Airport Security in the US: My experience...

[angeleyes]

I'm on injectible medication. Fine, I knew I would need documentation. I am the type to always triple check facts and each time I called (AIRLINE) I was given different info. I spent over 4 hours on the phone and brought as many certified documents as I could. (On Rx Paper) and then another stating what I was on, why, how often, and I cut the Rx labels off the boxes expecting a mess at security.

I put my bag through with syringes and the smaller gauge attachments and nobody said a damn thing, I got stopped and they took MY LIGHTER away and never mentioned anything about my syringes/needles. WTF? I was gripping on to my papers in fear of losing them and nobody looked twice at my x-rayed carry on bag. But OH MY, a lighter. I don't get it.

[detoxed]

Needles are ok.. they are part of the system

[Big_Red]

hey dude needed a free lighter. chill.

[georgeyw]

heh - I had a lighter in my pocket and another 5 or 6 in my carry on bag. They took the one in my pocket and left the rest. They also searched my bags and decided the lighters in the carry on were fine? ermm ok retards!

[TampaToker]

Useing the built in lighters at the airport suck

[ready lube]

They have been keeping lighters for 6 years now, it's nothing new. I guess they figure you could light the plane on fire or use some hair spray in your carry on and make a tourch IDK?

[ToplistBlog_Com]

Guy probaly had to light up his stogue.

[majorbitch]

There goes the tax payer's dollars.

ESH.

[DutchTeenCash]

unbelievable

[Sarah_Jayne]

The number of times I have had my bag searched because the batteries for a walkman apparently look like bullets on xray.

[angeleyes]

I talked to so many different reps at "D" that each gave me different info causing me to waste a serious amt of time and money to get everything I needed. They can shove the lighter, but I don't understand---coming and going I had my syriges and needle attachments and nobody said a word while I was so proud that I brought so much documentation that they couldn't deny me. The airplane attendants were great though. If I need a haz mat box to dispose of materials, they were right there to help. (It was an East to West cost flight, so it was long). They were ultra attentive as far as asking if I was okay, if I needed " this or that "... I just dont understand after the 911 mess that a bundles of needles doesn't even cause them to ask atleast?

I laminated all of my documentation to carry on from now on, but still, that creeps me about a little bit considering how the trade center crap went down with no guns, etc. I would have preferred they searched my carry on baggage. (Hassle or not)

[angeleyes]

I laminated all of my documentation to carry on from now on, but still, that creeps me about a little bit considering how the trade center crap went down with no guns, etc. I would have preferred they searched my carry on baggage. (Hassle or not) After 911, and regardless of what I think of our current politics (let us not go there) I would have jumped up and probably been killed but tried to save 100+ people. I know you guys think I'm full of shit up to my eyeballs, but I seriously would. If I knew it was going down anyhow and I'm just a short chick, so maybe it wouldn't matter, but if I could save a few lives, I would do it. I owe it to anyone because of all of the people that helped me when I was much younger that didn't know me from adam. If it wasn't for them, I never would have made it through college or life 10 years ago. I favor from a stranger is never, ever forgotten.

[rants]

Do they confiscate makeup brushes or tweezers? They could be used as weapons??

I also have a metal eyelash comb, it has sharp needles, I bet that would get confiscated as well.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by ready lube

They have been keeping lighters for 6 years now, it's nothing new. I guess they figure you could light the plane on fire or use some hair spray in your carry on and make a tourch IDK?

I"ve talked to 2 ntsb guys while having a smoke about a month ago regarding why lighters are banned, but matches are ok.

First they remarked about my shirt I was wearing (My MMA School), and that if I saw anyone trying to light a match around me would I do something. Which I said, "Yeah, I'd stomp a hole in them".

They then said, that's the reason right there. You will notice a person with matches, it takes longer to light than a lighter and someone can react to it. It also gives off a smell, which a lighter will not.

I didn't bring up being able to light a match with one hand, no need to argue with the guys who let you in the airport and I was going home.

[OG LennyT]

Originally Posted by Big_Red

hey dude needed a free lighter. chill.

[dRI-X]

theres a joke in some documentary of 911 that lighters and the only target.hahahaha.

[biftek]

nothing worse then pricks who tax your lighter

airpot security must have a good collection lighters

[BuggyG]

ahhhhhhhhhhhh.. I remember working airport security early 90's!
was fun times.. and yeah.. always easy to get stuff when ya need something
new pen.. lighter ya lost.. smokes someone forgot
books/magazines.. if no one was around that nice camera/discman!

[summerland]

If we don't do something harsh and fast we are doomed.

[Kimo]

no one seems to know what they are doing anymore

[E$_manager]

when i was yuong i took my hamster in the bag through the x-rays. And the border men never said a word - they just didn't want to bother about some hamster. Helived a long life though, going through x-rays about 8 times

[Rochard]

One my way to Phoenix Forum at the airport I threw away my lighter after my last smoke. A few mintues later Loryn gave me her lighter and asked me to toss it, which I forgot to do. I carried the lighter in my pocket through security without anyone knowing.

On the way back I carried a big bottle of booze on the plane. No one said anything.

[angeleyes]

Originally Posted by Cristie

when i was yuong i took my hamster in the bag through the x-rays. And the border men never said a word - they just didn't want to bother about some hamster. Helived a long life though, going through x-rays about 8 times

Awww..... I can just see the hamster wondering wtf was up. "Yo, Mom I'm in a bag and it's moving".


But back the the point, I didn't give a shit about the lighter, it just worried me that they didn't ask about an assload of needles. All it takes is a wack job without the paper work to pump air into it and do damage. That scares me.

[tony286]

its all a show and such bullshit

[angeleyes]

Very True Tony. In the wrong hands, needles can be deadly, that is what freaked me out. I WANTED them to ask for the proper paperwork I spent so much time gathering. Tweezers, etc... yeah, they are sharp, but as I said, fill a needle with air and POOF, instant death if some idiot was on another "mission" and knew the basics of anatomy. I was glad I didn't miss the plane, but over all, I would have felt safer if they pulled me aside and looked over the filo-fax of paperwork I brought with me.

[zinnanti]

I have a buddy who's an ATF Agent. When he gets on board, they let him carry his .40 caliber, but they take his nail clipper (even though he's a fed).

Conversely, I represented a TSA Agent (on a probation violation for his second DUI arising from a seperate hit and run). What a flake. At least he had great stories. The best was when they searched a soldier's bag coming back from Iraq and found a claymore. Since the boots carry the same chemicals in the detection equipment, they figured it was routine . . . until the poor bastard almost detonated the thing in the terminal playing with that "clacker" thingy. That little bugger made its way through Frankfurt, New York and into Los Angeles.

Hey - glad they keep lighters off planes. I feel much safer.

(Will Tony disappear some day for blabbing . . . . ?)

[angeleyes]

excuse my stupidity zinn, but can you word that in tard language for people like me that don't know much about claymores, etc.

[CamsLord]

they are pretty easy on some airports here

[zinnanti]

Originally Posted by angeleyes

excuse my stupidity zinn, but can you word that in tard language for people like me that don't know much about claymores, etc.

No prob. A claymore is a land mine type device that is designed to thrust up about 5 feet in the air, then detonate a huge explosion showering people with thousands of pieces of lethal shrapnel.

In other words, it would have ruined the day for a lot of people.

But, TSA finds all kinds of stuff like that coming back from the war - grenades, flares, etc.

You know Richard Buss (Rochard)? He's probably the best to give a good description of what it can do. He was a Marine.

[E$_manager]

Originally Posted by angeleyes

Awww..... I can just see the hamster wondering wtf was up. "Yo, Mom I'm in a bag and it's moving".


But back the the point, I didn't give a shit about the lighter, it just worried me that they didn't ask about an assload of needles.

remember "Termnal"? that was the place that i didn't understand - Tom Hanks said the pills are for God or for Goat? I watched it with translation and didn't understand. So you could not collect those papers about the needles - just say - it is for God. basta.

[angeleyes]

Originally Posted by zinnanti

No prob. A claymore is a land mine type device that is designed to thrust up about 5 feet in the air, then detonate a huge explosion showering people with thousands of pieces of lethal shrapnel.

In other words, it would have ruined the day for a lot of people.

But, TSA finds all kinds of stuff like that coming back from the war - grenades, flares, etc.

You know Richard Buss (Rochard)? He's probably the best to give a good description of what it can do. He was a Marine.

Thanks hon...... Now I understand. lol Rochard is my boy! Love him to death! I'll bug him about it on icq tomorrow.

[angeleyes]

Originally Posted by Cristie

remember "Termnal"? that was the place that i didn't understand - Tom Hanks said the pills are for God or for Goat? I watched it with translation and didn't understand. So you could not collect those papers about the needles - just say - it is for God. basta.

Never seen the film. So... another big HUH? I guess the translation sucked? He is a great actor, however I tend to buy the flicks after they are on DVD as opposed to watching them at the theater because my hearing is hyper sensitive in one ear and the sound actually hurts. If it is something I MUST see, I wear ear plugs and hear the movie just fine.