Packing and Airport Inspection ???'s

[goin2dzny]

When we went to WDW last year... we used these bags that were like LARGE "Zip-loc" bags that you placed clothes and squeezed out the air for more room in luggage... will this be a problem with luggage being packed so tight and dense... with inspections since 9/11????


We used to use wire ties to close-up bags to keep them from unzipping, etc... I guess we can't do that now... plus we cannot take scissors to cut them off now.

[mcnuss]

You should not have any trouble with that. I have flown almost every week since 9/11 and the only people having trouble are those foolish enough to bring scissors, knives, etc in their carry-ons... and think that they can just tell Security that they're not terrorists so it's ok! (I am not joking, you cannot believe how many times I have heard that line!) If your checked luggage is randomly selected for bomb detection, they will take you & your luggage to another part of the airport to either go through the super Xray machine or they will run a chemical test on it that detects explosives. I put a lot of stuff into ziplocs and have never been asked to remove anything from checked luggage. If your carry-ons are searched, they will kind of move things around looking for sharp objects or weapons. I have never had them take everything out, although friends have told me that they have, the most has been lifting things up to look under. The secruity people always tell me how nice I am to put my dirty laundry into ziplocs so that they don't have to touch them. (EEEW, what a job.) Finally, if you are nice to the security people, comply with a smile and a thank you, they will be courteous and pleasant. I suspect there will be 20 people after me who will tell you that they have encountered just the opposite of me, but I have been in at least 15 airports over all these months and have never been treated badly. I guess it's all in the attitude!

[dahess]

We have flown 2 times with kids since Sept. 11. We always put our kids clothes in 1 Gal. Ziploc bags and have had no problems. Have a great trip!

[Gillian]

I know mcnuss said this, but it's worth saying again. You CAN take scissors, just not in your carry on. I pack my small scissors & really sharp tweezers in my checked bag.

[Timon]

Hey guys,

This post is rather timely :) I was just hired as a Pre Board Screener here at our airport and just finished my training. I still have to get my certification but have learned quite a bit already.
And yes, a friendly smile goes a long way! Usually, if you give one, you get one! I know travelling isn't the greatest experience sometimes, but don't forget, we see thousands of passengers everyday and many are quite grumpy or just don't follow the simplest instructions, and get mad at us! Just remember, we are only trying to protect you, the passenger. So, if a screener is holding you up for 10 mins to search your bag, it's not because they are being difficult, it's for your safety.

To make things easier on you, don't put ANYTHING suspicious in your carry-on bags....if we're not 100% sure of the contents, it gets searched! Try to keep EVERYTHING metal in your checked bags and don't put anything that even resembles a bomb in any way in your carry-on. If it is shaped like dynamite, a timer device, has any kind of wires on it, it gets checked thouroughly!!!

[FantasticDisFamily]

Cass AKA Timon,

As long we have an expert in the forum I have a question for you. I am an avid photographer and am concerned about my film. In the past I haven't worried about it too much but after our last cruise I had a couple of rolls come out "foggy" and my camera shop said it looked like "classic X-ray exposure".

So for this trip I plan to use the lead bags with my film in my carry-on. I've spoken with several people who have flown recently; some said it wasn't a problem - others had major headaches.

Is it best to mention this to the screener right away? Of course with that big smile:teeth: In the past you could ask for hand check of baggage with photog equip in it and then that was sort of a no-no.

Your insights would be greatly appreciated. I really do NOT want to get another bunch of pictures that look as if I'm looking through a foggy window.

Thank!

Deb

[Timon]

Deb,

In my training, there was a chart on how much radiation a bag was exposed to going through the x-ray machine. The highest level of radiation a person will get is from dental x-rays, the next highest was a passenger flying a typical 4 hour flight, the next was every day radiation exposure. The second LOWEST was the amount your bags get through the x-ray machine. The amount is so small that it will NOT affect your film or camera at all, no matter what anyone tells you. As long as your film speed is less than 1600, which almost everyone has, you will be fine.

However, at any time, you are allowed to request a manual search of your bag. I can't promise that the screener will be HAPPY about this, as it all depends on that person's attitude, but it is allowed. Just ask the screener that is handling the bags going into the x-ray unit. Or you can also just put your lead bag through and they will automatically search it as they will not be able to see what is inside your bag anyway.

You will be told that the x-ray will not harm your film, but if you are not satisfied, be firm and tell them you request a hand search of that bag.

This applies to CARRY-ON luggage. Some U.S. Airports have very strong x-ray machines used for CHECKED BAGS. You should always carry your unprocessed film with you in your CARRY-ON bags.

Your film that came out foggy, was it in your checked baggage?

[mcnuss]

The last time I flew with film (post 9/11), I put all my exposed film into a ziploc bag and then asked Security nicely not to put it through. Since I had made it easy to see what was in there and they did not have to go to any trouble, they did not seem upset by this request at all.

[FantasticDisFamily]

The film was all in my carry on in ziplocs just like mcnuss has done. I'd heard the same information about the xray in the past and hadn't worried. When I asked my camera pro he said the xray fogging is more likely with repeated exposure - ie: the film is zapped going down and after being shot exposed again on the way back.

I will use a very big smile and politely ask for a hand search.:teeth:

[prymsu]

here is a link about an unbelievable story about airline security that i came across today! unbelievable!!!

http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2002/8/6/92628

[DreamsDoComeTrue]

Sue, that's not as bad as the student who had to drink from a bottle of water he had collected from a stream (for extra credit in science class back home). He became one sick puppy.

[dcookies]

We used to use wire ties to close-up bags to keep them from unzipping, etc... I guess we can't do that now... plus we cannot take scissors to cut them off now.

I've always use the hard plastic "zip" ties to lock my luggage. Since 9/11, what I do is: leave my luggage unlocked until I check it at the airport. I've never had it searched yet, but I always ask if they need to open it. When they say no, I ask if I can lock it. I then "zip" tie it, and they take it away. I leave a pair of nail clippers in an unlocked, outside pocket of my *checked* (NOT carry on) luggage so I can open it when I get to my destination.

I've flown 5 times since 9/11, and have had no problems with this method.

[mcnuss]

What is ridiculous about the story is that once again the security screeners are not following TSA guidelines which were just released!

Airline passengers must now pass all food and drinks they carry through airport X-ray machines, according to a directive from the Transportation Security Administration. All drinks must have resealable, spill-proof lids to avoid damage to the machinery or they must be thrown out. The TSA also says screeners cannot ask fliers to sip beverages to try to determine whether they are harmful.

[prymsu]

I am still 'in shock' over this. I can't believe this kind of thing can happen!!!

[mcnuss]

To be honest, I guess I don't understand why she would drink the milk...if it was going to be wasted, why not just get out of line, dump it out in the trash, and get on the plane. Something tells me that there will be more to this story....

[prymsu]

i think the story indicated that they would not let her board period if she didn't drink the milk, or at least that is how i am reading it.

[goin2dzny]

That answers my question... I will be doing the same...

Oh... one more thing... if we use our own transfers will I have to cut the "Zip Ties" before we get on the ship???

:confused:

[Fawn]

McNuss...I agree. Why would she have to drink it to board versus just dumping it. That make NO sense to me. I definitely see a lawsuit on this one!

[mcnuss]

Since we weren't there, I guess we'll never know, but having accidentally brought "contraband" scissors (in a sewing kit that I forgot I had) in a carry-on a couple of months ago, I will tell you that the screeners acted very hard-line with me at first...until I asked if I could just throw them out. At that point, they just smiled and said of course! So you have to wonder if it even occurred to her to just say "ok, I won't bring the bottles on board" or whether she was so intimidated by the whole ridiculous event (who wouldn't be?) that she went along with whatever they said. I am pretty sure they cannot prevent you from throwing something away and getting back in the security line!

[shmoogrrrl]

I just have a comment about the breastfeeding Mother. Sorry to hijack the original post!

If she was forced to drink the bottles of breastmilk, what is she supposed to feed her four month old should she need feeding on the trip?

Okay, so it might be true that she could feed the baby the old fashioned way, but sometimes that isn't always possible. My daughter was born 5 weeks early and spent two weeks in the NICU. for a variety of reasons, feeding her the "old fashiopned way" didn't work for her. Therefor, instead of switching to formula, I use a breast pump and feed her with a bottle. Everywhere I go with her, I have to carry bottles of milk to feed her! If that happened to me at an airport, We'd be in BIG trouble! I doubt she'd know what to do if I tried to feed her the other way, and I doubt they'd let me whip out the pump on the plane!

That is crazy! If the woman fed some of it from each bottle to the Baby, that should have been the end of it. I understand them wanting to check it, but that is so silly that it isn't even funny.

Kathy :)

[mcnuss]

Agree that this is totally ridiculous! BTW -- I pumped on a plane once, granted, in the restroom. I also nursed on several. And I pumped in a moving car. I was not shy! But I do recognize that others are more modest than I am and that some babies have physical limitations. I will be interested to see what happens here. I have searched the mainstream news media for the story and it has not been picked up which I find interesting.

[shmoogrrrl]

mcnuss,

*laugh* I've pumped in the car before! I was just thinking that if they have a poblem with bottles of milk, imagine their reaction to a breast pump trying to go through security! :) Hehehehe.

Thanks!

Kathy

[Timon]

Wow, I can't imagine going through all of that! I would NOT be happy with those screeners! That just floors me. No wonder we screeners get a bad rap!

I just don't understand about the milk issue...if that did indeed happen the way it was told it happened, I could totally see her getting a huge settlement. First of all, the milk should have just been wanded with the hand held metal detector. If they weren't happy with that, they should have told her that the milk bottles would not be allowed on board and to get rid of them. They had NO right to tell her to drink them. As long as a suspected item does not go on-board, there shouldn't be any problem!

As for scissors, and other sharp objects, we are instructed to tell the passenger that the item is not allowed on board. Then I always give them their options: Throw it away (we have a box for confiscated items that go to charity at the end of the year), Go back to the check-in counter and check your carry-on bag with the item included, go back in the airport and mail the item to yourself or put it in lost and found (they usually charge about $1 per day to hold the item for you).

Most people just decide to throw them away, no problems. And most people forgot they even had that item in their baggage. I had one man just go bonkers on me yesterday, yelling and screaming at me because their small kids couldn't bring their school scissors on board. I just told him in a polite tone that we have regulations and everyone must follow those regulations. Boy was he mad!

I guess every airport has different rules but they should be somewhat similar so that a passenger can know what to expect and have consistency.

Some of OUR rules just as an FYI for you:

All electronics (anything that is battery operated, anything!) must be taken out of the cases and turned on. If it works, ok...if not, it doesn't fly! No exceptions...so make sure your batteries are all charged! All off these items must go through the x-ray. (remember, all gameboys, PS2's, all games etc must be working!)

Anything sharp doesn't go! Anything! Knives, scissors, knitting needles, darts, any type of tool, metal nail files.

All steel toed boots will have to be removed and put through the x-ray machine. No exceptions! Remember ladies, some of your shoes have a LOT of metal, and if your shoes set off the walk through detector, you will be asked to remove them.

And remember, don't say anything silly, like "did you find my gun in there?" or anything about a bomb, it WILL be taken seriously, even if we know you are joking!

And I hope none of you have a bad experience like the stories that were posted!

[dgroet]

A good friend at work was travelling from Balt. to Rochester in MArch, and security made him take a drink from his fountain drink he had purchased in the Airport.

[mcnuss]

I was just thinking that if they have a poblem with bottles of milk, imagine their reaction to a breast pump trying to go through security!

It would serve 'em right if someone offered to demonstrate its use for them!!! :p

[prymsu]

Dear Timon,

thank you so much for the info on what and what not to bring on for boarding. Also, that tip for lost and found is very interesting.

thanx for the info.

[BeanoC]

We were 'randomly' chosen last year to have our bags inspected. Mind you, this was on Oct. 7th, less than a month after the attacks. The gentleman was extremely polite. He took us behind some curtains, where our bags were put on some tables. He put on rubber gloves, and proceeded to rummage through our clothes and things. What I didn't understand was, these were our CHECKED bags, so even if there were hidden weapons, we couldn't get to them on a plane! He was fairly thorough, but still could have easily missed a small knife or such.

In my carry-on camera bag there is a sort of "false bottom", which is held in only by Velcro. I will stick cash or other valueable papers under there. I didn't offer this information to him, and when he checked this particular bag, he didn't see the false bottom. I could have EASILY had a 6 inch blade under there! But I suppose the x-ray machines would have caught that. Point is, this physical inspection was a waste of time.

I certainly didn't mind cooperating, but the way they did things made me pray that there weren't any terrorists around, because the inefficiency of the searches left me feeling a little worried!

Hey - frisk me, check all my bags, x-ray me, put me through metal detectors... You bet!! Make me feel safe! :) Just make sure you do it to everyone! I can't begin to see the sense in random searches - what if the dude who wants to jack the plane isn't randomly selected? I never understood that logic (or lack thereof!)


'Beano'

[mcnuss]

Beano - if I told you about all the silliness I have seen and experienced in my 100+ flights since 9/11, it would curl your hair. There is no consistency between airports and it is very frustrating. I have kept my cool every time I have been subjected to or observed some kind of nonsense, but it is hard. Just today, in fact, I put my Mom and DD on a plane to FL. Now mind you, as you read this, realize that my Mom got here last week just fine.... This morning we went to check-in, and the girl at the curbside luggage check-in says very sweetly, "Miss, do you have an ID that is not expired?" My Mom, aghast, cannot believe that her license has expired but pulls out another ID with a picture and all is well. She was so embarrassed - it expired 3 months ago. We go to the counter, same thing. No problem. The woman there even says laughingly "Hey we got you here, I guess we need to get you back!". She goes thru the Security line, no problems. They go to the gate. At MHT, the gate area is surrounded by glass so DH and I are watching them get on. She's stopped again. This time by the looks I am observing, they are not being nice. I see lots of gestures and she comes to the window and tells me not to go home, she may not be able to get on! A supervisor comes over and cooler heads prevail - they decide she should just be re-screened. Now here's the even sillier part. She has no carry-ons. Just a magazine. No jacket. Nothing! So what are they screening? She is 4 ft. 10 on tippie toes, 60+ years old. For heaven's sake. I also agree that rules are rules and I for one am all for the TIGHTEST security in the world, but this was inane. And the saddest part is that NOBODY on the trip up even noticed.

[BeanoC]

mcnuss - I don't think I want to hear any more of your stories - I am too close to flying again!! ;)

Seriously, what we need as much as anything is consistency!
I can't help but get the image in my mind of that tired, overweight, underpaid, "who-gives-a-damn" person sitting on a stool at the x-ray machine, not likely knowing or caring about the difference between a curling iron and an Uzi. Yikes.



'Beano' :cool:

[mcnuss]

You might be either gratified or amused that they were very interested in my garage door opener. Apparently none of them had ever seen one before and they were convinced it was a detonator of some sort!

[Timon]

BeanoC,

While I wholeheartedly agree with your comment about needing consistency, I take exception to your very generalized comment concerning the appearance, attitude and general laissez-faire outlook of an Airport Security Officer. While I am sure that your description certainly may fit some screeners, IMHO, I believe it to be less than fair to stereotype us into one category. I am very rarely tired when I am working, I am not overweight or underpayed and I very much care about the security of all passengers on all the flights that go through my security check point. We are not allowed to "sit on a stool" in any area of the security point and not only can I "tell the difference between a curling iron and an uzi", I can also reflect a friendly, courteous, and professional attitude toward someone who is screaming in my face about not being able to take their hunting knife on board with them or does not wish to waste their precious time having to go through the screening process because they were late in getting to the gate.

As in any job, there will be those who are there for the sake of having to be there to pay bills etc and do as little as possible, however, there are others who genuinely care about what they do and reflect that in their performance.


mcnuss, what on earth possessed you to bring your garage door opener on board the plane with you???:) During our training, we saw many examples of what ACTUAL people have hidden bombs inside of and one was a garage door opener (well the detonator was in it and the bomb was in a calculator in his checked luggage). I am glad that they were very interested in it, as it is a suspicious item to be in your carry on baggage.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by BeanoC

What I didn't understand was, these were our CHECKED bags, so even if there were hidden weapons, we couldn't get to them on a plane!

The bomb that brought down PanAm Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland was in a checked bag.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by Timon

what on earth possessed you to bring your garage door opener on board the plane with you?

I can't speak for mcnuss, but I have a mini garage door opener which I carry on my key ring. It's the same size as a remote control for keyless entry for a car. I carry it with me because I don't care to have a remote control in my car. If somebody was to break into my car, they'd have access to my house as well.

[CarolAnnC]

I would like to remind everyone here that personal attacks are not tolerated on these boards. Please refrain from attacking and/or insulting individuals or groups here on the Cruise Board. Thank you all for your cooperation.

[Pugdog007]

I also fly often, mostly business trips. I realized upon my return from a trip to WI last week, that my can of mace (attached to my keyring) made it through security in B'ham, Detroit, Stevens Point WI, Minneapolis and Memphis.

I usually take if off of my keyring before I fly, but I forgot. That's quite scary :( That is something they certainly should have caught!!!

I did note the new procedure in regards to taking drinks through. Instead of drinking, you put it through the X-ray. Makes sense to me.

[peg2001]

First of all, I would like to thank Timon for sharing his knowledge with us. It is always so nice to be able to hear about things from the other side. I can only imagine having to deal with frustrated and angry passengers when you are just trying to keep them safe!

Secondly, with the posts about trying to get a breastpump thru security, I wanted to share that I have done that! I did not have my baby with me as it was a business trip (the whole reason I needed to take the pump!). I was traveling with business associates and was trying to be discrete, the breastpump was built into a boxy looking black bag (the Medela Pump N Style for those who would know what that is). I placed it through the x-ray conveyer and of course it was immediately flagged as being unusual. They politely asked if they could look through my "camera" bag. I am sure that I was blushing as I politely said "Sure, but it is a breastpump." I showed them how to unzip the front compartment to see the pump motor and they hand searched through the compartments holding the tubes, bottles, etc. This seemed to satisfy them and I was allowed to go on my way. My business associates were kind enough to step away from the action to eleviate some of my embarassment.

Peg

[goin2dzny]

Originally posted by goin2dzny
Oh... one more thing... if we use our own transfers will I have to cut the "Zip Ties" before we get on the ship???

:confused:

Do our bags have to be unlocked at port for inspection purposes if we check them in ourselves???

[mcnuss]

Timon -- I had my garage door opener for exactly the reason that Dave mentioned; it is not safe to leave it in my car in the parking garage bc if my car were stolen, it would be like giving the thieves a key to my house! But I no longer carry it on, I just take it out before I leave for my trip. Please don't get me wrong, I am glad they looked it over, but what was crazy is that NONE of them knew what it was. I am not kidding or disparaging anyone here; they truly did not. I am sure your training has been much improved since these people were trained.

Also, I think I noticed you are from Canada, which I feel has always had better security. For instance, you mentioned that you require travelers to turn on their electronic devices. I have always had to do that in Toronto, not just after 9/11, but never have had to do so in a routine screen in the US. Here, I just have to take it out of the case and put it on the belt. (And BTW, in some airports, they don't even have a container for you to place your $3000 laptop into, which is a travesty in my mind.)

I think being a security screener is a very demanding job, and I thank you for doing it and for sharing your knowledge with us. I assure you that I will never be one of those passengers who yells in your face - although I may fume quietly at the inconsistencies in the procedures. :D

[Timon]

Thank you peg2001 & mcnuss for the kind words! I try to do my best at my job and after 10 or 12 hours of standing on my feet, I really don't need any grumpy people yelling at me. I flash a smile and offer kind words to every person that walks through my point, even if they snarl at me! :rolleyes:


I too wish there would be one set of rules for all passengers, no matter where you are travelling. It would make it a lot easier on all of us. We have guidelines we must follow set out by Transport Canada, but I am sure that not all airports here are consistent either.

Happy, safe travelling to all DISers and their families!

[mcnuss]

FYI -- I am in NYC tonight on business and one of the lead stories on the local news is the breast-milk drinking incident! So here is the full story:

1. This happened last April.
2. She was not required to drain the bottles, just sip from them. (ok, not great, but if the baby can drink it...)
3. The officer offered to hold her baby, did not take him/her away from her.
4. The TSA reminds us all that the new regs require all drinks to go thru the Xray machines now; nobody should be required to taste their beverages.

I don't think she has a case....

[Rootee]

Just running into this thread now.

I'm an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and this case - like others similar - DOES have ground for a successful suit and is causing considerable discussion among health care professionals who hate to hear of any situation in which a breastfeeding mother is put into an embarrassing situation.

The idea of tasting human milk should NOT be repugnant. After all, it "is" fit for human consumption.:D

The problem here is that we have not heard of any cases where mothers with bottles of non-human milk were told to "take a taste". If all bottles of whatever concoction are also to be "tasted" when traveling through security, then I agree reluctantly that human milk in bottles should have to go through the same security measures.

Incidently, the cost of a prescription of human milk from a milk bank is currently $4.00/ounce. That's a precious commodity to dump for an unnecessary reason. Interestingly, many ounces of banked frozen human milk are daily flown across the country for sick babies and older babies and children who have medical conditions that make it impossible for them to survive on anything other than human milk. I sincerely hope that security issues will not make this difficult in the future.

Ruth

[mcnuss]

Rootee -- as a lawyer, I will tell you that if no one should sue bc of embarrassment unless that embarassment has caused harm. It's this kind of thing that causes us all to wonder what has happened to the legal system!! Since this woman was asked to do the same thing that (at that time) every passenger carrying a "beverage" was asked to do, she was personally not singled out for any form of discrimination bc she was a lactating mother. By the way, the TSA has gotten rid of the dumb policy as of a couple of weeks ago. Now "beverages" must be sent thru Xray; this was as a result of a test that showed that someone could put a grenade in the bottom of a large "to-go" cup, sip from it, then proceed merrily on their way thru the metal detector.

You are right that there are many cases of true discrimination of breastfeeding moms - I am ashamed to say that we are having a bad situation here in NH right now with a nursing mom who was asked to leave a public swimming pool bc the teenaged lifeguard was uncomfortable with it.

Let me also say that I was proudly a breastfeeding mom for the first year of my child's life, and since I am not the modest type, she was nursed any and everywhere I would have felt comfortable giving her a bottle. Please note that we used to call my milk "liquid gold". I hated going on long business trips where I would not have adequate storage facilities and had to dispose of my milk. It made me want to cry. I wished that I could have donated it and even tried once, but they sure do make it hard to get into those programs.

ABN