Ken Gargett Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 On way to hunter. have four days with some excellent tastings coming up. a couple of huge lunches and drinks in front of the rugby. arrive brizzy airport. Just tried to check in with hand luggage. Tossers at security go nuts about my cigar cutter. What a farce. Can’t bring that on. I point out it has gone on at least 100 flights. security person is horrifed by this and calls the manager. Manager called and arrives - not to profile but if he had grenades hanging from his belt he could hardly look more like a terrorist. instead, i commend our policies of diversity. if he fixes this nonsense, i don't care if he goosesteps all the way to sydney. fat chance. He insists that it could never have got through security at brizzy. Not sure bursting out laughing helped. He insists never! I insist at least 100 flights. which is true. it is a tiny cigar cutter, for the sake of buddha. What am I going to do, ask the captain to insert his pinky in the hole and then threaten him. Morons. and while i am in discussions, barry boy scout is there with his wand wanting to see if i have gunshot residue or whatever crap they search for - my third such search in 6 days. i suggest barry might like to wait till i have finished one thing before he is all over me, but he is keen. waving the wand around like harry potter on speed. i was going to suggest i'd see if it would work as a thermometer but things were not going well, as is. Needless to say, I was never going to win. I end up having to put a small bag through personless check-in. which, as it has done every single time I have tried it, is useless and I need help from some woman, who does not appreciate being told what a heap of crap her system is. But then she can’t work it either. i figure if i am going to get anything from this i may as well start. so i start offering her helpful hints. she asks if anything fragile in the bag but does not wait for an answer before it gets tossed into a tray. i say that at least we won't have to worry about harmless cigar cutters, will we. Eventually, the machine decides i am actually there, pressing buttons. I say thanks, though it may have seemed dripping with contempt to her. She snorts at me and storms off. Not going well. 4
wea1959 Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 Someone has been flagged for a cavity search upon return. 2
oliverdst Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 There is some pain for you but I always do love your stories
Fuzz AI Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 Could have claimed to be a mohel and say it was your tools of trade. 2
Ken Gargett Posted May 25, 2016 Author Posted May 25, 2016 11 minutes ago, Fuzz said: Could have claimed to be a mohel and say it was your tools of trade. what is a mohel?
JohnnyChong Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 Ken, a humble suggestion; I always keep an unused Aus Post prepaid satchel in my carry on bag. That way anything inadvertently denied can be posted at the airport back home, or, to your destination 3
JohnS Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 8 hours ago, Fuzz said: Could have claimed to be a mohel and say it was your tools of trade. You had to mention that?
Duxnutz Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 Interesting timing Ken.... I had my cigar cutter (a cheapie double blade plastic one) taken off me by the guardians of the peace at Sydney on Friday. I queried it with the rude individual as its been in my Nav bag since I started flying domestic nearly a year ago. Interesting enough many things more harmful than cigar cutters are let through legally. Being in uniform and a member of the operating crew I asked Mr security weasel if he was insinuating that I might attempt to cut off my colleagues fingers with said device behind the ballistic resistant door. I guess I'll have to pre cut my cigars now. Goddam morons. Not all airports mind you; Melbourne are quite civil and do a good job, Brissie too in my experience. 1
IcedCanuck Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 I've had my cutter taken away at an airport before as well. Never a fun ordeal; I hope it was a cheap one.
Oldmso54 Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 And I thought it was just us folks in the US who had to deal with our idiotic, over postulating TSA! 2
LGC Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 I've had a flint and butane lighter taken. I even had the regulations printed out from the TSA website. I don't trust any of those friggin grade school graduates with making simple decisions anymore. Talking to them is like reasoning with my 2.5 year old kids. Sometimes I wonder what the maximum IQ is for that job.
SmittyinAZ Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 Yup, any trip I take now, always cut my sticks prior. Just the world we live in now unfortunately.
SokaKiel Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 (edited) 2 hours ago, Oldmso54 said: And I thought it was just us folks in the US who had to deal with our idiotic, over postulating TSA! Don't worry, they're hunting us down in Europe these days too! Just lost my beloved Prince Torch two weeks ago to the security at Munich Airport! Apparently torches aren't allowed in your pocket since years in Europe!? Even though I've been travelling with it on at least thirty flights a year for the last five years... I need to get my hands on an FoH Iroda soon! Edited May 25, 2016 by SokaKiel 1
luv2fly Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 I was working one of the first flights out of my base after 9-11. They took my cigar cutter and nail clippers. My question was why, I have a crash ax behind my seat that will cut through aircraft aluminum. No response. At least it was a $3 cutter. 1
Orion21 Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 A plane most likely just got blown up over the Mediterranean. When these events occur the "normal" stuff like cigar cutters and lighters that used to get through security now has a zero tolerance policy. When these rules are written and enforced, logic normally doesn't play a big role. Anything with a blade or a device that could be used to light anything on fire (that could explode) is going to be kept off an airliner. I get that many of us may feel inconvenienced by the illogical application of some of these rules, but as a father who's pregnant wife and two kids will be flying on a plane in two days I'd rather have these "morons" over applying the rules than not do their jobs. I honestly feel for these airport security people at times. They are lambasted for being lazy and lambasted for being over zealous. Exactly what perfect middle ground do we expect them to find? Next time pack your cutter and/or your lighter in your checked baggage and then smile and wish these "morons" a good day. I honestly have to say I'm disappointed in Ken's post. It's not only disrespectful, but borders on racist. " not to profile but if he had grenades hanging from his belt he could hardly look more like a terrorist." For shame. 1
cigcars Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 Well - you could have "magically" conjured that dangerous object into increasing in size....and stuck somebody's full sized head in there - AND CUT IT OFF!!!!!!! You MONSTER!!!!!
Upgrayedd Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 59 minutes ago, Orion21 said: A plane most likely just got blown up over the Mediterranean. When these events occur the "normal" stuff like cigar cutters and lighters that used to get through security now has a zero tolerance policy. When these rules are written and enforced, logic normally doesn't play a big role. Anything with a blade or a device that could be used to light anything on fire (that could explode) is going to be kept off an airliner. I get that many of us may feel inconvenienced by the illogical application of some of these rules, but as a father who's pregnant wife and two kids will be flying on a plane in two days I'd rather have these "morons" over applying the rules than not do their jobs. I honestly feel for these airport security people at times. They are lambasted for being lazy and lambasted for being over zealous. Exactly what perfect middle ground do we expect them to find? The problem is that this is all theater that sacrifices elements of our freedom without actual benefit or improvement in safety. If there was a magical way for airport security to detect all threats that would be all well and good, but there isn't. Almost everything can make it through and they know it. http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/01/politics/tsa-failed-undercover-airport-screening-tests/
Colt45 Posted May 25, 2016 Posted May 25, 2016 25 minutes ago, Upgrayedd said: The problem is that this is all theater that sacrifices elements of our freedom without actual benefit or improvement in safety. I guess the one issue here might be that flying on a commercial airplane is not a right. It's not really rocket science - checked bag or leave it at home. One's fingernails make a great cigar cutter. 1
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