Post by: jcarter on May 10, 2009, 06:12:24 AM
Post by: dolphin on May 10, 2009, 07:25:54 AM
Post by: Xairbusdriver on May 10, 2009, 04:01:45 PM
Post by: jwboyd on May 10, 2009, 04:59:53 PM
They won't let me walk through the arch because I have a cardiac pacemaker (even though my cardiologist says it's okay), so I get a manual pat-down. Coming out of Lihue HI I told the screener, "Some places you'd have to pay o get a massage that good." He didn't laugh.
Post by: Highmac on May 11, 2009, 01:13:27 AM
Still a good idea because there's rarely room between seat rows to undo laces for comfort on the journey.
When we flew to NY in 2003, we were checked twice - once by Heathrow security, then by American Airlines security. One fellow passenger (a Brit) was moaning about the inconvenience but shut up when another Brit, tired of her whingeing, just said: "I'd rather be checked twice than die once..."
Post by: Xairbusdriver on May 11, 2009, 05:25:41 PM
Perhaps a note about you 'hardware' could be tattooed on your forehead, along with a doctors signature. At least you'd never have to worry about the signature becoming unreadable as you wrinkle, who could tell the sig had changed!? 
Post by: jwboyd on May 11, 2009, 05:53:10 PM
I wonder if their training and their procedures manual tell them not to accept the card. One screener said, "We prefer to err on the side of caution."
They have their job to do, and it's really nothing more than a minor inconvenience to me.
I love Highmac's story. Puts things into proper perspective.
Post by: krissel on May 14, 2009, 02:54:58 AM
She had passed though the security checkpoints with nary a blink from those on duty.
Post by: jcarter on May 14, 2009, 06:32:25 AM
Then coming into Belize once, I had some heavy duty truck shocks in my dive bag, and they found them. I sure had to pay for those! But our friends reimbursed me. We had lots of food in our checked bags and some coolers full of stuff too, that was OK.
Crime doesnt pay, whether its an uneaten sandwich or shock absorbers and spark plugs.
Jane
Post by: Mrious_be on May 14, 2009, 06:57:26 AM
Several blades and replacement blades, and all sorts of gardening equipment came out
I don't even want to know how much money that guy had to leave behind but he was obviously mis-informed on what could be taken aboard and what not.
This is not really Airport Security, but happened on the EuroStar Terminal in London, still I wish I knew what would had happened when this guy was trying to board a plane
Post by: jcarter on May 14, 2009, 07:10:20 AM
The 'best' one I ever saw, was coming into Miami from Honduras. The gal in front of me in the customs line had a baby in the baggage carriage. The drug sniffing dog pointed at the baby's butt, and the agents grabbed the mom by the arm and dragged her out of the line, she was not very happy. The drugs were in the kid's bulging diaper!
Jane
Post by: jwboyd on May 14, 2009, 09:22:15 AM
Post by: jcarter on May 14, 2009, 11:59:08 AM
I would have stuffed them into my mouth so fast that they would have to reach in to get them out! Risking a bite.
Jane
Post by: Xairbusdriver on May 14, 2009, 07:57:24 PM
I'd probably have done something similar before giving up my 'biscuits!' Strangely, I've brought back 'biscuits,' chocolate and other milk containing foods from many parts of Europe without any problems, whatsoever, both as a passenger and as a crewmember! I always brought back Leonidas chocolates from Brussels, not because they were particularly good (anything chocolate is great, as far as Judy is concerned!), but because my wife's grandfather's name was "Leonidas." The fact is, being in a rather rural area and not attending too high a grade in what were called schools 100 years ago, he actually never knew how to spell his name until he was nearly 75! He'd always though he had two names, "Lee" and "Onidas!" He always used "L.O." as his initials!
He certainly didn't suffer from lack of formal education and was a fine business man and grandfather!
Post by: Mrious_be on May 15, 2009, 07:48:13 AM
When flying back from Copenhagen to London, we were given a good deal if we volunteered flying through Oslo, so we did.
We had bought two bottles of still water in Copenhagen (after security check) so we had those with us.
Plane lands in Oslo, goes around for a bit and comes to a halt on a small terminal (Oslo is not that big anyway).
We got out and were thinking we had to go to transfers.
As it happened... the pilot had to park the plane on a spot where we were not able to simply walk to transfers so we had to pass security again and yup... we couldn't take the water that we already bought when passing security in Copenhagen.
We tried explaining the security officers but obviously, and as they said the pilot should have been given a parking spot somewhere else so we didn't had to go through security again.
Smiley herself offered to drink both bottles though, which put me, and the security officers in a small shock since that was 1.5 L just gulping down since we had to catch a plane
(which after that got held off for another half an hour).We did get a good deal though (150 Euro vouchers which doubled in price if we traded them in for other SAS tickets)
-----
My second time flying to Boston was actually funny upon arrival at the security desk.
Sure enough they took me apart (as they did first time) and I had to open my suitecase, the officer did the rest.
Now you have to know that I have some stuffies who always travel with and sure thing....
First thing the officer took out, so the entire hall could see, was my Garfield... 'I'm really sorry mister but you can't import kitties like this'...
Next thing, my small Piglet (who Smiley gave to me) and.... 'OMG... a pig? you can't import pigs in to the US'.
When he asked why I came to the US and I said to see girlfriend, he replied 'So you came all the way from Belgium to the US for your girlfriend and all you brought were stuffed animals, not even Belgian chocolate?'
Although I was fairly embarrassed at them seeing a 35 old person carrying stuffies, it was really funny
I guess not all security officers look like they had surgery to remove their smiles
Post by: Xairbusdriver on May 15, 2009, 09:03:33 AM
I'm assuming the agent let the 'animals' into the country without quarantine?! 
And, yes, humans have been known to be hired to positions like his! Actually, I think most of the Customs officials I've met are very friendly. I suspect they are reminded that they may be the first "American" with which a visitor may have had any real contact! First impressions do matter, unfortunately... Glad you had a good sense of humor about the 'disclosure!'
Post by: Mrious_be on May 19, 2009, 11:18:31 AM
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ May 15 2009, 03:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
And, yes, humans have been known to be hired to positions like his! Actually, I think most of the Customs officials I've met are very friendly. I suspect they are reminded that they may be the first "American" with which a visitor may have had any real contact! First impressions do matter, unfortunately... Glad you had a good sense of humor about the 'disclosure!'
Good point.
I can imagine that it wouldn't be fun if you have this grumpy security officer making your life miserable when you set foot on US soil for the first time (but than again, that goes for every country you visit).
Post by: Xairbusdriver on May 20, 2009, 10:33:10 AM
QUOTE
it wouldn't be fun if you have this grumpy security officer making your life miserable when you set foot on...[insert nation/country]
I'm not as well traveled as many here, but I've always been happily surprised at the first meetings with people in the vast majority of countries I been to. Maybe it's the fact that they know I'm a foreigner, but it isn't always an 'official' greeter that displays this friendliness. My wife and I usually attempt to learn how the people in the areas we'll visit dress. While we can't always match many of the local cultural costumes, we absolutely never wear anything with an obvious connection to the States, and you know what I mean...But we have been assisted in almost every country by the general "man-on-the-street" when they are asked for help. And often, they volunteer assistance, in the most tactful and helpful ways!
My wife 'claims' (I wasn't actually with her at the time... ) that she was asked for directions to a local London location by an English lady who mistook her for a 'Brit!' One of the highest complements she has ever been given, BTW! I pity those who can't and especially those who won't travel outside their own country. Most of them will simply never know how much alike all humans really are. And the same lack of knowledge applies to those who live in a very large country, also.
