one way airline tickets? problems with security?

[CarolA]

Lewis and I had a PM discussion on searches and he suggested I post this... for the OPs daughter or anyone else.

While in line, STRIP! Take off your belt, I don't car if it only has the little metal in the post, take it off. Take off nearly all jewerly. I don't remove my watch which is fairly small or if I wear them my diamond studs EVERYTHING else is off and in my purse! Take off your shoes. The rules on this change hour to hour, airport to airport and screener to screener. Just assume that you will get the man who LOVES to stop the line and YELL at you for daring to wear "Those" shoes... (and yes, I have shoes with no metal in them, but it's easier to just make the screeners happy)

As Lewis pointed out earlier it's also smart to think ahead when dressing. I was at the airport just a few weeks ago where a woman was wearing a metal studded top. What was she thinking?

I have gotten the random SSS and the random TSA agent on a power trip (Give me the SSS) One of the "perks" of an SSS is at SOME airport (MCO comes to mind) it can actaully be FASTER then the regular line... (Sad isn't it)

 

[goofytime2000]

I am sure your daughter will be fine. If in doubt, have her follow this advice "Do whatever the nice man with the automatic weapon says." Obviously I say that jokingly, but I don't think she'll have anything to worry about. As a college kid myself, the last thing I'm worried about with up coming vacation is not whether or not I'll be pulled aside at the airport. Studying for exams, midterms, finals, fending off the drunk guy who's hitting on her at the club is far more stressful than being wanded at the airport.

 

[mcnuss]

These are great tips. As a very frequent traveler, and one who always seems to get in line behind the person with the lace up, knee high boots with the 3 inch stacked heels who has not watched the news since 1999, I second them wholeheartedly.

One of my travel tricks is to wear slacks w/o pockets and a sweater set (vs. a blazer with buttons or zippers). I'd also recommend that you wear socks, even if you look like a geek in sandals! You can always take them off once you're past security. I get a little skeeved when I see people in bare feet in the airport.

 

[keishashadow]

Don't forget, certain common chemicals on your shoes can set off sensors, including those found in fertilizer/lawn products (DH's employer warned them).

We spent a very long time @ MCO once when DS kept setting off the wand (over & over). Finally, it was determined that a silver-type gum wrapper (Big Red) that had wedged itself down into his pocket seam (unbeknownst to us).

Security screener was nice & tried to alleve my very young son's mounting panic, cracked him up when he asked him if he had any metal implants. DS replied "...like the aliens do?". Glad that screener had a sense of humor.

 

[safetymom]

The extra screening only takes a few extra minutes and it certainly isn't anything that is uncomfortable. It's worth it to save money. My company buys me one way tickets quite often and never had any problems with the extra screening.