stupid airport security.

[exeterbohemian]

so i was flying down to washington, d.c. a few days ago, and in the mad rush of passing through the security checkpoint i must have somehow drawn the unlucky inspection number. as in, after my bags passed through the x-ray machine, and after i'd passed through the metal detector, they pulled me aside and wanded me as i watched them unpacking all of my bags. they must have been swabbing for explosives or something. asking me a bunch of ridiculous questions and manhandling my powerbook like it was a children's toy. needless to say, i was appalled. and to make matters worse, when i got on the plane and took my computer out, to my horror i found a whole spread of deep scratches all over the bottom casing. i wish i could take better pictures to relate the depth of the damage, but all i have with me now for a camera now is my phone. i never knew that 'homeland security' meant damaging the property of the innocents.

 

[miniConvert]

Oh my!

I guess there's pretty much nothing you can do about that now? I guess I'll make sure to check my kit immediately after someone's been ruffling through my stuff in future :S Argh!

 

[mpw]

I can't stand airport security, it's gotta be the most pointless and annoying waste of time when traveling, like a determined terrorist is going to be caught out by rent-a-guard?

I hate how they'll confiscate my nail clipper as a possible weapon then sell me a litre of Scotch in a glass bottle and serve me my dinner with metal cutlery in 1st class on the flight.

 

[WildCowboy]

I hate how they'll confiscate my nail clipper as a possible weapon then sell me a litre of Scotch in a glass bottle and serve me my dinner with metal cutlery in 1st class on the flight.

Rest easy...nail clippers are now allowed to be carried on the plane. See the whole list of items in this PDF.

 

[rdowns]

My story from Denver International yesterday. Standing in line to pass through the metal detector not letting my iBook go through until I'm ready to go through the detector. Sweet old lady 2 people in front of me. She gets the treatment from the rent-a-cops.

Girl in front of me, nearly hysterical, on the phone with her mother pleading with her to pick up her Ridilin (sp?) prescription because she will get home too late. Starts screaming how she is going to get fracked up drunk on the flight and pass out. Hands security guard her phone, walks through detector and is given her phone back to continue the madness.

3 guesses who was in the seat next to mine when I boarded plane? At least she had 2 double vodkas and passed out for the duration.

 

[mpw]

Rest easy...nail clippers are now allowed to be carried on the plane. See the whole list of items in this PDF.

Nice to see a little common sense but it hasn't filter though to our local airport(which must be very low risk) yet.

 

[bluedevil14]

so i was flying down to washington, d.c. a few days ago, and in the mad rush of passing through the security checkpoint i must have somehow drawn the unlucky inspection number. as in, after my bags passed through the x-ray machine, and after i'd passed through the metal detector, they pulled me aside and wanded me as i watched them unpacking all of my bags. they must have been swabbing for explosives or something. asking me a bunch of ridiculous questions and manhandling my powerbook like it was a children's toy. needless to say, i was appalled. and to make matters worse, when i got on the plane and took my computer out, to my horror i found a whole spread of deep scratches all over the bottom casing. i wish i could take better pictures to relate the depth of the damage, but all i have with me now for a camera now is my phone. i never knew that 'homeland security' meant damaging the property of the innocents.

you think flying into DC is bad, you should try flying out of DC. I did it once less then a mouth after 9/11 and my 4 year old sister had 4 guns pointed in her face because one of her stuffed animals had a metal stick in it

 

[Oryan]

On my last encounter with airport security I shipped a new physics textbook through checked baggage. I wrapped it up in several towels to protect it. When I opened my bag the book was out of the towels (which were stuffed in a corner) and it now has a torn binding and scratches on the cover. Needless to say, the bookstore won't refund as much when I return it now.

 

[calebjohnston]

My iBook got manhandled by airport security too. You can't really expect them to care though. They're busy.

It is rediculous though. Haven't taken my new PB through an airport yet.

 

[Icespiker]

I travel often and I always carry my laptop as carry-on. If you don't want them to man-handle it.. take it as carry-on baggage and at the security check, take it out of your laptop bag/backpack, and place it in a single box they use to run through the x-ray. Honestly, i wouldn't trust the baggage handler/TSA to rummage through my checked baggage with my laptop. It could go missing and with the way TSA runs their outfit, they basically have the right to do whatever they want to your stuff, just remember, the American people voted for that 'protection'.

 

[Macky-Mac]

you're supposed to remove your laptop from your bag and put it in one of those plastic trays by itself.......that's generally required so if you people arent doing that then it's no wonder that your computer is getting all pawed and mishandled

checking it in your bags could mean it would get stolen

 

[Macky-Mac]

....I hate how they'll confiscate my nail clipper as a possible weapon then sell me a litre of Scotch in a glass bottle and serve me my dinner with metal cutlery in 1st class on the flight.

alas, only plastic cutlery in first class on American Airlines in my recent experience

 

[YS2003]

So far, I have not taken my nicer notebook computers for air travel as I could not stand the idea some stranger (in this case, TSA officer) playing with my notebook if I hit the inspection jackpot by some random reasons. So, I usually I only take my company-issued Dell PC. I also don't like putting in my nice Mac or high end PC notebook on that dirty basket; I usually I put my Dell PC on my jacket which is in that basket. I also keep a separate carry on bag (which is quite used up) for air travel (for business) only so that I only carry the essential (by picking up the essential items from my regular Targus bag). My regular Targus computer bag has so many gadgets.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

If you can stand your computers or cameras being checked, a tip from a customer may help. He packs a starter pistol in his gear that he wants to get special handling. The starter pistol from what he said needs to be declared as soon as you get to the airport. Your baggage is then screened to the nth degree. But special locks and tags are placed on the baggage. And given special handling till it gets to your final destination.

Just wondering what was your departure airport?

I have to say I really question airport security here in the US. On my trip to Reykjavik/London this past February I had to take my shoes off at BWI. I was wanded, all because of my nipple ring. The agent glared at me when it beeped over my nipple. I said that I would be happy to strip my shirt off to show that it was my nipple ring. He declined, but grunted. Before that exchange, my carry-on was flagged for inspection since they thought I carried on too many books of matches.

In Reykjavik to London, it was like the pre 9-11 days. Pass through a magnetometer (that did not detect my nipple ring), and have my carry ons xrayed. No shoes off.

At London's Heathrow, it was a mix. I had the treatment of the wand. But no glares when it signaled my nipple ring. I approached the check-in for security with my shoes off. Was told to put them back on. WTF!!!!???? Did not this Reed charcter fly from the UK to the US?!

It seems that airport security in the US is only to make contractors rich. And give a false sense of security to the traveling public.

When some like yourself does seem to have a claim, there is nothing but buck passing. Add to that I am old enough to remember in civics classes being told that the Soviet Union knew where their citizens traveled to. And how "free" we were. Ho free are we since the 80's in which to combat hijackings that we needed to have photo ids to board an airplane?

Sorry for the rant. And I hope that this doesn't end up in the PF. But I see little in the way we are treated here in the US as air travelers are truly making us safer. What if terrorists pack themselves with explosive like drug runners do? Then what is next for the US air traveler?

 

[Mammoth]

Next time that happens make a big scene out of it, claiming you had very important company data on it, and it wasn't even your Powerbook, it was the companies, and that you will speak to their manager if they do so much as lay a hair on it again (Literaly).

 

[generik]

you think flying into DC is bad, you should try flying out of DC. I did it once less then a mouth after 9/11 and my 4 year old sister had 4 guns pointed in her face because one of her stuffed animals had a metal stick in it

America: Where ordinary Citizens live lifes as depicted in Hollywood Blockbusters...

My guess is the HS personnel are just jealous of your Powerbook, heck I'd be willing to be that one of them even had his wedding ring turned inwards just so the diamond can exact vengence on your book. At the end of the day there is probably nothing you can do... file a complaint against airport security? You must be a terrorist!

 

[After G]

They just want an excuse to handle your stuff.

I had my iBook in a sleeve. I put in in the tray as directed. They still took it out and basically threw it into another plastic tray and rescanned it. I even asked at other airports if I had to take it out of the sleeve and they said it was fine leaving it in.

I just don't get it at all.