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Friend gets "special search"
As strictly an occasional air traveler, I don't keep
up with news of the latest security fads. So I was surprised to hear from a friend who commutes weekly by air that he was recently singled out for what they called "special search", in which they examined every object in his carry-on luggage. That's a new one on me. Aren't the X-rays and magnetometers enough any more? What made him "special" that time? He had no idea, so he assumed it was a random check. -- Charles Packer http://cpacker.org/whatnews mailboxATcpacker.org |
#2
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Friend gets "special search"
"Charles Packer" wrote in message ... As strictly an occasional air traveler, I don't keep up with news of the latest security fads. So I was surprised to hear from a friend who commutes weekly by air that he was recently singled out for what they called "special search", in which they examined every object in his carry-on luggage. That's a new one on me. Aren't the X-rays and magnetometers enough any more? What made him "special" that time? He had no idea, so he assumed it was a random check. Where did this happen? Did they search before, or after his bags went through the magnetometers? any other details? I see this occasionally at some major airports in the US, where TSA comes to to the gate and randomly checks. In Mexico City, everyone was checked a second time at the gate before boarding my US flight. |
#3
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Friend gets "special search"
Charles Packer writes:
As strictly an occasional air traveler, I don't keep up with news of the latest security fads. So I was surprised to hear from a friend who commutes weekly by air that he was recently singled out for what they called "special search", in which they examined every object in his carry-on luggage. That's a new one on me. Aren't the X-rays and magnetometers enough any more? What made him "special" that time? He had no idea, so he assumed it was a random check. Not to worry: the people who did the search didn't have any idea, either. |
#4
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Friend gets "special search"
On Jan 2, 7:24*am, Charles Packer wrote:
As strictly an occasional air traveler, I don't keep up with news of the latest security fads. So I was surprised to hear from a friend who commutes weekly by air that he was recently singled out for what they called "special search", in which they examined every object in his carry-on luggage. That's a new one on me. Aren't the X-rays and magnetometers enough any more? What made him "special" that time? He had no idea, so he assumed it was a random check. I had this kind of experience a year and a half back. I was changing flight from a (rerouted) NW flight to UA in Wichita, LS. Upon boarding the UA flight I was asked to produce, guess what, a paper ticket. Which I didn't have, of couse (how has a paper ticket these days?). I was thus sent to a UA counter, which was outside th security zone. It all went smoothly, but I was was obviously irritated by the whole precedure, and a bit sweating from running a long distance with my carry-on. As a reward, I was tagged by the UA personel to undergo a "special treatment". Again, it was very polite but meticulous. As a result, I was the last to board the departing flight, with shoelaces loose and no belt. Nice experience altogether. Adds to the pleasures of flying these days. jrk |
#5
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Friend gets "special search"
"Charles Packer" wrote in message
... As strictly an occasional air traveler, I don't keep up with news of the latest security fads. So I was surprised to hear from a friend who commutes weekly by air that he was recently singled out for what they called "special search", in which they examined every object in his carry-on luggage. That's a new one on me. Aren't the X-rays and magnetometers enough any more? What made him "special" that time? He had no idea, so he assumed it was a random check. I was travelling with a friend from JFK. Something about my (EU) passport made them single me out. I was put into a 'pen', formed by those ribbon barriers, together with a few other individuals. I waved goodbye to my friend and told her not to wait for me in case I didn't make it. I had no idea what was going to happen. In the end my carry-on and myself were scanned as normal then a special machine was used to 'sniff' my bag. This really puts me off travelling to and from the USA. Another time even routine security involved me having to hold, simultaneously, passport, boarding pass, coat, shoes, carry-on, laptop... It was a circus. More recently, at TFS, passengers had to line up against a counter, before being allowed to the X-ray and magnetic scanners, to deposit most of their small personal possessions in plastic trays. Then they had to line up, holding their bags, coats, and sad little trays of possessions. And if they were lucky they allowed to reclaim their precious belongings on the other side. It reminded me of scenes from WWII. -- Bartc |
#6
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Friend gets "special search"
"Bartc" wrote in message m... "Charles Packer" wrote in message ... As strictly an occasional air traveler, I don't keep up with news of the latest security fads. So I was surprised to hear from a friend who commutes weekly by air that he was recently singled out for what they called "special search", in which they examined every object in his carry-on luggage. That's a new one on me. Aren't the X-rays and magnetometers enough any more? What made him "special" that time? He had no idea, so he assumed it was a random check. I was travelling with a friend from JFK. Something about my (EU) passport made them single me out. I was put into a 'pen', formed by those ribbon barriers, together with a few other individuals. I waved goodbye to my friend and told her not to wait for me in case I didn't make it. I had no idea what was going to happen. Did you think you were about to be executed? In the end my carry-on and myself were scanned as normal then a special machine was used to 'sniff' my bag. Yes, they wiped a little cotton pad on your bag. That must have been terrible. This really puts me off travelling to and from the USA. Another time even routine security involved me having to hold, simultaneously, passport, boarding pass, coat, shoes, carry-on, laptop... It was a circus. More recently, at TFS, passengers had to line up against a counter, before being allowed to the X-ray and magnetic scanners, to deposit most of their small personal possessions in plastic trays. Then they had to line up, holding their bags, coats, and sad little trays of possessions. And if they were lucky they allowed to reclaim their precious belongings on the other side. It reminded me of scenes from WWII. You seem to be saying that you don't have to go through metal detectors, or X-Ray machines. |
#7
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Friend gets "special search"
Guys, you know going in that your privacy is about to be
invaded big-time, the more clothes you have on, the more reassembly you'll have, and the more crap you have on hand, the more akward its gonn'a be. Simplify. No coats, belts, loose change, smelly shoes or holy socks. Frankly, I'd rather have my privacy invaded for the sake of security than risk ending up a piece of charcoal ona hillside at the hands of a fellow passenger. "Bartc" wrote: "Charles Packer" wrote: As strictly an occasional air traveler, I don't keep up with news of the latest security fads. So I was surprised to hear from a friend who commutes weekly by air that he was recently singled out for what they called "special search", in which they examined every object in his carry-on luggage. That's a new one on me. Aren't the X-rays and magnetometers enough any more? What made him "special" that time? He had no idea, so he assumed it was a random check. I was travelling with a friend from JFK. Something about my (EU) passport made them single me out. I was put into a 'pen', formed by those ribbon barriers, together with a few other individuals. I waved goodbye to my friend and told her not to wait for me in case I didn't make it. I had no idea what was going to happen. In the end my carry-on and myself were scanned as normal then a special machine was used to 'sniff' my bag. This really puts me off travelling to and from the USA. Another time even routine security involved me having to hold, simultaneously, passport, boarding pass, coat, shoes, carry-on, laptop... It was a circus. More recently, at TFS, passengers had to line up against a counter, before being allowed to the X-ray and magnetic scanners, to deposit most of their small personal possessions in plastic trays. Then they had to line up, holding their bags, coats, and sad little trays of possessions. And if they were lucky they allowed to reclaim their precious belongings on the other side. It reminded me of scenes from WWII. |
#8
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Friend gets "special search"
"Rog'" wrote in message ... Guys, you know going in that your privacy is about to be invaded big-time, the more clothes you have on, the more reassembly you'll have, and the more crap you have on hand, the more akward its gonn'a be. Simplify. No coats, belts, loose change, smelly shoes or holy socks. Frankly, I'd rather have my privacy invaded for the sake of security than risk ending up a piece of charcoal ona hillside at the hands of a fellow passenger. Being a little more informative, and avoiding splitting up a party, would have helped. And security scanning could have been a bit more dignified for the passengers at TFS. We were going on holiday after all not entering prison. -- Bartc |
#9
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Friend gets "special search"
"Bartc" wrote in message m... "Rog'" wrote in message ... Guys, you know going in that your privacy is about to be invaded big-time, the more clothes you have on, the more reassembly you'll have, and the more crap you have on hand, the more akward its gonn'a be. Simplify. No coats, belts, loose change, smelly shoes or holy socks. Frankly, I'd rather have my privacy invaded for the sake of security than risk ending up a piece of charcoal ona hillside at the hands of a fellow passenger. You're totally losing me on this one. Being a little more informative, and avoiding splitting up a party, would have helped. Secondary screening only takes a few minutes. The rest of your party couldn't wait? And security scanning could have been a bit more dignified for the passengers at TFS. I have to assume you mean TSA. Why do you feel that it was undignified? We were going on holiday after all not entering prison. TSA leaves a lot to be desired, but if you follow instructions, you're through the security portion in a matter of a couple of minutes. |
#10
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Friend gets "special search"
"Jim Davis" wrote in message ... "Bartc" wrote in message m... "Rog'" wrote in message ... Guys, you know going in that your privacy is about to be invaded big-time, the more clothes you have on, the more reassembly you'll have, and the more crap you have on hand, the more akward its gonn'a be. Simplify. No coats, belts, loose change, smelly shoes or holy socks. Frankly, I'd rather have my privacy invaded for the sake of security than risk ending up a piece of charcoal ona hillside at the hands of a fellow passenger. You're totally losing me on this one. Being a little more informative, and avoiding splitting up a party, would have helped. Secondary screening only takes a few minutes. The rest of your party couldn't wait? No-one mentioned secondary screening. I've only had the pleasure of travelling through US airports every 2-3 years so these things are not obvious. And security scanning could have been a bit more dignified for the passengers at TFS. I have to assume you mean TSA. Why do you feel that it was undignified? No, Tenerife South. The area where you put stuff in the plastic trays is some distance from the actual scanners. And the same the other side. We were going on holiday after all not entering prison. TSA leaves a lot to be desired, but if you follow instructions, you're through the security portion in a matter of a couple of minutes. Perhaps you're a US citizen. From anywhere else you get a bit nervous. -- Bartc |
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