee jumps to your aide with a box and some service, do the same thing: take down that person's name and, while you're on the flight and have nothing better to do, write a note to the airline saying, "Carol Smith, who was staffing your ticket counter in Atlanta this afternoon, did such a wonderful, helpful favor for me that I want to tell you about it and I want to compliment you on having such great employees." Send it to the CEO of the company. His name and the corporate headquarters address are probably in the airline's magazine in the seat pocket. Believe me, Carol will get the message as will her supervisor and probably everyone on her shift.

The result is this: next time someone going through that airport has a knife problem, the staff will know: make a big stink out of it and you get a black mark, but be helpful and you get a gold star.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
Several years ago, I got bumped off of an overbooked TWA flight. I was not very happy, not at all, and the desk clerk was most rude. So, I insisted that a supervisor be brought immediately. As I was waiting, I couldn't help but notice the "comment cards" right there on the desk. I took two and began writting, one positive, the other negative. When the supervisor arrived, I had my two cards all filled out except for the name and sitting in plain view. I asked for the person's name and wrote it in the blank I'd left on both cards very obviously. I was rebooked on a flight on another airline leaving in just a few minutes. I tore the negative card in half and asked if there was a mail box between here and the next gate. The supervisor said, "Yes, between the restrooms between gates 23 and 24." I took the positive one with me and mailed it on my way to the other gate.

The old stick and carrot.

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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
Gollnick,

That was indeed a smooth way of handling the situations. You have my respect.

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Tea drinker and hellraiser from Northern Sweden, above the arctic circle.
 
Best advice I've heard is to carry a self-addressed padded envelope with postage on it in your carry on bag. Most airports have mail facilities and you can just drop it in the mail if there's a problem.
I also agree with writing down the names and letting them know you're doing it. I tell my sons(both over 18) if a policeman ever confiscates your knife for any reason, ask him for a receipt and write down his name and badge number. If he refuses to give a receipt, write his info down and go directly to the police station. Much better chance of getting it back this way.


Dave
 
I wear a watch that has metal spikes on the leather band. Last time I flew out of SFO, the security person said that I couldn't take my watch on the plane. She didn't speak very good english so I spoke with her supervisor. He said that I couldn't take my watch on the plane. I told him that I had flown with it a dozen times before, and the last 2 times I went through security that day no one had mentioned it. He said he wouldn't allow it. I was pretty pissed by this point and said to him, "Look me in the eye and tell me that I'm gonna hijack the plane with my watch." He just stood there dumbfounded, shaking his head. I asked for his supervisor. After waiting about ten minutes for the supervisor to show up, he told me I could go.

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
-----------------------
"Paradise lies in the shadow of swords." - Nietzsche
 
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