Airport Security

[Eastern Girl]

I have always had bad experiences going through airport security, but today at Toronto's Pearson airport was the worst. The woman was totally rude, made me undo my belt and pants, had to lift my shirt up a bit to show her my stomach, she yelled at me a couple times about supposedly lying to her about what was in my pockets because her little detector thingie kept going off around my pockets even though they were empty. It was just awful, and quite frankly a little humiliating. Not fun to have people staring at me when I am standing at security in bare feet with my pants undone.

Anyone else having problems like this or do they just like to pick on me?

[habernac]

I have flown a ton in the last few years and have had zero problems.

[Bobblehead]

Well, I went to London Ont and back in the last week. Both times I had to undo my belt and stand with my arms up, but it only took a sec and no one was surly about it.

[JiriHrdina]

I've been searched pretty thoroughly at times but I view it as a minor inconvenience to ensure our safety. Particuarly post 9-11.

[kermitology]

I wear a studded belt.. so I just take the damn thing off when I go through.

[Wookie]

Originally posted by Eastern Girl@Aug 18 2005, 02:53 PM
I have always had bad experiences going through airport security, but today at Toronto's Pearson airport was the worst. The woman was totally rude, made me undo my belt and pants, had to lift my shirt up a bit to show her my stomach, she yelled at me a couple times about supposedly lying to her about what was in my pockets because her little detector thingie kept going off around my pockets even though they were empty. It was just awful, and quite frankly a little humiliating. Not fun to have people staring at me when I am standing at security in bare feet with my pants undone.

Anyone else having problems like this or do they just like to pick on me?

The same thing happened to me in Toronto, the lady was a bit more friendly though, I had a big bottle of juice with me too,, 2L probably and they made me drink some to prove it wasn't something bad. It was part grape juice and then some fizzy water and other water stuff.. explained to the lady after seh wondered why so much grape juice, honeslty spent 15 minutes on the exact content of my jiuce. The only thing that annoyed me about undoing my pants, lifting my shirt and taking off my hat was the terrible hair under my hat because there was some hot girls in line behnd me lol

[Eastern Girl]

I understand that it's for safety purposes. I understand the need to step up security after 9/11. That's why I was more than happy to oblige, but this woman was just unbelieveable. I was answering her questions, I was doing exactly what she told me to do, but she kept accusing me of lying to her and trying to hide things from her. I eventually had to pull my pockets inside out to prove that I wasn't lying to her about them. The only thing that I wasn't entirely cooperative with was turning around and facing the lineup of passengers with my pants totally open. When I asked if I could do up my pants before turning around, she said no and grabbed my arm and turned me around. By the time I left that checkpoint, she practically had me convinced that I was a criminal and doing something horribly wrong.

And as for my belt, I have worn that belt tons of times through security and never once had that much of a problem with it. I have had to undo it before, but never my pants as well and i was always allowed to do it up before turning around.

[Table 5]

I have travelled quite a bit, and i always shudder when i have to travel through Pearson. The people there are rude as hell and think they are masters of the universe when dealing with you. Give somebody a fricking metal detector and they think they are your overlord.

Personally, I think Canadian Customs agents can be the rudest ******* around. I dont get treated like crap anywhere else, except when I come home to my own country. Im never nervous going into the US or Europe, but coming back to Canada is always nervewracking.

And lets not even the mention the quality "baggage handling" at Pearson.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

That is what happens when they contract the security out to the lowest bidder, you get people earning $9/hour who really don't care about their jobs, and well hell why would they, there is no incentive for promotion, nothing really other than honor, and you won't get much of that when you are skimming the bottom of the barrel finding any employee who will fit the mould.

Sounds like you had a bad experience, but honestly I am surprised that those stories don't happen more often. I would have taken her name and registed a complaint with the airport authority because believe it or not sometimes this sort of thing gets taken seriously.

---------

Table 5 she wouldn't be dealing with Customs Agents at the Airport Security. Some of the customs agents are great at their jobs, but at the same time I agree with you that some are well poor to say the least. But in this particular case it has nothing to do with any employees of the government, just cheap contract employees of a security company (I think it is Group 4 or something like that at Calgary) and almost off of them do a pretty bad job.

[Table 5]

Originally posted by JiriHrdina@Aug 18 2005, 04:03 PM
I've been searched pretty thoroughly at times but I view it as a minor inconvenience to ensure our safety. Particuarly post 9-11.

Being searched is one thing (it happens to me all the time, and generally I understand)....but being searched by some ###### bag on a power trip is something else. Frankly I think the last thing that a lot of these a-holes are thinking about is trying to prevent another 911 (especially considering most of the time they are too busy chatting each other up and ignoring passengers, only coming up for air once in a while to yell at somebody).

Airport security has to be vigilant, and frankly I think they sometimes need to be even more so, but there is a respect level that must be attained.

[nfotiu]

Originally posted by fotze@Aug 18 2005, 05:10 PM
What passes me off at the airport is those ######bags who are late for their flight and feel they should be allowed to cut in the line for the security check. That gets my blood boiling. Just realize that you may be cutting in line but at least 50 people now wish you dead.

Careful who you are mad at. Every time I am one of those guys, it is because my connecting flight was late, or customs held me up, and if I miss the flight I end up spending the night in the Toronto airport. I don't feel the least bit guilty trying to get the security people to let me in front in those circumstances.

[Table 5]

Originally posted by Mean Mr. Mustard@Aug 18 2005, 04:44 PM
Table 5 she wouldn't be dealing with Customs Agents at the Airport Security. Some of the customs agents are great at their jobs, but at the same time I agree with you that some are well poor to say the least. But in this particular case it has nothing to do with any employees of the government, just cheap contract employees of a security company (I think it is Group 4 or something like that at Calgary) and almost off of them do a pretty bad job.

sorry, i guess i should have sepearated the two. Ive had my beef with both though, and for the most part its never about them doing security checks, but the way the checks were done. like i said, the most rudest customs agents ive run into have mostly been in Canada ( and sadly, Calgary).

[ken0042]

Eastern Girl, I think a carefully worded letter to the Airport's security department is in order. I would go on to explain how you don't mind being searched, but having to turn and face a group of strangers with your pants undone isn't appropriate.

Myself, I understand the need for security. But it can be done without what would be considered anywhere else as sexual harrasment.

[Table 5]

Originally posted by fotze@Aug 18 2005, 04:52 PM
I noticed that too, I usually avoid the women, particularily if they are white.

haha, well ive been trying perfect my technique of picking which line to stand in, but i dont think its working to well. lately, ive tried the george costanza opposite approach, and tried to find the meanest, passed off looking agent possible....and found most of them were pretty damn nice! so until that fails, im gonna go with that route.

but yeah, i tend to avoid the woman as well. for some reason, a lot of em have some built up resentment they are dying to take out on somebody.

[@theCBE]

I was on a flight from Edmonton to Vancouver with a friend and the security there gave us a bit of a hard time .. take off our shoes and undo out belts, lift the shirt etc...
both of us are muslim of east indian decent but neither of us fit the percieved image of a sterotypical terrorist

they let us pass eventually once they were convinced we weren't carrying anything illegal on board

we watched for a few minutes after as the people behind us passed through the security most of them were caucasian but none were as thouroughly checked as we were (none had to undo or remove any clothing) even though they beeped in the metal detector

I can't say that i was really mad about it... a little interested and a bit concerned .. there is no way to really know for sure why she searched us more than everyone else, maybe she saw something that concerned her in our behaviour or maybe it was racially motivated I guess i'll never know
the fact is that things have changed since 9/11 and things like airport security have to step up even if it does mean making people feel a little uncomfortable at times.. as long as it doesn't cross the line

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by Eastern Girl@Aug 18 2005, 03:34 PM
I understand that it's for safety purposes. I understand the need to step up security after 9/11. That's why I was more than happy to oblige, but this woman was just unbelieveable. I was answering her questions, I was doing exactly what she told me to do, but she kept accusing me of lying to her and trying to hide things from her. I eventually had to pull my pockets inside out to prove that I wasn't lying to her about them. The only thing that I wasn't entirely cooperative with was turning around and facing the lineup of passengers with my pants totally open. When I asked if I could do up my pants before turning around, she said no and grabbed my arm and turned me around. By the time I left that checkpoint, she practically had me convinced that I was a criminal and doing something horribly wrong.

And as for my belt, I have worn that belt tons of times through security and never once had that much of a problem with it. I have had to undo it before, but never my pants as well and i was always allowed to do it up before turning around.

Ugh. Just reading that annoys me.

If there was any justice in this world you would run into her on the street and get to tell her what a pig she is.

Anyone ever been to Puerto Vallarta? You could smuggle a well armed elephant into that town. Stroll through some ancient,, and I doubt working, metal detector and then push some doorbell style button to see if you get the luck of the draw to be searched. It's totally random. Then when you leave you get to walk across the runway. I'll tell ya, there are few things on earth as pleasant as standing on the tarmac in 30 degree heat after a week of Mexican boozing and fooding.

[@theCBE]

Originally posted by fotze@Aug 18 2005, 10:03 PM
CBE I have a muslim buddy who tells me that when flying if there is a muslim in traditional garb he starts getting worried. He does have a pretty good sense of humour so I don;t know if he's pulling my leg.

Probably pulling your leg but you never know

[Table 5]

Originally posted by fotze@Aug 18 2005, 05:03 PM
CBE I have a muslim buddy who tells me that when flying if there is a muslim in traditional garb he starts getting worried. He does have a pretty good sense of humour so I don;t know if he's pulling my leg.

i doubt hes kidding, i have a few muslim friends who say the same shinguard, and their not kidding. Funny thing is, one of em has Bin in his name, so he is always paranoid he will get shot by some security guard.

[habernac]

Originally posted by fotze@Aug 18 2005, 04:01 PM
Exactly the tall mean looking ones are usually the nicest. Travelling with a Danish American landed Canadian with a Austrian passport wife makes it a big pain in the ass.

oh, the fun you must have!

My wife had a few issues right after we were married (you'd think Customs Agents and security people would look for a name change sticker in a passport, or actually know where to look for it before telling us the names on the ticket and passport don't match)

I've had great luck, and I know it's because I'm a plain looking white guy. My pal of Iranian decent has a hell of a time at the border or when flying internationally.

[Flashpoint]

I travel a lot. I am almost to the point where I wish they would put airport security in the hands of the people buying plane tickets.

Airport security is a joke. Anybody comitted to commiting a terrorist act isn't going to be stopped by a $7 an hour joker who has a grade 9 education and a limited grasp of English. The current state of NA airport security exists to give the PERCEPTION something is being done - make the 90 year old grandma feel better about getting on a plane. Anybody with an ounce of common sense realizes that a terrorist is going to be thinking of ways of getting by security. Lets see, I have a bomb down the front of my underpants. They will never think to look there!


Did you ever notice how EVERYONE has to take off their shoes these days, because of that shoe bomber? Hmmm. Maybe it would be better to restrict lighters and matches on an aircraft? Oh, wait, that would make it harder for smokers to light up once they get off the plane. Nope, can't do that.

Thanks so much for patting down the 100 year old gentleman in a wheelchair. I'm sure his colostomy bag is filled with plastique. I feel safer already.

I love some of these security people. I once had one ask me for ID. I handed her my passport. She said "No, I need to see ID". I just stood there with my mouth open. I said "It's a passport". I had to show her how to open it.

I had another guy ask me what my MP3 player was. This wasn't in 1989. It was THIS YEAR. It had HEADPHONES coming out of it.

In TO the security gongshow had 2 people walking up and down the line. 1 person was yelling "Have your laptops on". The other person was yelling "Make sure your laptops are OFF, and stowed in their bags". Then they had a big fight in front of 200 people. When I got to the front of the line, I was waived through without an Xray of my carryon. They were "too backed up". Nice to be white I guess.

My brother in law was going through an airport. At the security checkpoint, the security buffoon was taking people's cameras, and snapping pictures of them. When she got to my brother he asked her if it was really such a good idea to be putting so many pictures of what is supposed to be a secure area out into the world. She stopped taking photos after that. Nice training. Nice brain.

Until airport security gets serious (i.e. Hire folks for more than minimum wage, and maybe give them more training than Burger University), it will be nothing but an ineffective inconvenience for all of us.

Don't kid yourself. You are no safer than you were before 911. Unless the terrorist misses his connection on account of the Airport Security Clowns slowing everyone down too much.