Unusual Experience at MCO Yesterday

[dis_guy]

While waiting for our flight from MCO to Denver yesterday we saw something we've never seen before.

About an hour before our flight, there were 5 or 6 TSA agents hanging around our gate. They were walking around among those waiting in the departure area. As boarding time approached the gate agent announced that all IDs would be checked as we boarded the plane. In the first group to board there was a man that was singled out and got the full "treatment" including pat down, swabs of hands and bags, and a complete bag search. He was also being thoroughly questioned about where he'd traveled. I overheard something about Yemen. As the rest of us approached the gate we were waved through without a glance except for our boarding passes. I didn't think to look for the man they were interested in on the plane so I don't know if they kept him from boarding.

This event seemed to fit into the overall impression I had of heightened airport security for this trip. When leaving Edmonton were were selected for a complete security check. Mine included a full pat down including the soles of my socks. I wasn't given a choice and neither was my wife who got the full body scanner.

There was a change in our connecting flights in Denver, too. This time we had to check-in (again) for the flights at the gate where our passports were scanned again. In the past we just had to present our boarding pass and our ID for a visual check.

I'd be interested if anyone else has had similar experiences.

 

[Kat&Dom]

While waiting for our flight from MCO to Denver yesterday we saw something we've never seen before.

About an hour before our flight, there were 5 or 6 TSA agents hanging around our gate. They were walking around among those waiting in the departure area. As boarding time approached the gate agent announced that all IDs would be checked as we boarded the plane. In the first group to board there was a man that was singled out and got the full "treatment" including pat down, swabs of hands and bags, and a complete bag search. He was also being thoroughly questioned about where he'd traveled. I overheard something about Yemen. As the rest of us approached the gate we were waved through without a glance except for our boarding passes. I didn't think to look for the man they were interested in on the plane so I don't know if they kept him from boarding.

This event seemed to fit into the overall impression I had of heightened airport security for this trip. When leaving Edmonton were were selected for a complete security check. Mine included a full pat down including the soles of my socks. I wasn't given a choice and neither was my wife who got the full body scanner.

There was a change in our connecting flights in Denver, too. This time we had to check-in (again) for the flights at the gate where our passports were scanned again. In the past we just had to present our boarding pass and our ID for a visual check.

I'd be interested if anyone else has had similar experiences.

We flew back yesterday from MCO too. I actually found the security to be quite low key on this trip. The security scanners at MCO seemed completely disinterested in their jobs and basically ignored us as we went through as they were too busy gossiping with each other. My mom always sets off the scanner due to a knee replacement - the security agent told her to stand with her arms and legs spread for a pat down. My mom stood like that for a couple of minutes - the agent did not even touch her - she actually turned her back and was talking to another agent and when their conversation was done - she seemed surprised that my mom was still standing waiting for a pat down. She told her that she could go and did not perform the pat down. It was the strangest thing - the one gossip session that I overheard was one of the security agents complaining about all the breaks that the supervisors get and how they have a special coffee room.

 

[dis_guy]

We flew back yesterday from MCO too. I actually found the security to be quite low key on this trip. The security scanners at MCO seemed completely disinterested in their jobs and basically ignored us as we went through as they were too busy gossiping with each other. My mom always sets off the scanner due to a knee replacement - the security agent told her to stand with her arms and legs spread for a pat down. My mom stood like that for a couple of minutes - the agent did not even touch her - she actually turned her back and was talking to another agent and when their conversation was done - she seemed surprised that my mom was still standing waiting for a pat down. She told her that she could go and did not perform the pat down. It was the strangest thing - the one gossip session that I overheard was one of the security agents complaining about all the breaks that the supervisors get and how they have a special coffee room.

How funny is that? We were on United 215 at 3:26 PM. Which flight were you on?

I agree that the regular security was pretty relaxed yesterday. I forgot to take my computer out of my bag. It went through the xray without a mention. It was only afterwards that I realized it!

 

[Kat&Dom]

How funny is that? We were on United 215 at 3:26 PM. Which flight were you on?

I agree that the regular security was pretty relaxed yesterday. I forgot to take my computer out of my bag. It went through the xray without a mention. It was only afterwards that I realized it!

We were on American at 3:10 pm which was delayed until 3:50 pm. We went through Dallas on the way home.

 

[Sue M]

Wow! That would have me worried that maybe they had some info about a threat. But maybe it was about that guy from Yemen. That was the country where all the explosives in computer ink cartriges were sent from wasn't it? the packages were sent by cargo and passenger planes.

 

[dis_guy]

Wow! That would have me worried that maybe they had some info about a threat. But maybe it was about that guy from Yemen. That was the country where all the explosives in computer ink cartriges were sent from wasn't it? the packages were sent by cargo and passenger planes.

I don't think he was from Yemen. From what I could gather without seeming "too interested" was that he had been in Yemen at some point. Yes, I also was wondering about those packages originating there recently.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

They did this at Manchester New Hampshire when I was boarding on Nov 2nd. They pulled people from the line and screened them ... looked random to me.

Happened to me in Chicago in May on my way to Denver. They checked my coffee that I bought after security to see if there was anything else in it.

 

[sean-1966]

It happens. I got that treatment by the DEA in Dallas once. I think sometimes they get a tip and then they just head to the gate and check things out. For me it was all the traveling I had done around the Caribbean. Once I proved I was there legitimately they pretty much moved on.

 

[chimo2u]

Hi Dis_Guy I am happy to hear you had a safe flight home and had an enjoyable holiday
One thing I am curious about with the new full body scanners.....How does one keep their personal belongings safe while going through security??? I used to just keep an eye on it as I stepped through the metal detectors, but now I've heard it's impossible to keep an eye on your stuff as it goes through x-ray. I am worried because I will be traveling with a large sum of cash and don't want to risk a "grab/dash" or someone else picking up my personal belongings. I thought about wearing a money belt under my clothes, but don't know if I'd have to take it off to go through the scanner.
I would hate to lose all my money during the security process!!!
WDYThink????

 

[sympatico]

We came back on Tuesday and the teen girl that was with me had school stuff in her back pack and had no problems with security in Orlando but when we went through security again in Toronto for our connecting flight the scanners found a pair of scissors in her pencil case. The scissors were suppose to be in her checked luggage but her friend had borrowed them before we left and put them in the pencil case. They weren't picked up by the Orlando scanners at all.

 

[dis_guy]

Hi Dis_Guy I am happy to hear you had a safe flight home and had an enjoyable holiday
One thing I am curious about with the new full body scanners.....How does one keep their personal belongings safe while going through security??? I used to just keep an eye on it as I stepped through the metal detectors, but now I've heard it's impossible to keep an eye on your stuff as it goes through x-ray. I am worried because I will be traveling with a large sum of cash and don't want to risk a "grab/dash" or someone else picking up my personal belongings. I thought about wearing a money belt under my clothes, but don't know if I'd have to take it off to go through the scanner.
I would hate to lose all my money during the security process!!!
WDYThink????

Thanks! We had a great time.

It seemed that the full body scanner was being used only for the extra screening line on the day we went through. There were several extra security personnel screening us so there were always a couple with the bags and the next passengers weren't allowed through until we had out stuff and had moved on. It was all very carefully controlled as to who was allowed where and when.

As far as cash goes, don't keep all of it in the same place. I keep some in my wallet, and some in both my carry-ons. My wife does the same with the other half. Of course none of us here would ever put cash into our checked bags.

All in all, the full body scanners turned out to be not too much to worry about. My wife and I were discussing whether we should get NEXUS cards just to streamline the whole airport process in the future.

 

[ChisJo]

I've had the full treatment before. It sucks...it was in Edmonton right before I boarded. I was travelling solo, so it wasn't like I had a whole party waiting for me. I waited until almost the end of boarding to board the flight (I hate sitting in my seat for that long waiting!), and it seemed like they were signalling me out. I had to take off my belt, my shoes, I got a full pat down and asked about 10 questions. My bags got completely searched (every item was removed and scanned), and when I thought I was about to miss my flight, they let me go. It was an unpleasant situation indeed, and all I kept thinking was why the heck I just went through security if they were just going to do this check again. Of course, they never found anything, and I hope that if they are going to be increasing security measures this way that they have justification for it. I would hope they aren't signalling out people based on their nationality (although, I do know people who have been treated terribly because of their skin colour and they are upstanding citizens!).