Painful experience getting kids through airport security!

[HappyMommy2]

DisneyCrazy, your story about the THONGS was so funny! Good to hear that security was so on top of things, though.

Once we were passing through an airport (ORF maybe?) that has huge pictures of Navy ships on the wall--in one of the pictures (RIGHT at the security checkpoint!) a ship is enveloped in fire and smoke as it fires off some type of missle. Of course DS 3 was highly interested in this particular picture and urgently wanted to know what the ship was doing. I started to explain, "Well, honey, it's firing a big missle, maybe to shoot down..." and then I realized what I was saying and I cut myself off VERY quickly! Not the best topic of conversation at the security checkpoint!

 

[DisneyCrazy]

Originally posted by DisneyCrazy

He and I then had to change airlines A NUMBER OF TIMES due to cancellations/overbookings - well, let me tell you, we were all but cavity searched EACH AND EVERY time we boarded a plane. Inconvienient, yes - pleasant, no - necessary, yes. Freedom DOES have a price and it continues to go up.

I thought maybe I'd clarify/expand this a little as it may help some folks in the future:

Upon arrving for our 6:45AM flight out of our relatively small local airport we were informed that our flight was cancelled, our group of six was split (2 and 4) and we were off on a different airline. My friend and I noticed a big 'S' on our tickets, but didn't think much of it at that point. We arrived at the gate for our first flight, upon seeing our tickets we were asked to step to the side... Well, that's when the 'strip search' began. Not really that bad, but it was, remove your shoes, remove your belt, empty your pockets (this was March 2003 so we had jackets that had to be empties as well - all over a table)... then we were hand scanned (this was RIGHT beside the jetway entrance). I'm sure the people sitting around us once we did get aboard were wondering MANY things about us ;-)

Happy that we were now leaving for our trip, we put it all aside and concluded that the 'S' meant 'suspicious', especially after the 'thongs' fiasco, LOL!

Well, guess what, our connecting flight was overbooked and we had to switch airlines AGAIN - if you think switching airlines ONCE sets off a red flag, try twice. Boarding our next flight, same thing - gentleman, would you please step to the side... This time they did put the rubber gloves on, you should have seen the look on our faces! Luckily it didn't go THAT far.

So, the moral of the story: Hope for the best, but expect the worst! I think the suggestions of 'playing' security with your children is a good idea. We joke about this, but it can and does happen - be prepared. Getting there is 1/2 the fun!

P.S. I don't know if I made it clear or not, this was not at the security checkpoint, we already passed through that and were in a secure area, this was as we handed our tickets to board the plane!

 

[safetymom]

Thankfully they don't do the search at the gates any more. I recently flew and the company put me on different airlines coming and going. I got the S on my boarding pass so I was subject to the longer search at the gate. Moral of the story don't use two diff. airlines or buy one way tickets and you will probably avoid the extra search.

 

[tw1nsmom]

I would have no clue how to get toddlers through security if I was traveling alone. I really commend those of you who have done it. The last time we travelled with the children they were 2 1/2. The way we got them to walk through was that I went through first, they stayed with DH. When I was done I bent down and told them to "come to Mommy" and they each ran through and into my arms. I know my kids would never have stayed behind without me and definitely wouldn't have gone through first. I totally believe that children need to be thoroughly screened at security, but you would think that all security stations would have a policy in place to smoothly deal with situations like this.

 

[jgates]

Seems like the easy way if they are worried about figuring out which of you might be setting off the alarm (hair bows etc), would be to have you step through and then step back through and carry your child through. That way, obviously you have not beeped. If you guys beep the 2nd time, it would have to be the child and some ornamentation on her/him. If you don't beep the 2nd time either well, good for you!!!!