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

"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.

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.

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

"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

"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.

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.

"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

"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.

"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