Anyone else trying to get out of BWI today?

[irish_trip_mom]

How disappointing! We get the kids to the airport, through security and are waiting for our flight at Baltimore/Washington. Just grabbing some breakfast when told there is a security breach. Then they evacuated the terminal (and planes from what I heard). Everyone must go back through security! I heard on the way out someone say that a person in front of them had a suspicious package, and when they attempted to stop him, he ran through security down the terminal. The airport was a mess. We have two little boys with autism and one was just melting away with the crowds, so we rebooked our flight until later today and came home. (Lucky for us we live 10 minutes from the airport!) It messed up our ADR for tonight, but hopefully we'll be there this afternoon.

Just hoping when we get back to the airport, things are a tiny bit more calm! (My husband joked, what a way to start the trip. He's is sure a hurricane is next on the list!)

 

[KristinU]

Ooh wow, good deal you were able to get a later flight today. Thanks for posting the info. We fly through BWI tomorrow, hopefully everything will be back to normal for you this evening and for us tomorrow.

As for your DH's hurricane - this next week looks great as far as tropical depressions etc.

Hope you have a great trip and that this afternoon's flight is smooth for you!

ETA: I found a news story on it: http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2006Sep22/0,4670,SuspiciousPackageAirport,00.html

 

[manning]

Too bad it can't be done. The perfect punishment for these clowns is instead of giving them 10 years in prison is to get a whole plane load of them and park it in an isolated place with no way to get out, shut off the engine with no way to empty the bathroom holding tank, a shortage of everything and let it sit there for 10 years.

 

[WillCAD]

The Fox news story that Kristin linked made it sound to me like one of those MORONS who "oops, forgot that I had my handgun in my backpack" when he went to the airport.

Imbiciles! Mostly it's pro athletes and actors who pull this BONEHEAD MANEUVER, but once in a while it's a nobody who just has sawdust between his ears.

Fortunately, it was not an attack and nobody was hurt. But it probably backed up flights all day long.

 

[seashoreCM]

(copied from another forum)

If planes have to be evacuated due to a concourse security breach, how, pray, do they get the people back on those planes in timely fashion?

1. Is there some way to let people who have been evacuated cut to the front of the security lines for their second time through?

2. Are planes held until everyone who had already gotten inside one actually gets back on?

3. Do airlines give Priceline and award passengers who were evacuated off of a plane and who later missed it standby priority on the next available flights ahead of elites/platinums/premiers not similarly inconvenienced?

4. What would happen if you left your carry on baggage in the plane rather than schlep it all the way back onto the monorail and back to the main terminal (MCO) and all the way back the other way yet again when you finally cleared security for the second time?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[bavaria]

(copied from another forum)

If planes have to be evacuated due to a concourse security breach, how, pray, do they get the people back on those planes in timely fashion?

1. Is there some way to let people who have been evacuated cut to the front of the security lines for their second time through?

2. Are planes held until everyone who had already gotten inside one actually gets back on?

3. Do airlines give Priceline and award passengers who were evacuated off of a plane and who later missed it standby priority on the next available flights ahead of elites/platinums/premiers not similarly inconvenienced?

4. What would happen if you left your carry on baggage in the plane rather than schlep it all the way back onto the monorail and back to the main terminal (MCO) and all the way back the other way yet again when you finally cleared security for the second time?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Having been through airport evacuations a few times (including a terminal fire) the best bet is to pull out your cel phone and start calling the airline.

As to point #3, elite flyers are usually protected on the next available flight by their airline over all other flyers. I'm not sure why an elite flyer would not have priority over a low cost priceline flyer. If the flight is cancelled, passengers are rebooked in order of status and fare basis code, with fares like priceline at the bottom of the list. Usually when I call, United has already rebooked me on another flight, albeit not always the same routing.

Usually, they do not allow passengers to cut to the front of the security line; if one is waiting at check in the airlines may however 'pull' passengers from the line to the front of the line - usually they do this when they realize that many passengers haven't checked in for a flight. Occassionally I see this in the Immigration line at YYZ too, but that's rare.

If you are already on board, the airline will tell you whether or not to take your carry on with you on disembarking. Usually the only time you are told to leave your carryon behind is during an emergency evacuation. During a security breach or other disembarkation such as mechanical delays, you are told to take your carry on items with you.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

OP what a way to start out the vacay. Glad you are all safe though and have a happy vacay!!!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I am the only one who is wondering why they had to evacuate the airport because the CAUGHT a banned item at the security check point?

-- Suzanne

 

[CarolA]

(copied from another forum)

If planes have to be evacuated due to a concourse security breach, how, pray, do they get the people back on those planes in timely fashion?

1. Is there some way to let people who have been evacuated cut to the front of the security lines for their second time through?

2. Are planes held until everyone who had already gotten inside one actually gets back on?

3. Do airlines give Priceline and award passengers who were evacuated off of a plane and who later missed it standby priority on the next available flights ahead of elites/platinums/premiers not similarly inconvenienced?

4. What would happen if you left your carry on baggage in the plane rather than schlep it all the way back onto the monorail and back to the main terminal (MCO) and all the way back the other way yet again when you finally cleared security for the second time?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Respones
You get back in line and go thru security

1. No
2 no
3 Maybe for reward members probably not for Priceline, but all bets are off.
4. your luggage would be blown up BOOM!


And here's a thought... why wouldn't a terrorist decide that yelling "bomb" at the TSA counter and running is a good way to empty the airport ONTO the parking deck where his buddy can set off a car bomb???

In other countries they quaratine the area just do to the above concern. In the US we are possibly exposed to MORE danger. ( I am not sure what the correct way to respond is, this was just pointed out on flyertalk when they dumped Atlanta last... that time the TSA finally admitted that there machine messed up and they REALLY probably didn't see anything, but they weren't going to admit that for a few days)

 

[tmt martins]

I am the only one who is wondering why they had to evacuate the airport because the CAUGHT a banned item at the security check point?

-- Suzanne

Because the person that put it through the X-ray left it and walked away. It had what looked likeda gun in it.

They had to recheck everyone because they couldn't find him right away so there's the breach in security.

I think after all the airports we fly through BWI does do a great job most of the time.

 

[dis-happy]

My dh has flown out of BWI every Thursday night for the past 8 months. It's always a problem...his plane (originating in Boston) has left on time maybe 3 times total. At least twice the crew has timed out. Once, the plane was there but the crew wasn't. So glad he wasn't there today!!!


Hope you have a great trip after the slow start...