Airport "Security"
 

So today my friend flew out to Virginia (from New York). He got in a car to the airport around 4-4:30. From 1:30 until he got in that car, he was shopping with me for gifts to give to his little nephews in Virginia.
One of the things we ended up getting was a little box of "uncover the dinasour"...it was an archeology type thing. It cost no more than $5-10 but we thought it was very cute. At the store, the lady gift-wrapped it in nice paper and, being a tiny box, it could have been jewelry or an expensive watch...or anything. So my friend put that and some other gifts into one of the bags that he was planning on checking and off he went to Virginia.

So he arrives in Virginia, goes to the baggage claim and when his bag comes around, it's got this huge rip in it. Strike one. He's a little bit pissed but he shrugges it off and goes to his sister's.

When he gets to the house, he goes to open his bags and when he opens the bag, the first thing he notices is how dirty his clothes are. He made a point of doing the laundry before the trip so everything should ahve been clean - instead, it looked like half of his clothes had been dragged along the ground before being stuffed back into his bag. Strike two.

The next thing he realizes is that something's missing. The little "uncover the dinasour box". Remember how I said it could have resembled jewelry or a watch? Well....I guess someone else thought so too. It was not in my friend's bag. And that's strike three. Some guy is going to go home tonight hoping to find some piece of precious jewelry and he's going to get a $5-10 "uncover the dinasour".

Oh yeah...and in my friend's bag was a letter about random bag checks and his was one of the bags they checked. Big suprise.

I find this appalling. There was a time when we could put locks on our luggage and there was a reason people did it. I understand that with the threat of terrorism, things change and I support that. But in exchange, we should feel safe and protected. We should be able to put our trust in the system.

Instead, the people we are trusting to fight terrorism are stealing from our bags, throwing our personal belongings on the floor, and handling our bags in such a way that they come back useless. This is disgusting. How am I supposed to feel safe like this?

My friend wants to call up and scream at someone but since it's the government that does bag checks now, he'll probably just end up with some form he has to fill out that, knowing the reliability of government services, will likely never get read - and if it does, nothing will get done anyway.


What do you guys think about this?
I could go into other stories about the incompetent people that are supposedly protecting me but I'll leave that for later, if people reply to this.

Feel free to vent about your own experiences.

I'm going on a plane trip next week (woo cruise!), and as a rule I keep my good stuff on my carry-on. Baggage handlers are called "throwers" for a reason. I'll probably keep my knives at home though; I don't want them "checking" my luggage and borrowing them.

I dont tust baggage handlers with anything. I fly carryon whenever I can, and I would *never* check anything of value.

carrying on bags you are limited to one bag, and one personal item (purse or laptop bag) that's it.

I get so sick and tired of the idiots out there who carry on every belonging they have.

I fly every week - I check my bag every week - I have never had a problem with baggage handlers, and my bag gets randomly searched every other week (the fact that my stinky gym clothes are usually at the top of my bag may stop some searches but.. still..). It's other things that set my teeth on edge, generally peope who are incapable of reading signs about what they can and cannot carry on the plane :D

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If there was a rip in the bag when it came off the plane, he shoudl have filed a claim at the airport - the baggage office never closes. Airlines wont take responsibity for handles or wheels -but a rip, they will take responsibilty for.

My last trip on a plane, I had a whole bag stolen. It was full of Simpsons toys/memorabilia, so I wasn't too surprised.. but still, pissed me off. It was all my christmas presents (Yeah, I got a lotta Simpsons stuff for Christmas hehe). Hell, the bag ITSELF was a christmas present. Damn them *shakes fist*

When I flew home from school, the lady had to open my carry-on bag to check out whatever was setting off whichever little alarm bell. I was so stoked to see how she was going to put it all back in, considering how tight I had it packed, barely able to zip up.

Long story short, she tried her best but I had to repack it myself. I'm not complaining, I'm just bummed out that she couldn't do it.

My Dad came down for the fourth of july, and had his whole bad stolen. Finally got it back, a wrist watch was missing. No big deal, it was one of those cheap ones. On the way home, same bad got "lost".

hmm... I never flew in my entire life, but I see a dangerous pattern here... baggage handlers being thought of as "untouchable". If something is missing or if your bag is ripped open, I believe it is not only your right, but your duty to make a fuss about it. This is how democratic systems work. If no-one makes a fuss, then the action goes on unpunished and you can be damned sure it will be repeated....

ughh you wanna see bad for cary on, fly in china, where I've seen people bring on about 5 carry on bags, 3 ovr the size limit, or the time I was flying from Kunming to Cehngdu (Kunming is famous for flowers) and half the plain brings on bunches of flowers, and startes putting them in the over heads...
but yeah, I really wish they'd check what people bring on more (size/number) it's really frustrating when there is no overhead space around you because someone brought to much.

I'm on the fence about this personally. While I don't think people's personal effects should be ransacked when they check their baggage, I don't want a bomb going off in the cargo hold of the plane I'm on either.

My boyfriend just took a flight last week, and the airline made it pretty clear that any gift-wrapped items would most likely be opened, in checked baggage or not. I guess the key is to read the rules and regulations of the airline before you fly - something I do every time I get on a plane since the rules change often, and get more strict every year.

your knives? just wondering why you would bring knives on a cruise? or just for protection? are you in the knife business? did not know cruises where that deadly!

Ive flown like 10 times and never had any problems

You can buy locks now that only the security people can open with a key and the baggage handlers cannot. I am sure it won't be long before the keys become more widespread, but for now I am using them on my SCUBA gear, which I can't carry-on. You can get them at Travelsmith or Brookstone.

I agree, but it really comes down to packing habits. Assuming you arent having to carry business clothes (suits, whatever), I can generally fit into a mid-sized duffel for about a week. It easily fits in every overhead bin Ive ever flown (except for on one tiny 8 seater commuter flight... but that wasnt surprising, I dont think I could have wedged my wallet in there). Add to that my laptop bag (actually usually a backpack to take away the obvious appeal of a laptop bag), and Im good to go.

Clearly, if you are going for a long time or are having to take bulky stuff (lots of nice clothes, winter clothes, whatever), you need the checked baggage. But for a few days, even up to a week? Its not worth the trouble.

I can travel for a 5 days on one suitcase and my laptop bag, but overhead space is tight on planes, I'm not going to carry on my suitcase because it takes away space from other people, which slows down the boarding process and everytime I have some idiot (and they are idiots) try to stuff their bag into the overhead, it almost always ends up hitting me on the shoulder or head.

Unless you have connecting flights, and the connections are really close together, there's no reason not to check a bag.

I've come to appreciate the Regional Jets that have virtually no overhead space and everything except laptops has to be gate checked. Flights go much smoother.,

Basically, whenever something gets taken from your luggage, send a letter to the airline. It has to be a letter, they respond much better to those than emails or phone calls. Even though they claim they're not responsible, there's a pretty good chance they'll respond. I remember once there was a story on some news show, maybe Dateline, about a guy who wrote letters complaining every time he flew. He would usually end up with free flights, bumps to first class, etc.

Yeah, at least contact someone, airline, someone, to complain. If it's handled by the government, well, don't know what to expect, but also contact the airline. Might get free flight, or free bump up to first class.

I have my medium sized duffel bag, and backpack when flying. Duffel fits perfectly sideways in the overhead compartment. Southwest Airlines has stopped me once when boarding a plane, and asked me to check-in the duffel bag, and I had no problems.

Maleficient, I guess it just comes to trust. I dont trust the airlines to handle my baggage, and the few times I have checked luggage it was quite the hassle. I havent had any problems flying carryon before. Im glad you have had such luck checking baggage, but I prefer to have mine on me if possible.

hmmmph. I thought that this would have been about Security at airports, but it's more about BAGGAGE HANDLERS.

Two different things... baggage handlers are NOT the same thing as security.

Having airports/government rifle through my stuff under the guise of safety against terrorism pisses me off to no fucking ends. I would love to go to their house and go through all of their stuff and steal their crap and tell them I had heard there was a terrorist threat in your house!

ARGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

<---- empathy

Are you old enough to remember the Pan Am flight that blew up over Lockerbie? Had stuff been searched more thoroughly then... shudda cudda wudda...

No, I do not remember that flight. But if we were to honestly be so thorough that every incident of possible maybes of could be terrorism be thwarted, we would have to be in the airports 3 months before take-off.

Besides, what these "throwers" did was unquestionably wrong.

Also, we have had in place security measures for a long time that have worked. But in ANY situation, if someone wants something bad enough, they will figure out a way to do it/get it. And no amount of countermeasures can prevent evil. And I for one am not willing to sacrifice any more personal freedom for govt called "safety". Shit happens, people die. All of these new regulations, laws and airport safety measures are new ways of encurring govt revenue and ways for politicians to say, "hey, I care about your safety", when all they really care about is getting elected. Do you think these fuckers in Congress have to put up with 5 hour delays for saftey reasons.

Sorry to jack this thread but I have to say this in response to your comment (which I think you were implying). There were just as many terrorist threats before 9/11, now as a country we are just more privy to hearing things relating to them, becuase it is on the populus' mind.

I fly out of Pittsburgh and they stole a $5 toy I picked up for my nephew. I complained later to the airline and they told me "sorry, you have to report it within four hours". I wasn't unpacked in four hours.

If they take stuff out my luggage, what stops them from putting stuff in?

It's got absolutely nothing to do with terrorism (God, I hate the way that word is being bandied about these days), but has everything to do with theft and simple dishonesty.

Contract baggage handlers have been stealing stuff from luggage since commercial flights started. I even remember seeing a 60 Minutes show on it (along with "secret video surveillance") over 10 years ago.

Shit happens. Don't leave expensive stuff in your luggage. If stuff is stolen, contact the airline and raise a stink.


Mr Mephisto
(and yes, I travel a lot)

I thought it was considered general knowledge now not to pack wrapped gifts because they may be openend and searched. I too carry anything of value on. And I always check luggage because I don't want to lug it through 2-3-4 airports. I've never had any trouble, my bags have been searched many times. However the way your friends bags were treated was unacceptable. I would have gone straight to the airline while I was still in the airport and demanded to be compensated for the luggage.

So just today I am flying, the feeling of leaving my bags unlocked leaves me very uneasy. WE are suppose to trust hundreds of people with our bags and shit like this happens everyday. A few years ago my bag was "randomly" searched. Well I was one of the lucky few who got to lock their bags. Well the fuckers broke my lock. Fortunately nothing was stolen, but I had to buy a new suitcase. I'm sorry it is just so annoying that there is nothing we can do about it.

Damn, JF, you raise a very interesting thought. You are kind of on to something there. I mean for the most part, those of us who fly and go through the damn process of being "raped" in airport security are not going to get on a plane with a bomb! Nor would the attackers try and go down this avenue either. Yes, I know, Mr. "Bomb-in-the-Shoe" got on, but nowhere, nohow, no time will anything EVER be perfect.

The way these terrorists will get us is not by going through airport security like the rest of us, they will do something like pay off a baggage handler, or become one themselves so they have someone on the inside who can put bombs in your luggage.

Israel has been very strict about planes to and from their country for a long time, and so far it has worked for them. I don't think it's all about elections and I'm glad someone's trying to do something about terrorism. It's a real threat.

However...this thread was more about the people they're hiring to protect me. Even though I'm glad they are doing searches (hey, the fact that they do it alone could discourage people), I don't feel that people who can't respect someone elses personal property are the types of people we can consider reliable when it comes to terrorism, and I find it scary.

I have to move later this month, which means everything I own is either going to be shipped over or brought on a plane with me. There's no way I can bring all that stuff on carry on...and it's kind of making me nervous to think about the chances that something is going to go missing along the way.

Is there any way you can get insurance for that sort of thing? Can you document/photograph the stuff you have first? Maybe some sort of protection will help in any sort of "baggage-handling mishap"

Each airline has a baggage liability program, American Airline, who I fly the most, has a limit of 2500 per passenger, for checked baggage only. (but it's pretty specific about what it doesnt' cover, photographic equioment, computer equipment, jewelry, medicine,antiques, stuff you really shouldn't be checking anyhow. (and lately they've added, damage caused by TSA procedures (ie they broke the lock on your suitcase)

Each airline's website should have it pretty well document, but it's generally for lost baggage, I can't tell whether it includes stuff removed from your bag - because honestly, how do you prove it, but it's worth filing a claim anyhow.

YOu can buy extra baggage insurance at the airport when you check your bag, but you have to ask for it, and there's probably paperwork to fill out.

i am kinda zen about the possibility of meeting an unexpected end, so much in the way of airport "security" seems a joke.
it is to me little more than an irritating, unnecessary show that will stop nothing, change nothing.

i have had most goofball things happen to my luggage at one time or another--things get scrambled, the baggage handlers have to deal with an enormous volume of stuff at a high speed. it stinks when it happens, but it seems to me to be something that is part of flying, the chance you take that your bags will have a different trip than you do.

fortunately, they have never managed to loose my dog when he has flown with me.... **that** i worry about.

to the point of the thread: i do not think it would be the baggage handlers themselves who would designate bags for random inspection or carry out the inspections.

there should be an appeal process for items lifted under the pretext of such inspections.
you should follow out the procedure--write letters, make phonecalls, maybe give information to a local newspaper or two if things get strange.
you should not be having things piulfered under the guise of "security"--except maybe your civil liberties, which are easy to give away and very hard to get back.

You have to love how the big corps protect themselves by basically having small print to counteract the whole thing they are saying they are protecting you from. I mean, come on, they have insurance for baggage but then say in small print "does not apply to baggage, or in anyway does buying this insurance mean you have insurance. HA! Makes me laugh.

Security HA-HA-HA-HA! About a month ago my boss missed his flight in Dallas and asked me to go to the airport in Midland and pick up his luggage. Like a suck ass I said O.K. but what about security? He told me to just walk in act cool and pick up the bags as they came in on the belt, reluctantly I said O.K. but if I call from the front office you gonna have some "spalinin to do!" Went to the airport walked in sat down flight arrived picked up bags( after flipping some over to read name tag) walked out. No questions no looks nothing. Seemed scary to me!

Lately, the only airport that I've seen that actually checks the bag against the ticket stub is Midway in Chicago. As i have experienced myself so many times, many bags look a like, and not too many people actually check the tag to be sure that they are taking their bag. And that's just the honest folk.

There's plenty of dishonest folk too....

McCarrin International in Las Vegas also checks bags with the stub on your ticket envelope. They're also the only airport I've seen which constantly has drug sniffing dogs walk on the baggage carousels and check the bags before people grab them.

Don't mean to sound like an ass, but...
Just started for a new firm. Slightly balding white guy on a business trip midweek. Not a terrorist threat. First trip, they didn't have my credit card or frequent flyer info, so they bought my ticket under someone else's credit card. Well, that means you get an "SSSSS" on your boarding pass, at least with American, so I was in the extra special security line with lots of scruffy looking people, both times. Then plane got cancelled due to weather, and because it was a last minute ticket, American wouldn't transfer it over to ATA (the only other airline with later flights from Midway to DFW that night)
So I went out, talked to a ticketing agent, and bought a one way ticket for that flight, this time with my credit card (which wound up being less than several of the other passengers similarly stuck paid in fees) But guess what? Never flown on ATA before, and a one way ticket is another "SSSSS" mark and another trip to the "little somethin' extra" security line.
Flight delayed, eventually walked in the door of home at about 3:45 am.

I thought they finally stopped tormenting the one-way tickets -- or maybe they stopeed me after the tantrum that I threw on about thew 6th stop and frisk I went thru.

It's actually not the airline that assigns the SSSSSS crap, they all do it, it's part of the "security" procedure. The arguemt that I used on Continental one night (the nigt I was pretty sure I was going to get arrested) If I wwas a terrorist intent on blowing up a plane, wouldn't I book a first class round trip ticket, because I'm going tobe dead anyhow - it's not like I'm going to pay the bill. (and surely you'd book better than ATA)

SSSS are "random" security checks. I'm quite sure they have some profiling involved, but they don't admit it.

Approximately 15% of passengars (or 1 in 7) is meant to be spot checked.

I fly international a lot, this has happened to me twice in four years.

And, for the record, US airport security is only now just beginning to get to the stage where European security was for 20 years or more. Wierd, eh?

Mr Mephisto

PS - throwing any kind of tantrum in an airport security check is not a good idea... :-)

the SSSSS's are put on all one-way tickets -- it's supposed to be "random" it's not....


Tantrums are extremely effective if properly timed and properly executed...

I agree. Though Israel has the best security in the world, outside of Israel, Frankfurt am Main has the best security of any airport I've seen. They had a minor problem with the signiture on my passport and pulled me aside and thoroughly questioned me for about 20 minutes. Then I had to provide a secondary form of Identification to verify that it was indeed my passport. And after all that, they hand searched all my luggage and that was even before I was allowed to check in for my filght.