Airports.. Extra Security Checks

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

The only time I've been pulled aside was when they seriously thought I had a bomb in my carry-on. Oh, and the time I didn't realize I had a leatherman in my bag and went through security with it about two months after 9/11. Oh yeah and I hadn't shaved in about 3 weeks, so I wasn't the most clean-cut looking guy at the time.

But back to the bomb, it was actually a bit funny. The girl running the screener looked, all of a sudden everything stopped, she ran it back and forth a few times, and you could see the look on her face. She called the other guy over and said "open it up". He looked at the screen and you could just see the instant look on his face. "Uh-uh - you open it." "No, you open it!" They were seriously fighting over who had to go open it up. The guy didn't look real happy, but he got his gloves on and pulled me and the bag over to the side. He had a scared-as-hell look on his face when he asked me to open the bag and then he started looking in. Then once he opened it, a huge sigh of relief. I had a portable CD player, a 60-CD case, 3 or 4 poker books, and a set of headphones with a 7-foot wire all wrapped around it. All that dense stuff in there with a bunch of wires all wrapped around it. It was pretty funny from over here, but I don't think I'd want to be that guy.

[Bluffoon]

Its all about profiling.

[Bulldog]

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And whats with them confiscating my 30$ Calibre lighter.
Blackjack

[/ QUOTE ]

I went through Boston and Philly yesterday, and both checkpoints had large signs indicating that lighters & matches were not permitted and would be confiscated.

[wh1t3bread]

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How do they determine who they search anyways?

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There are a number of factors:

1. Your name may match a name on "watch list".
2. You bought your ticket in cash.
3. You purchased a one-way ticket.
4. You have given a TSA screener reason to further screen you (i.e. you gave them a snippy remark when asked to take off your shoes).

[swede123]

You missed one reason, what airport are you at.

Once I was flying out of Denver and I had forgotten that I had a Leatherman Micra (tiny multitool with a 1 inch blade) on a keychain in my briefcase. The TSA guy was a dick about it, telling me they could fine me and put me in jail and all that. Ultimately I had to forfeit my little leatherman as my flight time was approaching.

As a contrast, a few weeks ago I was in Grand Forks, ND on business. As I am just about to go through security I realize my pocket knife is still in my pocket. I fish it out and show it to the TSA guy who lets me go back to the ticket counter and put the knife into my checked bag.

Small, regional airports are nice that way.

Swede

[stankybank]

lighter is no good on a plane. think about it.

btw, people get patted down at airports all the time. it's all random, like they might just say every 10th person gets patted down in their mind. you don't have to 'look' like a 'terrorist' to be patted down. a lot of times, the most innocent looking people can be the most dangerous.

[skoal2k4]

matches are supposed to be allowed... lighters are not

[tek]

I flew out of JFK last week and walked right through with my shoes on. I love getting over on the man.

And to the guy who flew out of Grand Forks. It's almost like Canada up there--you could have gone through with a chainsaw dripping with blood...