Airport Security - Question

[FurnaceFace]

I could see some of the climbing gear raising an eyebrow. The grigri and the cams might be a problem. I do like the idea of sending the pics off to Transport Canada.

As a traveller who adopts the "carry on only" philosophy whenever possible I've been checked a few times. I pack my things tightly so I can fit it into one bag so some things are hard to tell what they are. I have had very good luck asking the screeners what they see and then I can generally remember what it is and tell them exactly where it is and what it is.

I generally find if you're polite with them and look like you know how to travel (you've pulled your belt off, popped off your metal watch, and have nothing in your pockets before they ask you) they'll treat you well. The only time in recent memory I had a problem was in Africa the lady went through my entire bag looking for something but wouldn't tell me what. In the end I believe it was a bag of camera filters, adapters, etc which threw them off.

I've also had them confused as to what this was:



I had to tell the screeners it's a dive computer. They laughed and then swung the monitor over so I could see it. In the bag it was sideways so the profile was something with electronics with a long thin "thing" running out the top of it. I'd have wondered what it was too.

Best advise I have is if it's a weird shape, especially metal, then put it on the top of your bag so they can get as it easy or better yet pull it out of the bag and put it in a bucket and inform the screener what it is as they look at it.

[awildermode]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Best advise I have is if it's a weird shape, especially metal, then put it on the top of your bag so they can get as it easy or better yet pull it out of the bag and put it in a bucket and inform the screener what it is as they look at it.

exactly what i did with my binder on the return flight. they did not even bother to look at it.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

I've never had an issue with wearing a belt through the scanner. While the belts I've worn through don't have big metal buckles, they do have a small metal buckle. Metal watches don't set it off either.

Really? I just wear normal belts as well, but they've triggered the sensor a couple of times, so now I just take it off beforehand.

One thing that I'm curious about... Are we allowed to bring lighters or matches through? They've never confiscated mine. You'd think they would, right? I always expect them to, but they never do.

[evilcougar]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Really? I just wear normal belts as well, but they've triggered the sensor a couple of times, so now I just take it off beforehand.

One thing that I'm curious about... Are we allowed to bring lighters or matches through? They've never confiscated mine. You'd think they would, right? I always expect them to, but they never do.

I think they gave up on that. When i went to vancouver in April, i went thru security with my wine bottle opener in my carry on (always gotta be prepared) and like 3 lighters in my purse. All they took was my toothpaste. Nevermind the cork screw that can take out an eye, or the lighter that i could light things/people on fire with, clearly the toothpaste is the threat.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Excuse me sir, what is this?

It's a switch.

A switch?

Yes.

Really?

Yes.

What does it switch?

High power radar for terrain mapping.

Uhhhh...

It's harmless.

OK sir, have a nice flight.

These are not the droids you are looking for...

[jammies]

Has anyone recently been through immigration/customs at the Calgary airport and seen the absolutely beautiful blonde woman who works at one of the screening desks? I tell ya, if it hadn't been 3 in the morning when I went thru last time, I would've insisted on a strip search.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by evilcougar

I think they gave up on that. When i went to vancouver in April, i went thru security with my wine bottle opener in my carry on (always gotta be prepared) and like 3 lighters in my purse. All they took was my toothpaste. Nevermind the cork screw that can take out an eye, or the lighter that i could light things/people on fire with, clearly the toothpaste is the threat.

My personal favourite that doesn't make sense- they won't let you bring on a knife; I get that part. However after I go through security I can go to Chillis and order a steak, and be given a steak knife at that point. How hard would it be to just step out of that kiosk with the knife? As long as you leav enough cash to cover your tab, I doubt the waiter would really care; just assume you had to run to catch your flight.

[evilcougar]

Originally Posted by ken0042

My personal favourite that doesn't make sense- they won't let you bring on a knife; I get that part. However after I go through security I can go to Chillis and order a steak, and be given a steak knife at that point. How hard would it be to just step out of that kiosk with the knife? As long as you leav enough cash to cover your tab, I doubt the waiter would really care; just assume you had to run to catch your flight.

Oh totally. I also used to love getting lighters taken away that were loosely in my purse, but, not the mini one that i had in my wallet in the coin part. Or the 2 others i would put in my checked suitcase. And then follow that up with once you go thru security you can stop to get smokes AND A LIGHTER.....i don't get it....

[hockeycop]

Originally Posted by jammies

Has anyone recently been through immigration/customs at the Calgary airport and seen the absolutely beautiful blonde woman who works at one of the screening desks? I tell ya, if it hadn't been 3 in the morning when I went thru last time, I would've insisted on a strip search.

Get referred to Immigration Secondary! Stocked pond in there!

Downside is that it's next to impossible to do if you're Canadian.

[Russic]

Just be sure to wear a tshirt that reads "I am not a terrorist" and you should be fine.

[awildermode]

about the whole water thing. i saw on some news show...

they do not treat it as a 'real threat'. they just throw your water bottle (toothpaste, gel, whatever) away in the trash bin.

if it was a 'threat', they should properly dispose of it as if it was nuclear waste or a bomb.

knives are different, they usually do not explode. so, tossing them in a bin makes sense. but imagine a bin full of this water, gel, shampoo...if a 4oz bottle of explosive liquid can blow up a plane...what about a 50 gallon trash bin full of of that stuff, sitting just around the corner.

[Phanuthier]

well that was all for not, just had my bags go through security and the women working the xray just ran my stuff through without even looking at the screen since she was pre-occupied by a side conversation

expect my plane to hit some building tonight

[photon]

Epic lol.

[lucky1]

I literally travel thru 3 different countries once every month.....and the security agents are just huge weinee's in Calgary compared to others....
And dont get me started on the customs officers in Vancouver....the most unhappiest bunch of folks on a consistent basis, hands down

[Dion]

Originally Posted by lucky1

And dont get me started on the customs officers in Vancouver....the most unhappiest bunch of folks on a consistent basis, hands down

Isn't that the truth. I have yet to see one crack a smile.

Must be something in thier contract that allows them to be that way. Guess they hate thier jobs.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf3

The ones in canada don't seem that bad... the metal detectors in germany i've set off with only the metal button and fly on my shorts.

I find that it varies airport by airport, day by day. Some days you walk right through, and other days you get the royal treatment. I usually wear the same belt, same shoes, etc. when travelling so I notice times when it seems like the machines are set a little more sensitively than others.

I have surgical plates in my arm, which is also fun on occasion. I like to let them try and figure it out for a few seconds before I tell them. Most of the time they don't cause a problem though.

I also have to travel with a projector from time to time. Some airports want it out to be swabbed, just like a computer. Other airports just put it through the x-ray machine like normal.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

well that was all for not, just had my bags go through security and the women working the xray just ran my stuff through without even looking at the screen since she was pre-occupied by a side conversation

expect my plane to hit some building tonight

Was she eating a large hawaiian from pizza 73?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by fotze

Is that a threat.

I tried, but they weren't intimidated by the vagina stapler so I just went back to my seat. (facepalm)

[FurnaceFace]

I also laugh at what they take. You can't (maybe you can now) take your nail clippers with a metal file on them but they don't bat an eye at your metal pen. Those are as "dangerous" as half the stuff they confiscate. They also don't tie your hands behind your back. As Sean Connery has shown us your thumb is a deadly weapon.

I think it's evened out a little bit. You can now take your bic razor on board...that is until someone jury rigs one so the blade pops out easily and uses it (along with their metal pen and bionic thumb perhaps) to hijack a plane.

[ken0042]

I just don't think you will see planes being hijacked with small weapons any more. During 9/11 the passengers sat still, because in the past that was how you survived a hijacking. But with the last plane, we know that once the passengers found out their plane was on a suicide mission; they decided to act. (Note I tired to word that carefully to not turn this into a 9/11 conspiracy thread.)

Same thing with the "shoe bomber." He was taken down and held down by the passengers. It seems to me that they are now making sure people cannot bring on components that could be used to make an explosive; because it wouldn't take much of an explosion to bring down a plane. In doing this some of the allowed/disallowed items might not make sense.