airport security stories - General Discussion

castel64 · 08-01-2007, 00:36

OK, what's going on?

I ask a policeman for help at an airport, he's got an automatic rifle slung across his chest.

My 6 year old daughter has a camera bag and, not only are we physically pushed out of the security area, I am accused, with no evidence, of using her as a 'carrier' for my dangerous soft toys, lip glosses, charm bracelets and other weapons of mass girlieness.

There is a man, unshaven, pretty sweaty - looking good here - he's wearing a shocking pink t-shirt and on the back he has the words 'here to help'; here to help upset you? here to help make your children cry? here to help an already nervous passenger more nervous? here to help really mess up your day? This is Stanstead security, Britain's finest.

This sea cucumber - eats and excretes - is given the task of telling us we're only allowed one piece of hand baggage. Well, that's fine. I've no problem with that. I do have a problem with being screamed at and, God forbid I should question the attitude, I am quickly shown the 'ZERO TOLERANCE' sign. This sign means that the neo-fascists won't take any nonsense from you, but don't try and call them 'neo fascists'.

Any more amusing airport incidents?

dentures · 08-01-2007, 01:00

Earlier this year I went on holiday with my family.
The security staff debated for about 10 minutes on whether or not to confiscate my Grandma’s angina spray.
They didn’t

intheknow · 08-01-2007, 02:11

Ahh but they only have to be wrong once, that spray may not be what it seems...

grotbags1975 · 08-01-2007, 02:41

on an actual plane, i asked for a drink, and the lipstick just said the drinks trolley has finished! - i asked her what her job entailed, she became defensive obviously and explained for 5 minutes her duty. At the end i asked for 2 drinks and duly got them. I remember thinking, thats all you are paid to do! and they try and get out of it cheeky sods

Ajax. · 08-01-2007, 04:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by grotbags1975

on an actual plane, i asked for a drink, and the lipstick just said the drinks trolley has finished! - i asked her what her job entailed, she became defensive obviously and explained for 5 minutes her duty. At the end i asked for 2 drinks and duly got them. I remember thinking, thats all you are paid to do! and they try and get out of it cheeky sods

No, thats not all the "lipstick" are paid to do. Their paid to keep everybody safe on board and only then the customer service bit comes into place.

I be your one of these people that never listen to the inflight safe guide, but if something went wrong, thats when you will respect them!

grotbags1975 · 08-01-2007, 04:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajax.

No, thats not all the "lipstick" are paid to do. Their paid to keep everybody safe on board and only then the customer service bit comes into place.

I be your one of these people that never listen to the inflight safe guide, but if something went wrong, thats when you will respect them!

so they also do the safety guide crap beforehand, the 'lets try and save my teeth for identity'

If something went wrong, there is nothing the lipstick could do...

♣ Moya · 08-01-2007, 09:15

I seem to set off the alarms every time I go through airport security.
During pat down they never find a reason - no pens, keys etc.
I'm beginning to wonder if I've got an implant I don't know about.....

Nah! Seen too many films.

Satai Delenn · 08-01-2007, 09:27

On a serious note, what happens in that type of situation? Where you set off the alarms, but there is no apparent reason why?

The reason I ask, is because I have a lot of metal in my hip, from medical procedures, and I set off some shop alarms, and hand held scanner alarms, so it is pretty obvious that I would set off airport alarms too - so what would happen? Would they let me fly?

I'd like to fly again when I have the all clear to, but am scared, lol

timboy · 08-01-2007, 09:54

I went through security at East Midland airport with a pair of Adidas Micropacers on. They have a clock/stopwatch in one of the trainers and obviously it has a battery in it.

I forgot to take the stopwatch part out and walked through the metal detector. It goes off so I go over to another desk. A quick scan of my body and legs, nowhere near my feet otherwise it would obviously set it off again, and they send me on my way to the departure lounge.

Luckily I wasn't a shoe bomber.

♣ Moya · 08-01-2007, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mimpy

<snip>
On a serious note, what happens in that type of situation? Where you set off the alarms, but there is no apparent reason why?

You just get a pat down and a shoe check.
I asked why it always happens to me & just got a shrug.

simonipswich · 08-01-2007, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mimpy

On a serious note, what happens in that type of situation? Where you set off the alarms, but there is no apparent reason why?

I can tell you why!

If you notice when you go through these things, behind the man and woman who "rub you down" there is another person and they have a key fob much like a car fob which unlocks your car.

When they look down the queue, as you go through they think "check this one out" and press their fob which activates the machine, hence leading to a rub down. I spotted this at Edinburgh Airport last February and since then noticed this at Stansted too!

RAINBOWGIRL22 · 08-01-2007, 10:50

Even prior to the increased security I have been stopped, without fail, everytime I have ever been through airport security when leaving the UK {and quite often when I am flying back to the UK too!}. Usually a bag search is sufficient but I have been taken aside and 'patted' down before

I have been advised that bag searches are totally random, but it's always me! It's never anyone else I travel with, just me

upnunder · 08-01-2007, 10:59

When I was trying to fly home from Israel, I was sent to this little room, searched, ha all my bags searched, then they left me there for 2 hours.
After 2 hours, an armed guard turned up and escorted me straight to the plane.

i got no explanation as to why, they just left me at the gate.

08-01-2007, 00:36	#1
castel64 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 795	airport security stories OK, what's going on? I ask a policeman for help at an airport, he's got an automatic rifle slung across his chest. My 6 year old daughter has a camera bag and, not only are we physically pushed out of the security area, I am accused, with no evidence, of using her as a 'carrier' for my dangerous soft toys, lip glosses, charm bracelets and other weapons of mass girlieness. There is a man, unshaven, pretty sweaty - looking good here - he's wearing a shocking pink t-shirt and on the back he has the words 'here to help'; here to help upset you? here to help make your children cry? here to help an already nervous passenger more nervous? here to help really mess up your day? This is Stanstead security, Britain's finest. This sea cucumber - eats and excretes - is given the task of telling us we're only allowed one piece of hand baggage. Well, that's fine. I've no problem with that. I do have a problem with being screamed at and, God forbid I should question the attitude, I am quickly shown the 'ZERO TOLERANCE' sign. This sign means that the neo-fascists won't take any nonsense from you, but don't try and call them 'neo fascists'. Any more amusing airport incidents?

08-01-2007, 09:54	#9
timboy Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 11,856	I went through security at East Midland airport with a pair of Adidas Micropacers on. They have a clock/stopwatch in one of the trainers and obviously it has a battery in it. I forgot to take the stopwatch part out and walked through the metal detector. It goes off so I go over to another desk. A quick scan of my body and legs, nowhere near my feet otherwise it would obviously set it off again, and they send me on my way to the departure lounge. Luckily I wasn't a shoe bomber. Last edited by timboy : 08-01-2007 at 09:58.

08-01-2007, 01:00	#2
dentures Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 920	Earlier this year I went on holiday with my family. The security staff debated for about 10 minutes on whether or not to confiscate my Grandma’s angina spray. They didn’t

08-01-2007, 02:11	#3
intheknow Banned User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol Services: Free to all Posts: 4,835 Blog Entries: 1	Ahh but they only have to be wrong once, that spray may not be what it seems...

08-01-2007, 02:41	#4
grotbags1975 Banned User Join Date: May 2006 Location: notts Services: sky/ntl Posts: 3,187	on an actual plane, i asked for a drink, and the lipstick just said the drinks trolley has finished! - i asked her what her job entailed, she became defensive obviously and explained for 5 minutes her duty. At the end i asked for 2 drinks and duly got them. I remember thinking, thats all you are paid to do! and they try and get out of it cheeky sods

08-01-2007, 09:15	#7
♣ Moya Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 22,575	I seem to set off the alarms every time I go through airport security. During pat down they never find a reason - no pens, keys etc. I'm beginning to wonder if I've got an implant I don't know about..... Nah! Seen too many films.

08-01-2007, 09:27	#8
Satai Delenn Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Minbar Services: The Grey Council, vanquishing The Shadows, and anything John Sheridan wants Posts: 335	On a serious note, what happens in that type of situation? Where you set off the alarms, but there is no apparent reason why? The reason I ask, is because I have a lot of metal in my hip, from medical procedures, and I set off some shop alarms, and hand held scanner alarms, so it is pretty obvious that I would set off airport alarms too - so what would happen? Would they let me fly? I'd like to fly again when I have the all clear to, but am scared, lol

08-01-2007, 10:50	#12
RAINBOWGIRL22 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 11,990	Even prior to the increased security I have been stopped, without fail, everytime I have ever been through airport security when leaving the UK {and quite often when I am flying back to the UK too!}. Usually a bag search is sufficient but I have been taken aside and 'patted' down before I have been advised that bag searches are totally random, but it's always me! It's never anyone else I travel with, just me

08-01-2007, 10:59	#13
upnunder Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Derbyshire, Uk Posts: 2,209	When I was trying to fly home from Israel, I was sent to this little room, searched, ha all my bags searched, then they left me there for 2 hours. After 2 hours, an armed guard turned up and escorted me straight to the plane. i got no explanation as to why, they just left me at the gate.