Son taken from Mom at Airport Security

[2binak]

I can't believe people on the TSA blog are complaining that she was held in a (paraphrasing here) "glass tank for a minute and a half". She didn't clear the metal detector - of course they're going to put her in a glass area so that agents can see if she tries to conceal or get rid of something while they wait for a female agent to screen her. Where else would these people like her to wait? If they let people wait among the other passengers, they could easily slip something into their bags or clothing. Also, a minute and a half is not that long. I have surgical metal and have to get additional screening all of the time. I've waited longer than a minute and a half for screenings at both small and large airports in the US and abroad - it's really not that uncommon to wait longer than that. There's a reason airlines say to be at the airport at least 90-120 mins prior to your flight. I'm sure she was anxious about missing her flight, but that's no one's fault but her own.

 

[2binak]

I have a question, once you are put in the "plastic box", who is responsible for your belongings that were on the conveyor? What assurances do you have that someone won't just walk off with your stuff?

I read somewhere that the box is plastic so you can keep any eye on them. What, exactly, are you supposed to do if you see someone taking off with your stuff? You can't leave the box can you?

At smaller airports, I've had agents ask "Is this your bag?" while I'm waiting in the "plastic box" . When I've said "Yes" they've either keep it there until the screening agent arrived and notified the screening agent that they were my belongings or the agent who asked me has brought my bag to the additional screening area while I was being screened.

I don't know if there are assurances that someone won't just walk off with your belongings, but the same thing can happen before you even get through the metal detector. Your belongings can be picked up by someone else.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Well, that was an entertaining read. Wow, that woman is seriously over dramatic.

That happened on the same day as "Balloon Boy". I actually checked online to see if there was a full moon last Thursday...nope.

 

[mrsklamc]

In an airport, plenty of people are going to stop if you yell "Stop, Thief,'

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have a question, once you are put in the "plastic box", who is responsible for your belongings that were on the conveyor? What assurances do you have that someone won't just walk off with your stuff?

I read somewhere that the box is plastic so you can keep any eye on them. What, exactly, are you supposed to do if you see someone taking off with your stuff? You can't leave the box can you?

I routinely (at least a few times a year) have flights involving LAX or LGA and MCO. I will have a computer bag, the computer has to be in a separate bin, all the stuff from my pockets, my cane, and who know what else. I always have to get separately wanded as (a) I have a metal hip, and (b) I cannot remove or put on my shoes when I am standing, and (c) on the flights to/from LAX I will have an ECV with me. If someone were to try to take my stuff, which I can see from the plastic box, I can yell (very loudly). But normally as I am directed to a seat the TSA Agent will ask me what is mine, collect the bins together, and place them at the very end of the conveyor where they will always be directly in either his or my view. They don't want your stuff taken just as you don't want it taken.

 

[*BTMRR*]

I'd like to know how her military officer hubby is handling this at work. Those military guys can be pretty relentless when it comes to teasing you about your spouse's missteps.

I noticed the "Blog with Integrity" badge is now removed from her blog. The blogging community constantly struggles to build and maintain a good image and "Blog with Integrity" is a public pledge many bloggers make to blog honestly and transparently.
Good for her for taking it down. I actually felt a little sorry for her when I saw that she had removed it. I'm sure she's seriously embarrassed and hurting right now.

 

[Jennasis]

I take it back. She isn't a loonn. She is certifiable. Not one word of her blog is true.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wow--I stay off the internet for the weekend and come back to fruitcakes and fruitloops (pretend--tsa kidnapping and the balloon boy incident).

Was it national fool the world week on candid camera?

 

[lovetoscrap]

The only place I have had a problem with my stuff is Orlando. Sugardrawers and I were coming back from Disney and I use a scooter and she was in a wheelchair. We were in the slow lane, and put our stuff on the belt as directed. Between the 2 of us we had 2 laptops, a Kindle, cellphones and of course our purses with all of our money etc...

I was directed through to the glass box to wait, and wait and wait. She was left in her w/c at the w/c gate next to where you walk through. At this point neither one of us could see our stuff. There were way to many people in the way to even see the belt from my view, and she was too far back. I complained repeatedly (and polietly!) and finally a security agent moved our things to a table near where another agent was standing. But even there I couldn't really see it and he was busy doing his job and had no idea if any of the people walking through belonged to that stuff or not. Anyone could have taken it. When I finally did go over to get it, he didn't even look up.

I did send TSA a letter about this and request that they find a better solution to secure our belongings. They tell you over and over again to keep them in your site at all times then put you through that. Heck, they ask when you check in at the gate if your bags have been out of your control or posession at any time. We really did need to tell them YES!

At my small home airport they bring them over to the screening area and set them in front of you, but out of reach while they are doing their handicapped screening. Much nicer.

 

[Heidict]

I actually felt a little sorry for her when I saw that she had removed it. I'm sure she's seriously embarrassed and hurting right now.

Nah, I don't feel sorry for her at all. If she hadn't gone off the deep end and fabricated 90% of this story then she could have still had her "badge" to proudly display.

 

[DancingBear]

I'm shocked at how many people are commenting on the TSA blog, "well, 10 minutes is still too long."
A) that's ridiculous, and
B) probably wouldn't have taken 10 minutes if she hadn't thrown a fit and made herself look suspicious.

Yeah, plus it was really more like 8 minutes (only about 2.5 minutes in the plastic box). AND, it appears that her knee brace set off the wand and she had to be re-wanded without it so that accounted for more delay.

 

[bicker]

I have a question, once you are put in the "plastic box", who is responsible for your belongings that were on the conveyor? What assurances do you have that someone won't just walk off with your stuff?

Legally, none.

 

[LoraJ]

I am confused about something in her apology. I guess some people gave her crap for allowing so little time before her flight. She blames it on her earlier flight being delayed. I have had layovers at ATL several times and not once have I had to go through security again.

She is definitely a loon.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am confused about something in her apology. I guess some people gave her crap for allowing so little time before her flight. She blames it on her earlier flight being delayed. I have had layovers at ATL several times and not once have I had to go through security again.

She is definitely a loon.

what???


You only go through security if you are coming from teh terminal.

Perhaps she had a screw loose, took the train all the way to the terminal without realizing it and exited. But then again--a flight delay would not be responsible for her mistake if that were the case.

Crazy woman with no self accountability. Methinks she suffers from more than just anxiety.