Hi All,

With the new tighter security at airports, I was wondering if any of you traveling via airlines has encountered any security hassle/problems?

With upcoming conventions, I'm simply curious about any experiences, good or bad you have in trying to get from Point A to Point B.

With the new tighter security screening & personal searches, will it cause to alter any of your travel plans?

It really bothers me that recent announcement that the screeers requirements will remain unchanged, seems to me that is leaving the basic problem status quo.

Personally, attending fan conventions is something that I think I'll put off unless I decide to drive!

lasermn

It really bothers me that recent announcement that the screeers requirements will remain unchanged, seems to me that is leaving the basic problem status quo.

I agree. There really need to be some serious changes.

But then, I was afraid to fly before all of this happened!

My in-laws have been traveling around a lot lately and say they haven't noticed a lot of difference in what to expect. They still get to the airports early, but unless it's a very busy airport, they say that isn't even all that necessary. shrug I was really hoping there would have been more serious procedure changes by this time.

One very important change that I think has occurred is the mind set of the passengers and crew. Everyone is much more ready to be able to be a part of the solution, but not the problem. I've been thrilled to see so few overreactions and so many plans of action. It's about time.

Shhh,
Whisper

Shhh,
Whisper

Geoffrey Palmer (Whisper will remember this) the British actor and his wife were on one of the day tours I did in New Zealand. And he said they were in Seattle on September 11 and had to delay flying to LAX for several days afterwards. They both said they were shocked to find that in LAX the security wasn't at all beefed up - in fact it was WORSE than when they had arrived. Pretty sobering.

Around the world though, airports are tightening up. When I went to NZ I had to get there an extra hour early, and they searched EVERYTHING on the way through to the gates. Any sharp objects were confiscated. We now have air marshalls on Australian o/s flights. Don't THINK we do on internal flights. I might find out about that when I go to Perth in four weeks though.

Whisper, I'm with you - reallyreally hate flying and fear it muchly, and always have.

WI to Upstate NY (and back) for X-mas I noticed moderately beefed-up security. It seemed about the right level to me, personally. Noticable but not too intrusive. Note that the WI airport was small and the NY airport was tiny

1st thing I noticed... I'm getting old. There were children <teeheehee> walking around in camoflage with really big guns. To clarify, they were 'men' and 'women' in the armed forces.

When I left WI, the x-ray/metal detector line was longer and slower than in previous years... not horribly so but noticable. My coat had to come off and go through x-ray rather than the metal detector. On my keychain, I have a flashlight smaller than a tube of lipstick. I was asked what it was and then to demonstrate it. Wouldn't you know the battery was dead <hehehehe>! So I unscrewed it so they could see the single, dead AA battery and that there was really nothing else to the thing. They let me go... and it really didn't take all that long.

It used to be that they just checked your ID when you checked in... now they check in the x-ray/metal detector line too and again when I handed over the ticket for boarding.

There were military kids at the NY airport too. I took a twin propellor plane into that airport... which only has two gates... and from what my dad said, I don't think commercial jets even fly in there anymore! So I was rather surprised by the military presence.

On the negative side, on the way back I threw my flashlight in a suitcase to avoid that problem. BUT, I had a laptop X-mas present with me. The sign said to take computers out of carry-on bags so I pulled it out of my large carry-on, still in it's case, and declared it to be a laptop. The x-ray guy said that's fine and took it without me having to open up the carrying case and show it to him. It's certainly more convenient, but I kinda thought they should check that out more <shrug>. Talking to my car club friends, it sounds like it's pretty SOP not to investigate laptops overmuch.

And I think it was at my Pittsburg stop on the way back that someone in front of me in the boarding line was pulled aside for a random screening.

Speaking as someone who was never afraid to fly, and wasn't concerned about it when talking to my Mom the weekend after Sept 11 when we discussed X-mas plans... I thought, overall, at these smaller airports, security measures seemed to be judiciously enhanced... enough to be apparent but not so much as to be burdensome.

'course, that's JMHO and I imagine the experience is gonna vary from airport to airport.
Aquillea

When I went from KCI (kansas) to Georgia's Hartfelt's Airport I had no trouble or problems....just had to show my ID whenever I left the gate area to go to the bathroom! But I also scheduled my flight for the morning so I would miss most of the rush....also made sure I was there with 2 to 3 hours to spare...........

NOW....coming home was another thing.....we took a later flight home to give us more time with Dan...SOOOOOOOO......we had to wait in line for AT LEAST 30 minutes just to GET THRU the screeners/scanners to get to the gate....but it was worth it....about 2 to 4 weeks after getting home...they closed the Georgia airport 'cuz of the guy who ran past security to get the camera he forgot on the turnstile....(Hartfelts in Georgia is also the busiest in the US!!!)

Dan didn't have any trouble either...but of course he was in uniform.....he did tell me that his plane was late leaving from Columbus 'cuz there where people missing who were running late and stuck in the security line.......

I'd still fly if given the choice tho'.....but then.....I'm the crazy one in the family!!! (Just ask Wike!! LOL)

'Drea

Do you have time to read a really long post? too late, here goes.

Since 9/11 i've been on 3 airplane trips, some multipart.

Trip 1: Austin to Phoenix and back.

Arrived way early to Austin airport. No luggage to check, no check in needed.

Got to security, it took a good 15 minutes to get my high speed film handchecked. Going thru the xray would have fogged it. They wanted me to put it in my checked luggage - they said they don't hand check. I explained the FAA rules once again, and the fact that not only did I not have checked luggage, the scanner there would fog any speed film! Finally, they handchecked the film. Then patted me down. Then told me "You need to go digital"

The rest was easy - show ID at gate, get on plane.

Leaving Phoenix - no problem getting film hand checked, but everyone in line had to put their boots thru the security xray. So me'n 40 cowboys walked around in our socks. BTW... got patted down there too. Moved the gate - walked a zillion miles, showed id at gate got on plane.

Trip 2: Austin to LA to Fiji to Sydney to Fiji To LA to Austin....

I decided not to bring film that needed hand checking. I got patted down in Austin.
I got patted down in LA
I don't remember much about the first trip thru Fiji, it was mostly an early morning gassup for the plane. We did show id several times.

Coming into Sydney - bags xrayed and opened and inspected.

Leaving Sydney. They made me check my backpack - said it was too heavy. So I yanked needed stuff out of it and checked it. Took daypack and camera bag. Usual xrays and id check, got patted down. As we got near the gate, hand inspection of all carryons, patdown.

Got to Fiji, spent a couple of restful days. Go to airport in Fiji. They're xraying everything coming in the front door - before you get to checkin. They pulled my Hunter (they seemed to pull everyone that wasn't very Anglo looking) for a complete hand inspection of all his checked and carryon. I followed him over and once they determined we were together, I got hand inspected too. She had a cow about my 16 AA batteries, dunno why. Made me check 'em. Made a mess of my luggage looking for tweezers and nail clippers - missed disposable razor. We made it thru checkin, then had to go thru regular security. ID check, I got patted down. We get to gate. I collapse. We get called to plane. Before we get on plane, they handcheck all our carryons. Then, I got a full body scan (got pulled out of line for that) and then patted down. Got on plane. collapsed.

Got to LA. Had to go from International to Domestic terminal. Went thru security. Got patted down. Showed id left and right. Got on plane.

Trip 3:

Austin to Ft Lauderdale.
Usual in Austin, full pat down. They went thru my backpack too. Thry didn't like my batteries either.

Ft Lauderdale to Austin:

Put my batteries in camera bag so my back pack doesn't get hand checked. I get patted down. Camera bag goes through the sniffer ...

All in all, I think I've been patted down entirely too much by people that don't look like Ares or Tyr. And I'm tired of picking up my shirt to show that I'm not hiding anything around my waist..... except dinner

And it doesn't matter if I take my boots off or not, they always pick me for the patdown

Guess I look like a really dangerious character, huh?

'shana

They have a random seacrh thing going on and it happens when you purcshase your ticket.

My Brother just came in from Alaska, but he had purchased his ticekt back in late August. Anyway it apparently has some kind of mark on it (that he has yet to locate) that alerts the baggage people tight away that he is to be put through a full and I mean full inspection.

They physically went through every bag, carry on as well as the ones going in the luggage department. They had him take his shoes off, they ran through his hair while they wore a rubber glove , they inspected the belt buckel plus the usual of a the metal detector over the whole body while he stood with his arms outstreched.

And it all happens randomely, it could be anyone. I think that is going a litttle far, but better to be safe than sorry.

But this is happening at every check point. So it was in Alaskas, and Missouri, he's on his way to Fla on Sat so it will happen here in Phila and in Fla on his way back.

So you might want to leave a bit earlier, things are getting very tight.

Red

Kendaa, I remember that story. That really scared me!

Aquillea, I totally agree with you about the laptop thing. What's to say it's really a laptop? What's to say it's not a nicely packaged bomb or drugs? That's really scary. I hope they change that soon!

'Drea, I wonder if just anyone can put on a uniform and not be bothered with... That's another worry!

Poor {{{{{{{{{'Shana!!!}}}}}}}}}!! I think at some point they owe you an Ares look-alike! LOL! AND, I think it's time for you to rest! LOL! btw -- I never knew high speed film was such a pain. I can just see you, you're so soft spoken and sweet. I wonder how they dealt with being told what to do by you?! I know Smithy was totally flabbergasted!!

Stormie, that really bites! I don't know how many people would put up with that!! I'm all for beefed up, but REALLY!

All in all, it sounds as if they are beefing up security, which I'm happy about, but it sounds as if there are still some holes that need to be filled.

Thanks to everyone for their stories! I hope there are more!

Thanks to Lasermn for this thread!

Shhh,
Whisper

I'd like to thank everyone that took the time to detail some lengthy experiences.

I'm sure there will be many, many more stories added to this thread, I've read all of them to this point <g>

Personally, I really don't like the camera's in the parking lot that are there solely for the purpose of capturing the license plate numbers of all vehicles.

And it seems intrusive to me for some 'face recognition' cameras, heaven forbid your face should be similar in appearance to someone 'wanted'.

It is my understand some women are getting fed up with the pat downs which include breast feeling.

Going back to my main concern is that the security screeners themselves are essentially the same calibre of people as before September 11th. And I rather imagine their low pay scale is still the same & that turnover will continue to be 250% annually at most airports

lasermn

If you don't need an underwire don't wear one to the airport..... it will set off the handheld scanner. And then the pat down can get real dicey. 'nuff said.

'shana

Yesterday....post New Years and Fiesta Bowl...what a freaking NIGHTMARE...

And the guy at security? He looked and sounded like his IQ was about 60. He dropped my purse and made me take off my boots (which I'd breezed through SJ with). Slow,slow, slow....RUDE....just unbelievable.

On the bright side I've also been to Phoenix when it's not so busy and to Oakland and SJ post 9-11 and no problems.

So thus far I'd say 3 of 4 have been okay.

But honestly I'd think that a beefed up security would require SMART personnel not just "beefy" personnel.

What a nightmare. I wanted to slap him really I did, it's the closest I've ever come to being confrontational with one of those people.

Good grief, I wouldn't have been having a cow, I'd have been having a whole HERD by the time they were done! Unbelievable! Must be that Discord's Evil Twin look, huh? LOL! I'm with Whisper - I think you DESERVE an Ares or Tyr lookalike next time!!!!

Thanks for the tip about underwires!!

High speed film - well, I really hate big carry ons because I don't like squeezing them into overheads so the last few trips I had the camera with me but the spare lenses and film were in the checked. I got one of those film bags (from Travel Smith) and so far high speed film has survived both checked and carryon x-rays in that. I've always been successful with getting hand inspections in the US, but when a guy in Rome with a big dog and an Uzi told me to put my film through the x-ray, I didn't argue....Thank goodness it was the first x-ray for the film and I think 400 was the highest speed in the bag. I use 800 at cons and am glad that hasn't been x-rayed!


Haven't flown since last June and I'm not looking forward to the hassles, but driving takes too long and is impractical over the Atlantic...

Themis

Haven't flown since last June and I'm not looking forward to the hassles, but driving takes too long and is impractical over the Atlantic...

I LOVE this line!!! LOL!!!

{{{{{{{Themis}}}}}}}}

Shhh,
Whisper

With a couple of big conventions coming up in January & February in California, I'm certain there will be a lot more replies to this post with y'all flying all over the place <g>

lasermn

He still had to go thru security and all that....they just had their own line (they were coming out of a basetown) But I agree with you on the uniform thing....we talked about that why we were waiting for his plane to leave Thursday....I don't know about other town/cities....but here in KC there are at least 2 shops that I know of where you can purchase any and everything military at....and I saw at least 3 or 4 while down in Georgia.....I think since the Feds and who's not realized these 'evil-ones' as Wubba calls 'em can steal pilots uniforms...what's to keep them from buying/stealing military uniforms!!!!

'Drea

I mean, if *we've* thought of this, surely *they've* thought of this!

It's very scary.

I also recently heard that fewer military personel will be attending airports starting almost immediately. I don't know exactly why, but I really don't think this is the time for such actions. Actually, I'd be okay with this if they'd put private sector security in. They just need something or someone !

Shhh,
Whisper

Lasermn, that was quite a dive you did in the Gutter Diving Contest! You must be worn OUT !

Regarding the crash of a plane into a building a couple of days ago:

Small aircraft do not have to file flight plans, their baggage is not routinely checked, and they can be used to spread chemical or biological weapons.

And here are the reported details:
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/1/7/205035.shtml

Does anyone believe the supposed security measures are anything but eyewash?

Do not check your film on overseas flights. It will be ruined. They use much larger does of xray on checked baggage than they do on carry on. The lead xray bags won't help, and the ones I've seen actually say that they are for carryon film only.

Domestic flights on the other hand, do a 'random' baggage xray, which means you've been lucky so far.

International flights will have every bag xrayed at some arport along the way.

Have a great trip ... and btw... I wound up getting 2 lenses for Chanukkah!

I sure hope to see as many of ya'll as possible in Tulsa this year! (The redheads with cameras clu needs a reunion)

'shana

just saw this. Guess it coulda been worse, huh?

http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/01/08/rec.attacks.searchme.ap/index.html

'shana

Far worse. And these very same guys would be the first to be up and shouting if, God forbid, something similar happened in the future, and the security people HADN'T been doing their jobs.

Actually I haven't seen these in stores. Go to travelsmith.com under luggage & accessories. I seem to remember when I bought mine it said safe for checked high speed film, but you could call their 800 # to check it out. Anyway, so far, so good!

I saw some at Fry's ... we got one of the ones for 800 speed film (Hakuba) it holds 21 rolls of film but says for carryon only. My Hunter decided he needed it. (He got a camera for Christmas, so that I won't keep hearing "Oh! Take a picture of this!" or "Did you get that picture?") Of course his camera makes a lovely backup for mine ...

I also saw some bags there for highspeed film, $30 and holds maybe 7 rolls of film....

I'll check TravelSmith...

and agreed Kendaa ...

'shana