Airport Security?

bevm · Post by **bevm** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:21 pm

It's so freakin' ridiculous. We just got back on May 2nd. They stopped me because I had 1/2 bottle of water, yet my husband waltzed right through with a Bic lighter in the cargo pocket of his shorts. I brought back some coral and shells and I felt like a heroin smuggler. IT'S CRAZY!!!!

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:30 pm

And you can take all the KY jelly you want

(Quoted from the TSA Website)

"To ensure the health and welfare of certain air travelers, in the absence of suspicious activity or items, greater than 3 ounces of the following liquids, gels and aerosols are permitted through the security checkpoint in reasonable quantities for the duration of your itinerary (all exceptions must be presented to the security officer in front of the checkpoint):
All prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly"

Pia

bevm · Post by **bevm** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:36 pm

O.K. Pia I have to say it....We probably need all of that KY Jelly while we're being screwed by the TSA. No P.M.'s regarding this, please...
P.S. That's good to know because I left my gallon jug of KY home last time!!

waterguy · Post by **waterguy** » Thu May 22, 2008 7:42 pm

I have no problem with a soldier carrying his or her weapon don't have to worry about terrorist on that flight

bevm · Post by **bevm** » Thu May 22, 2008 8:13 pm

Amen Waterguy!!

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Fri May 23, 2008 8:48 am

As a girl who was on the watchlist for almost 2 years (before I got pissy and wrote to every one I could think of), I can attest that airport security makes NO sense.

It is to keep honest people honest and to annoy us to death. Terrorists are onto the next technology ... gels and liquids are old news.

pjayer · Post by **pjayer** » Fri May 23, 2008 9:16 am

[quote="flip-flop"]As a girl who was on the watchlist for almost 2 years (before I got pissy and wrote to every one I could think of), I can attest that airport security makes NO sense. quote]

How do people end up on the watchlist and what happens to you?

The reason I ask is that last month my daughter put a huge conch shell she found in Antigua in her carry-on backpack. Of course they confiscated it in Puerto Rico and asked for ID. I gave them my information, rather than hers. They were really nice about it, but it made me wonder if my name is on some list somewhere as a conch smuggling terrorist.

And I agree it makes no sense, but neither do a lot of other policies, regulations and laws our elected officials and assorted beaurocrats enact. IMHO, more proof of the validity of the Peter Principle.

flip-flop · Post by **flip-flop** » Fri May 23, 2008 9:30 am

I am pretty sure there is some program that once you meet enough criteria you go on the list. For me it was most likely a combination of factors but primarily these two:

1- my last name when spelled with 1 less r is a very common arabic name

2- I flew often from National Airport to Toronto for work in the time frame around 9/11 and one time did not use the return portion of my ticket (flights out of Toronto were all cancelled and I and 2 colleagues decided to rent a car and drive home instead).

I thought I was on the list for awhile because I seemed to ALWAYS get singled out for additional screening. Like while pregnant, they took me off the tram at Dulles to wand me again.

Another time I tried to do online checkin for a flight from DCA to Savannah (or maybe it was Charleston) and it would not let me. It would allow me to check-in my husband but not myself. When I called I got a very vague description of some technical error. When I got to the airport and tried to check in at the kiosk, no dice. I KNEW I was on the list when I approached an agent and they promptly took a look at my record and asked to see my ID. They then took it away from me and headed to a back room not to return for a good 10 minutes.

I barely made my flight but it prompted me to write everyone under the sun and since I have had ZERO problems. I don't know if I was officially on THE watchlist but I was on some kind of list. Oh, another tip off is if you have a "SS" on your boarding pass. I think it might stand for secondary screen, but I think they should reconsider that abbreviation.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Fri May 23, 2008 9:42 am

bayer40601 wrote:I'm sorry, but I can understand enforcing the regulations and not allowing more than 3 oz. of liquids. But, to allow M-16s? I'm sorry, that just does not make any sense to me at all, especially when flying inside the US on a commercial flight. I get it on military charter flights, but on a commercial flight, no way.

The soldiers would not be bringing their weapons on the plane. The guns would be checked baggage like everyone else who travels with weapons. They would also be unloaded, as required by law. The only people that can bring loaded weapons on to a plane are air marshalls.

I hope that makes you feel better!

bayer40601 · Post by **bayer40601** » Fri May 23, 2008 11:02 am

Thank you for the explanation. I just misunderstood the original post. I thought he was saying the M-16s were carried on.

...But they were allowed to board carrying their M16s with grenade launchers...

This is what I was reading.

augie · Post by **augie** » Fri May 23, 2008 12:27 pm

...But they were allowed to board carrying their M16s with grenade launchers...

This is what I was reading.

...and that is what I was told...

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Fri May 23, 2008 12:44 pm

I've emailed my brother in law for the 411 on military flight procedures. It might take him a couple of days to get back to me because I'm not sure what kind of email access he has right now, but I asked him whether he can travel with his weapon 1. coming home for leave 2. coming home from a tour 3. as carry on 4. as checked bag 5. loaded or not...all questions for both commercial and charter flights.

I'll keep you posted!

(Can you tell it's a slow day at the office?

)

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:31 pm

I got an answer:

No, I do not travel with my weapon. The weapon, and I assume they are talking about a handgun, since it would be pretty obvious if I boarded a plane with my machine gun, does not belong to me. I am not authorized to bring it home.

When the tour ends, the team will pack up all of their equipment, and it travels separately from the service members. Last tour, everything was loaded on to a ship (a military ship...not a cruise ship ) and it arrived weeks after the unit returned.

Believe me, the Army is not transporting machine guns, rocket launchers, grenades, etc, in the belly of passenger planes! Everything is carried in and out via military transport.

I can not board a passenger plane wearing a gun any more than you could.

So, there you have it, from an army captain serving his second tour in Iraq.

jmq · Post by **jmq** » Fri May 23, 2008 1:39 pm

Teddy Salad wrote:Maybe the TSA decided to try out Archie Bunker's idea of giving every passenger a gun.

A classic line from a classic show. From quite an early episode if memory serves.

Teresa_Rae · Post by **Teresa_Rae** » Fri May 23, 2008 2:06 pm

I’d certainly feel safer with armed military on my flight, I just wondered about the ammo b/c it seemed strange that they’d take away liquids and let them keep ammo.

usvi-on-line

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Airport Security?