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We don't travel enough to have experienced what some folks have....mishandling by TSA or such, but just wondered if any of you have had odd things happen going thru airport screening?
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Life is short, live it with this awareness. -
I go with a positive attitude and realize they are protecting me.
When leaving Cayman Islands a few weeks ago on American Airlines thru Miami, every passenger was physically searched/patted down and every carry on bag/purse was hand searched.
It actually was impressive how quickly and orderly this was done.
No one grumbled and everyone cooperated.
When going thru security at Miami, we saw the new total body scanner but were not randomly picked to go thru it.
And my husband goes thru security as if each time was the first - a virgin screening for him
How many times do you have to tell the man to take the stuff out of his pockets ahead of time?????
What, I have to take off my shoes????
Gotta love 'um! -
For some reason DH always seems to set off the alarms. I just act like I don't know him.
NancyComment
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I've been pulled out "randomly" a couple of times. Once on an inter-island flight from Kona to Honolulu. All I was wearing was shorts, a tank top and flip flops. Not sure where they thought I'd be hiding anything.
After I was searched I was sent to an area with the others who had been pulled out. But, we all got to board first! I guess that was the compensation for getting pulled out for special screening. 
Oh yeah, this was for a flight with no assigned seating.
LuanneComment
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DW has a CPAP for her sleeping, and for some reason, anything either medical or oxygen related (her unit is not connected to O2) is suspect. At least at MSP this is a problem. Some airport, there is no issue, but at MSP, it is pulled aside for inspection and sometimes wiped down with the explosive detection pads. Other than that, we always bring one laptop and sometimes the battery pack gets rechecked, but we seem to have no other problems.DonComment
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Originally posted by katiemack View Post
Yes, quite odd, I thought so anyway.
In 2008, I visited Martha's Vineyard for a week -- with the return date of 9/11, via Continental.
On 9/11, when I showed up at the airport for my flight -- there were hoards of folk waiting at the counters. I quickly learned what was going on. I was told ALL Continental flights were cancelled. Reason: "Today is 9/11."
So, we waited patiently for new flt assignments, and some of us were put on USAir. At the USAir terminal, ALL of us were told we had to be frisked/searched. We also had to have our luggage searched, AND we had to go through those machines that "shoot air at you, while you are to remain totally still."
I asked what did 9/11 have to do with all of this searching, and the USAir "frisker" told me it had nothing to do with being searched so thoroughly. Instead, he said we were being searched because we purchased a one-way ticket on the day of a flight. I explained what had happened at the Continental terminal, and was told "the folks over there should have coded your tickets differently."
Instead, it looked as if all of us had walked up that day, and purchased one-way tickets.
I said (as nicely as I could), "Didn't it seem odd to you folk here at USAir that an entire planeload of folks purchased one-way tickets today?" He merely answered, "yes." And, of course, I kept quiet, because by this time, I was really tired, and just wanted to get home.hope this info helps,
sxmdee
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A few years ago we were targeted b/c of last minute flight changes - full body searches at several airports, before the scanners were in place. On this same trip, DS had a snowboarding jacket wired for phone/ipod - that had to be explosive-tested.
Last year I was wearing a knee brace that I didn't want to remove, so I was put through extra scrutiny and my hands tested positive for some explosive material (like one thing had anything to do with the other), and it took a half hour before they decided their equipment was faulty and let me go (I didn't look back, but ???).
I don't mind, but it is sometimes stressful when traveling at peak times and lines are long already.Comment
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We carry a small Canon Pixma IP90 printer, acer netbook computer, sometimes my 17 inch HP laptop and assorted electronics.Originally posted by katiemack View Post
Generally I put all electronics into my carryon back pack. 10/2/2009 - SFO->DFW->GIG I put the printer in the checked bag. When I opened the bag I saw the TSA Contractor’s screening card which is typical. Passing security points in USA I have been told I need to take ALL electronics out of backpack and put in bins. In 2007, we had been taken aside because only the PC was taken out. TSA told us they need to see the camcorders, Maxtor external drives, printer etc separately in bins as it goes through screening.
On 10/17/2009 we fly GIG->IGU (TAM Airlines Brazil). Interestingly they said NOTHING needed to come out of backpack. My husband’s shoes (that we have for Antarctica) would trigger alarms on our Princess cruise re-boarding security points when we were in Norway this summer. But Brazil said “No need to remove your shoes.”
On 10/19/2009 we fly IGR-AEP Domestic Flight Puerto Iguazu->Buenos Aires Domestic Airport on Aerolineas Argentina. The airline website stated that maximum weight on hand carry on luggage is 5 KG about 10 pounds. My backpack with electronics is about 12 KG. But we can combine our luggage allowance of 15 each to 30 for our ONE checked luggage suitcase. So we put the printer in the suitcase. I didn’t realize until the agent handed me our tickets that she listed my husband’s name with the checked luggage.
We go to security agent BEFORE the screening machine. In Spanish they explain that there is an issue with our CHECKED luggage. We go through the security machine with no problem for carry ons or need to remove shoes. The agents then want to take my husband ALONE with them. I pleaded to go with him and tried to indicate he has limited vision and hearing. I don’t speak Spanish and they didn’t speak English but they let me follow him. We pass through security areas, take an elevator, go outside to the loading area where we see baggage ready for the plane. They take him to a vehicle with a security machine (which I didn’t look to see). There were at least six security agents (or probably police not just subcontractors because they had guns) and at least one dog sniffing the cases.
They ask what I think was “Is this your suitcase?” It was the only one in the vehicle with the security machine.
We indicate yes. I open it and quickly find the padded printer case, unzip it, my husband said “Compudora” which I think means computer in Spanish. The agent still didn’t seem to understand. Then I open the cover to try to show how paper could go through to print.
This seemed acceptable to them.
They escorted back upstairs to the waiting area. Some passengers who looked knowledgeable probably thought we had been in big trouble. It felt like a scene from National Geographic’s “Locked Up Abroad.”
Should we always take the printer as Carry On luggage in the future?My Website Link Oked by BFComment
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Had the new "Hand Swabbing" drill @ Steamboat CO airport (HDN) last week. They randomly selected my carry on and asked if they could swab my hands as well as the bag. Did not detect the Burrito I had for lunch.
I also frequently forget about my iPod Nano in my pocket which always sets on the alarm. The last odd thing that set it off was a round pin-on button from an Olympic watching party in Steamboat.
I did read about the new machines being tested for shoe examination where you do not have to take them off and just put your foot in the device. That will be great (if they work).
Always glad to cooperate with TSA. They are only doing their job.
CheersComment
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I travel moderately frequently---about once a month, on average. I've been hand-screened a handful of times, and had by baggage swabbed a handful of times as well. I've never experienced anything I would characterize as "odd", nor would I say I've ever been mistreated.Comment
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I always completely co-operate with TSA. I know the rules and pack accordingly. The only time they really gave me a serious going over was when we flew JFK-LAX/LAX-JFK the July my leg was in a cast and I was in a wheelchair.
At that point I was non-weight bearing so it was a pretty interesting "frisk" in a box standing on one leg like a crane; because of course the wheel chair wasn't going thru anything without setting off bells and whistles.
What possible explosives I could have shoved down inside the cast I have no idea.Lawren
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There are many wonderful places in the world, but one of my favourite places is on the back of my horse.
- Rolf KopfleComment
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I'm stopped often, for whatever reason. At this point, it's a bit of a joke. Those that travel with me most frequently actually expect me to be stopped, and comment if I get by without incident. For the life of me, I can't figure out why? BTW, I also seem to attract every single crazy/homeless person while vacationing. Must be my sent, or something.
Angela
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
BTW, I'm still keeping track of how many times you annoy me.
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One of my boys was randomly selected for additional screening once. He was about seven at the time. Nope,no explosives found.Comment
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Almost strip searched
A few times I have had small things that caused the alarm. My glasses set it off once and almost caused me to be strip searched.
The other incedent was a dime had fallen into my wallet and I had already removed my glasses, belt keys, change, etc. Couldn't figure out what was causing the problem.
Each time my wife laughs at me but last time she got stopped because her non metal thing in bra was setting things off. Luckily we give ourselves plenty of time.
BartI live to vacation and vacation to live.Comment
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The "cast" itself could have been the explosive - there are so many sick cookies out there they have to check this stuff.Originally posted by lawren2
People wire their infants with explosives so an adult with a full leg cast would raise my suspicion level, too.
Luckily u were not going to your 3rd floor walk up unit at Morritts!Comment
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