Recent experiences with airport security and pins

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Okay, in about two weeks, quite a few of us will be heading for WDW and the Star Spangled Event. And quite a few of us will be flying, including me. This is my first flight post-9/11. Considering new developments every day (especially after the "dirty bomber" they caught), things with airport security change all the time.

What have been everyone's experiences with airport security lately, particularly where your pins are involved? DW Lauri has made two flights to WDW for pin events and both times she carried the pins in her carry-on. Since I'll only be there for the weekend, I would really like to avoid having to check luggage. Besides, I don't want to let the pins out of my control.

Has anyone ever had any problems getting their pin bags through security?

 

[Eeyore1954]

I went to WDW in May flying out of Chicago O'Hare. I packed my pins and lanyard in my camera bag. The bag went through the x-ray and no one said a word about the pins.

Did the same thing in Orlando when we returned home. No questions, no search, nothing.

I think the pins do not represent a major safety hazard. It would be hard to use them as a weapon !

 

[MeanLaureen]

I think there must be some rule out there that they must search redheads not once but twice! LOL Each time I have flown I have not only been searched at the security checkpoint (and had to take my shoes off for them to wand them) but I've been pulled over to be searched at the gate when the plane was boarding too!

This last time was the worst. I had upgraded to first class on Airtran (only $25 - good deal!) and there were only 2 of us boarding at the time. They pull me aside in front of the 100+ other passengers waiting to get on the plane. Not only do they search my bag, they wand my shoes AND make me pull my shirt up!!! In front of everyone!!

 

[Buzz2001]

I let them know up front that I was about to send my pin bag through the scanner and I had no issues whatsoever. They did randomly pick people from the line to check but it did't happen to me. They did choose my wife. She had to take off her shoes and go through a search. She was told prior to flying not to wear an underwire bra because they would search you for sure.

 

[suzanneb]

I always put my pin bag (totally unzipped, and ready to examine) in the "pan" people put their laptops and phones in. I KNOW in Austin, that they'll want to examine it, and they ALWAYS do! Also, in Austin, a bag check means a mandatory shoe and wand check as well...goodie...but I sure like keeping my pins with me...
Lauri's shirt up is toooo much..I've never seen that in Austin, Orlando or Houston...wow..that's really invasive, I think..

 

[Mickey527]

Lauri,
I can tell you, if they asked me to lift up my shirt in front of everyone they would have be picking teeth out of their lips for quite a long time. You have the makings of sexual harrassment suit (oh I spent too much time in court last week.) Or for me it would be an indecent exposure.
I haven't had any troubles with my pins except that I tend to lose one or two with each trip. I bought a few extra Presidents Day Mickey's at TDS and when those examiners see them they practically drool. I have given out 3 of them already so if you see someone on southwest with that pin it probably was from me.
I carry on my pins and always tell them as they go through that it will not clear. They look through and I make sure to point out that each page opens with a zipper. This shows them that I am not trying to hide anything.
I have never been searched but the little old lady in front of me got it and her shoes kept beeping. She had a metal bar at the arch, once they took that out she was fine. She could have made that into a weapon if she was of the mind, that thing was big and heavy.
and Mario, just so you know. take your wife out for some new undies. they make bras now with flexible plastic underwires.
Peggie

 

[MeanLaureen]

Peggie - I refused to lift my shirt up more than halfway and they were cool with that. In fact the lady doing the inspection said she has had people that were told to lift their shirts (women) and they have taken them completely off! She thanked me for having some common sense! LOL (Jeff, Matthew and Ed, please try to contain your laughter at that last sentence!)

I was the only one (that I saw) that had to do it. There were other people getting searched with me but none of them got the shirt search. I'm thinking Ed had something to do with it!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

In January we flew direct with Midwest Express from Omaha to MCO. Carry on pins (large pin bag) and in the checked luggage.
Just a few weeks ago we flew from Omaha, with a stop at O Hare, to MCO. Same with the pins.
We never have even had to open our pin bag that we carry on in any airport.
This last trip United even mentioned that finger nail files and clippers were acceptable carry on.
At O Hare we grabbed some food for the second plane leg and were even given plastic knives.

 

[Engr-Chas]

I have traveled a few times with my pins since 9/11 and I always get searched, page by page and all of the pockets of my bags. I am always up front and I smile alot (odd behavior for me ) but after a few minutes of "turn your head and cough" they let me go.

The one little trick that I use is ALWAYS go through the machine who has a woman running it and if she has pins on her lapel, smooth sailin'.

Women think that the pins are "cute" and are easily controlled using the ol' Jedi mind trick..."those are nice pins, you may go..they repeat..those are nice pins you may go and here is my phone number, just incase you get a "lay over" (boy am I dead for that statement).

Try to keep all of your pins organized and easy to search ( they don't like searching through all of those little Disney bags?).

Be calm and everything will go ok..and remember, if they start shooting, your pin bag is bullet proof!!!

Engr-Chas
Lord of the Controlling Women's Minds with the Jedi Mind Trick

 

[Pin Wizard]

Wow, Lauri! Based on your experience alone, I'm glad I live in FL and can drive to Orlando!

 

[cindala]

Buzz2001,
Who told your DW not to wear underwire bras???? I'm in big trouble!!

 

[Toxicesq]

We flew American Airlines from LaGuardia to Orlando last month with the pin bag in my daughter's backpack and she was searched in both airports. Next time maybe we'll try taking the bag out and putting it in the computer pan. The security guard in Orlando seemed to be more interested in looking at the pins than searching for weapons.

 

[eeyore0062]

My bra goes off, my zippers go off, my shoes go off... I am constantly being searched... oh well... better safe than sorry! Glad to hear that about the pin bags... now I will feel better about taking them!

 

[Buzz2001]

cindala - a friend of my DW's told her not to wear them to the airport because they set off the scanner so she wore a sports bra instead.

 

[eye R.N.]

I had them in my suitcase, two pins bags and two lanyards. The baggage screener did stop the belt and take a good long look, but I wasn't going to "air my undies" unless they forced me too.


This was in April the week before the "new BWI security" was rolled out.