Sippy cup scandal. Best tips for traveling with/wo kids

[eliza61]

By now every one has heard or seen the infamous sippy cup smackdown rotfl2: gotta love these media types).
What are your tips for smooth airline travel?

I'm a frequent business traveler, usually in an airport 2X a week. I'm constantly amazed at how clueless some parents are (I have 3 kids, I'm including myself in this group.
Some scenes from the Philly & Laguadia airport during the week of 6/4

1) Mom of 4 with a 2 liter jug of Hawaiian Punch. Very mad because she then had to throw it out.
2) women with young child (~3) and stroller. Stroller had 5 or 6 diaper type bags in it. She was pulled out of line, had to go behind screen and empty each and every bag. She missed her flight.
3) family leaving chicago for Orlando. Dad buys 4 kids 20 oz bottles of cokes right before going through security. Then got upset because 4 kids had to throw out 20 oz coke before entering security.

Any tips?

 

[keishashadow]

i live under a rock, what's the buzz on sippy cups?

My fav. is the out-of-control poa in front of us @ security MCO; screaming that she wasn't leaving her several guerlain (sp) bottles behind...and i quote:

"how stupid are you people...do you know how much money these cost me...you can't make me dump it..."

segue into security escorting her & minnie-me daugther off.

 

[CarolA]

Folks showing up at ATL this week an hour before the flight... lines for security streched OUT of the terminal. Same folks trying to "break line" (no success LOL!)

Of course I got BUSTED last Saturday and I am a frequent traveler. I had been in DC for a Girl Scout event. We had "snacks" and I put a table knife in my back pack... Yep they saw it and had to search and destroy. (Of course they didn't seem to notice the hand lotion which was NOT in the baggie and was sitting right beside the knife )

And in Orlando, remember snow globes have LIQUID and will not fit in your baggie, check or ship! I have seen several fits over that!

 

[eliza61]

i live under a rock, what's the buzz on sippy cups?

:

Yesterday, a women traveling with a small toddler got into a fight with airport security because her child had a cup full of water (remember, no more liquids allowed). When she was pulled out of line, a scuffle ensued (all caught on video tape)
She says the water spilled accidently, airport security says she dumped it intentionally. She was made to clean up the spill and she missed her flight.
She says she was humilitated and threaten with arrest. National transportation says the security was correct and professional.

 

[PrincessMommy2]

How unreasonable of that woman!! Since you can purchase beverages once you go through security, what's the big deal?? We travel with three kids under six. We make sure sippy cups are empty before we go through security and then we just buy a bottle of juice, milk, etc. on the way to our gate. Really not a big deal!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

we also make sure the cups are empty and when I get on the jetblue flight
If I dont have a drink I ask for a water the baby to help with ears
they always get me one before take off

 

[MEM]

How unreasonable of that woman!! Since you can purchase beverages once you go through security, what's the big deal?? We travel with three kids under six. We make sure sippy cups are empty before we go through security and then we just buy a bottle of juice, milk, etc. on the way to our gate. Really not a big deal!

According to the story, she was a former Secret Service agent and seemed to think that made it okay to bend the rules for her.

 

[Esmerelda]

my hubby and I watched that video over the weekend. The woman flat out took the lid off the cup and slung whatever was in it all over the floor????

What kind of a moron can this person be?? First off, that got her off to a bad start right there wth the security person. Secondly, someone behind her could slip and fall.

She deserves whatever she got......people like this crack me up!!

Esmerelda

 

[keishashadow]

i've got to find this video

 

[eliza61]

i've got to find this video

Here's a link. http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3288052&page=1

 

[KelleyGirl]

My smooth airline tip - SLIP ON SHOES. If travelling with children, this really can speed things up after you get through security. Last time we travelled, I remembered everything I needed to do - less than 3 oz liquids in baggies, put everything, including stroller on conveyer, carried the little guy through and tried to catch up with the other kids on the other side, yet I forgot to take off my own shoes. With hands full, kids waiting, bags piling up on the exit of the xray, it was nice to just slip off those flip flops and be on my way!!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

The woman flat out took the lid off the cup and slung whatever was in it all over the floor????

That's true - it's obvious that she deliberately poured the water on the floor.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Even if she did purposely throw the water on the floor . . . where do the "authorities" get off making her clean it up? Give her a citation and be done with it. Yeah, I know she was a "bad girl" and needed to be disciiplined, but . . .
Why didn't the TSA just let her drink the water at the checkpoint as she asked to do? Instead they made her get out of line and go all the way back around to get to the end of the line.
On a somewhat related "anything for security" issue, check out this article for how they are changing security at Independence Hall . . . no more xray or WTMD. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_region/20070618_Easier_way_to_secure_liberty.html

 

[anabelle]

My daughter is nine and knows the rules. She said to my hubby before we went through security "Daddy, Don't forget you have to finish your coffee because you can't take liquids through to the other side. It says so on the big sign"

 

[CarolA]

Even if she did purposely throw the water on the floor . . . where do the "authorities" get off making her clean it up? Give her a citation and be done with it. Yeah, I know she was a "bad girl" and needed to be disciiplined, but . . .
Why didn't the TSA just let her drink the water at the checkpoint as she asked to do? Instead they made her get out of line and go all the way back around to get to the end of the line.
On a somewhat related "anything for security" issue, check out this article for how they are changing security at Independence Hall . . . no more xray or WTMD. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_region/20070618_Easier_way_to_secure_liberty.html

Why should I have to wait longer in line while she drinks her water? Sorry, but your system has her being in the way of all of the rest of us.. If you aren't ready when you get to the screening point GO BACK and get out of my way!

And if you act like a two year old, you should be treated like one. If your child FLINGS water across the floor do you make them clean it up? If not, then what they have learned is "when I make a mess, Mommy cleans up" Maybe she will remember the "humiliation" next time she is attempted to act out!

 

[Anjelica]

My smooth airline tip - SLIP ON SHOES. If travelling with children, this really can speed things up after you get through security. Last time we travelled, I remembered everything I needed to do - less than 3 oz liquids in baggies, put everything, including stroller on conveyer, carried the little guy through and tried to catch up with the other kids on the other side, yet I forgot to take off my own shoes. With hands full, kids waiting, bags piling up on the exit of the xray, it was nice to just slip off those flip flops and be on my way!!

While I can appreciate the speediness of flip-flops and slide on shoes, I don't recommend that to anyone. My father was in the Navy (aviation side) for 20+ years and one thing he always impressed upon us kids were certain things when we traveled (and yes we traveled alot seeing as how we were stationed overseas or away from mainland quite a bit).

One of the biggest things was to wear shoes that would not slip off so easily. (I guess something he learned while being in the Navy). Reason being, if you need to get off an airplane quickly you don't want your shoes causing you to fall back, etc. They always recommended laced up shoes so that if for example, there was a fire or crash landing and you had to run out quickly, you wouldn't be fumbling with your shoes etc. They stated that whatever you run in, typically is the best to wear while on an airplane (now I guess I can see if the kids are small enough and you have to pick them up it really doesn't matter what kind of shoes they are wearing).

Try running in slip on shoes or flip-flops vs. running in tennis shoes or any kind of flat laced up kind and there is no comparison.

Some "food for thought".

 

[CPT Tripss]

It's easy enough to have someone step aside and allow the rest of the line to proceed. TSA does this when they have to swab my orthopedic shoes.

I agree that this woman was not behaving well. But I do not believe that police or other authorities have the right to humiliate anyone. Arrest or ticket them if they broke a law. Don't play the humiliation card.

 

[cbrfan]

Even if she did purposely throw the water on the floor . . . where do the "authorities" get off making her clean it up? Give her a citation and be done with it. Yeah, I know she was a "bad girl" and needed to be disciiplined, but . . .
Why didn't the TSA just let her drink the water at the checkpoint as she asked to do? Instead they made her get out of line and go all the way back around to get to the end of the line.
On a somewhat related "anything for security" issue, check out this article for how they are changing security at Independence Hall . . . no more xray or WTMD. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_region/20070618_Easier_way_to_secure_liberty.html

Because there's a price to be paid for STUPIDITY!! I also read in one news report that she told them she was Secret Service and was "exempt from that stupid rule". Ya think so, Princess?? She knew the rule and didn't give a darn. She got what she deserved, IMHO.

 

[eliza61]

Why didn't the TSA just let her drink the water at the checkpoint as she asked to do? Instead they made her get out of line and go all the way back around to get to the end of the line.
On a somewhat related "anything for security" issue, check out this article for how they are changing security at Independence Hall . . . no more xray or WTMD. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_region/20070618_Easier_way_to_secure_liberty.html

Because unfortunately this is post 9/11 and TSA has been assigned security. Did she not notice the policemen walking around with 9 mm glocks on their hips. It's a different time and they don't have the luxury of being accom0dating. I fly 2X a week out of Philly, at least once a week some rocket scientist fights with TSA because they just brought a $8.00 latte from starbucks, thought they could drink it before the line moved and now is pissed because TSA makes them throw it out. Whether right or wrong, these are the rules. Didn't John Mellancamp have a song "I fight authority and authority always wins"?

I visited the liberty bell last March, yeah it was a pain. I had to take off my winter coat, sweater, all my jewerly and my belt (belt buckle is metal) and throw out my soda. Big deal, I followed the rules and saw a piece of history.

 

[bradk]

lengthy videos posted here:

http://www.tsa.gov/approach/mythbusters/index.shtm

you really only want to watch the 2nd video, but the funny thing is, that TSA agent hanging out on the right side for the most of the time doesn't strike me as professional, but she's not involved in the incident at all.