Reply With QuoteWhat a bunch of muppets - yes something very similar with regards to my Sppedi Pro - the second hand wasn't moving etc.....don't they have naything else more important to check up on?
Catching a flight from London City airport this morning, the security lady picked up my watch (DC56) from my tray just as it came out of the X-ray machine.
Security lady: <Looks at the watch extremely suspiciously and says> What is this?
Me: <Struggling to keep a straight face> A watch
SL: <Turns it over 2-3 times> Why is it so big?
Me: It's really not - only 40mm. You should see some of the larger watches out there
SL: <Holds it to her ear> Why is it not working?
Me: It's not that type of watch - you can't hear it
SL: <Stares at the dial> Why is it not working?
Me: Of course its working
SL: <Doesn't look convinced)
Me: The little seconds hand is moving and if you press the top button for the chrono function, the big seconds hand will start to move. <I press the button>
SL: <Not looking convinced, turns to her colleague> Can you check this for me?
<He stares at it, then at me, then at the watch again>
Security colleague: Why is it so heavy?
Me: Because it's very expensive
That satisfies them and I'm allowed to proceed!
Anyone else have a similar experience?
What a bunch of muppets - yes something very similar with regards to my Sppedi Pro - the second hand wasn't moving etc.....don't they have naything else more important to check up on?
TGH, I was more amused than upset. Now if I getting late for my flight, it might have been different :lol:
I love the way they were so concerned yet at the thought that its very expensive everythings ok with the world :mrgreen:
At least they didnt want to take it apart :shock:
Put THIS on your laptop next time it gets scanned.. :blackeye:
LOL I like it, I can only imagine how long in security your wait would be if you did. Did anyone else wait to see what happened at 0.
My Leica IIIc received the same sort of treatment coming back from Sardinia - had to open it, demonstrate that the lenses were lenses, try to explain what the external viewfinder was for etc. In fairness, I suppose it wouldn't necessarily look much like a camera to anyone under 25.
Funnily enough something similar happened to me the very first time I flew through City which would have been about 1991. I was wearing a pocket watch and they spent 5 minutes looking at that while not batting an eyelid at the laptop and various bits of electronics I had with me. Last year I must have gone through Zürich about 20 times with at least 4 watches in the bag and not an eyebrow raised.
I suppose the worrying thing is that these f@%kwits are supposed to be the last line of defence......
A bit OT but has anyone flown in/out of Heathrow and if so, do they have the fullbody x-rays there ?
How times have changed. I can remember flying over to Belfast some years ago, and on putting my loose change keys etc on the tray I saw that it also included my Swiss army knife... the REALLY big one. The guys face was a picture. I said something to the effect that it was amazingly useful for all sorts of things, he basically agreed and gave it all back to me.
I think you'd struggle taking a toothpick now.
Nice Leica by the way...
:lol: :lol:
Great answer! :lol: :lol: :lol:Originally Posted by Ethos
"I looked with pity not untinged with scorn upon these trivial-minded passers-by"
A couple of years ago I had a similar issue carrying a fountain pen in my hand luggage. When asked "What is this?" they didn't beleive it was a pen- i had to disassemble it for them.
This was in the US where airport security is entirely composed of fat men with guns and I doubt jocular replies would be taken well.
last time i flew back from india i was carrying 3 kilos of coffee beans with me and had to explain to the customs woman what coffee beans were
Good luck everybody. Have a good one.
Maybe the Terrorists have started wearing self igniting exploding heavy watches on thier Cocks ?
I bought a few bottles of hot sauce back from New Orleans a few years ago........all neatly packed in a sandwich box which was neatly packed in my rucksack which was neatly surrounded by some little speakers,a mobile charger and other suspicious looking oddments. On reflection it probably wasn't the best way to pack them all!
Anyhow,i spent about 20 minutes standing next to a fat bloke in sunglasses toting a large gun whilst a slightly deranged looking dog sniffed my bag....followed by a fat bloke in sunglasses toting a large sidearm waving a wand thing around my bag.
Eventually they accepted i wasn't carrying a massive bomb and waved me onto the 'plane.
Course they never actually looked into the bag :roll:
:D :D :D
I once had some beef jerky confiscated by airport security in Mexico City- they never said why, but they did look quite hungry.
I once tried arguing at checking that it was OK that my hand luggage was a bit heavy because I am quite thin. Worth a shot - I thought - but the (not so thin) person behind the counter was very happy with my argument to say the least.
Reminds me of the (British?) girl who 'joked' she had a bomb in her lugage and was arrested....
Oh, how I hate airports...
I'm down with that :)
Used to fly for a "living", always via LHR. The misery was unbounded. Put me off travel until the end of my days. Now I go by car or train if at all possible - at least no-one asks me to get partially undressed en route.
...but what do I know; I don't even like watches!
I took my Graflex New Century Graphics (folding, oldish, press style camera) to the US. That the rolls of 120 film were actually rolls of exposed film was difficult to get across. Even more difficult was idea that there were sheets of film in a box (which I didn't want exposed/exposed again), and more sheets of film in little wooden holders (but still way too big for 35mm film). The light meter got some attention as well.
Best wishes,
Bob
I suppose one day - a terrorist will have an explosive in a camera or a watch - and I expect that that camera or watch will look like a - camera or watch. Funny story yes - but I think it is OK they check such devises, as they check laptops - Either they do the job well, or drop it, and take the risk just. I am pro security, and accept that sometimes it appears a bit silly - thats just it
Not too long ago a plane what nearly brought to explosion over Boston - and a bit further back, explosives were in a shoe. Give some room for mistakes. Laugh but respect
br
I agree, in part. That's why when the security people said that they really needed to open the box of exposed film, I said I would rather they not as it would ruin the film, but if they thought it absolutely necessary, they should go ahead. It turns out that they called over a supervisor and did another kind of non-invasive check.
Of course, I also thought that this strategy would probably be more effective in my getting what I wanted. :)
Best wishes,
Bob
i got stopped in birmingham with 55 pairs of sneakers from the usa
my case was 90 kilos :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
they asked why so many shoes and told them i was a collector
of traniners you should have seen the faces :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
they thought i was mad well i am :lol: :lol:
It's beautiful. I've not held a Leika before. Does the lens press back into the case when not in use? I have an old Rollei compact with that feature. It's like the Rolleiflex but the winder's at the bottom.My Leica IIIc received the same sort of treatment coming back from Sardinia - had to open it, demonstrate that the lenses were lenses, try to explain what the external viewfinder was for etc. In fairness, I suppose it wouldn't necessarily look much like a camera to anyone under 25.
One of the best rolls of film I ever put through it was infra red and it showed that the doors of my dad's Ford Escort Mk II were a different shade of red because the white it actually appeared as was brighter than the 'grey-white' bodywork.
Yes yes yes - that Leica - quality simply is so obvious - stunning
br
Funny iv just come across this thread because iv just started working at an airport (and yes i will be searching you should you cross my path!).
As you know airport security is no laughing matter and having been through the training, iv seen the lot!
Theres a reason for the extra security etc....
Next time I need an excuse to miss a flight and not travel, I'm wearing the forum favorite: a U Boat. :lol: :lol:
Or
Fu$$ing morons! And to think, our security is in their hands.
Caution, even paranoia, is one thing on the part of 'security professionals'. But outright stupidity and ignorance, like this, is both dangerous and counter-productive.
If you believe the propaganda there is certain a reason for the extra security. The propaganda may even be partialy true.
However, the OP's experience was not "extra security"; it was merely idiocy and/or ignorance.
Not sure I'll buy that... If a terrorist wants to get something (bomb etc) on the plane I'm sure it could be done if with all the scanners and all the "harassment" of the customers.
Call me paranoid or whatever but there hadn't been an attack against an airplane in a really long time before the guy flying from Amsterdam to the US.
2 weeks before I read about the new body-scanners in the newspaper, consensus was that it was bad for the personal integrity etc. Fast forward 2 weeks, it's in the newspapers that every major airport will be looking in to having the new scanners installed, and newspapers (here anyway, don't know how it is over there) are all in agreement that it's the only way to go.
What will the next step be ?
I'm sure that if a terror-group make good enough plans and get some insiders in the place, they could take down a nuclear power-plant or such, maybe it's best if we have some chip in us that'll let the proper agency know where we are all the time, or put up cameras everywhere.
Again, this might sound paranoid to you guys but we're coming closer and closer to such fiction as 1984 or Vendetta or such.
Well said.
The cameras are already there. They make NO difference to the level crime, but they do let us watch the crime as it happened.
<1984>
Agree about the chip. If you've got nothing to hide, you've nothing to fear, right? We know what's good for you.
</1984>
Already there.Again, this might sound paranoid to you guys but we're coming closer and closer to such fiction as 1984 or Vendetta or such.
Agree that the OP's experience with the watch was the result of nosiness and ignorance, not security. Also, the bomber will always get through so I hope the authorities feel good about making little old ladies empty their belongings and get half-undressed every time they want to fly.
...but what do I know; I don't even like watches!
To be honest, your post gives a bit of the flavour of the sort of behaviour that grinds my gears. If someone is going to partially strip me, fondle me and root through my luggage, I'd appreciate it if they could be reasonably civil about it and remember who is in charge and paying the bills.
And by the way - airport security is more than a laughing matter; it's a joke. A pointless, irritating ritual that achieves nothing other than to demean and irritate the passenger.
Seems eminently sensible to me. :)
I don't think it's pointless nor that it achieves nothing. My take on it is that a balance has to be struck between no security and being 100% thorough. I think we'd all agree no security is not an option, but also 100% would be too inconvenient for us, hence the randomness of spot checking as a means of deterrent for would-be bombers.
It's a pain to go through, as a frequent flyer I get just as frustrated at times, the randomness has both picked me up on pointless items and missed more relevent ones. As an example, I've done a number of flights recently with two of the items in this pic in hand luggage, both containing blades and never have they been picked upon:
A couple of months ago I went through at least 4 airports with a fully-loaded swiss army knife in my hand-luggage (genuine mistake on my part), but perhaps the most extreme example is this in my suitcase (bottle shown for size comparison):
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
:idea:
It is something completely different.
The AA's are primairily worried about customers fééling insecure as that will cost them.
What the AA's say is law for everybody outside of the stated too mainly because of insurance. If not according to AA requirements the airport has not done everything it should.
I was harassed on Miami airport back in 2000 because I have a fair bit of titanium inside. That was simply unacceptable and I do not want to know how things have worsened since 911.
Just boycot anything US and flying.
Am trying (you don't know what you don't knw) to do that since Gulf War 1 and it feels pretty good.
Neither do I. But why the spot-checks on white, British parents being hassled by a couple of snotty rug-rats whining about not being allowed an Sunny D whilst trying to go to the seaside? Is it because they haven't got the balls, the backbone to do profiling?
Am reminded of the lyrics to a PSB song:
If you've done nothing wrong,
You've nothing to fear
If you've something to hide
You shouldn't even be here
Long live us, the persuaded we,
Integral, collectively,
To The Project
It's brand new
Concieved solely
To protect you...
...but what do I know; I don't even like watches!
Absolutely.
Flying from Jersey to Bristol last year in front of me was a 89yr old lady that had been to visit her sister.The jobsworth numbnuts insisted on her removing her shoes and then giving her clothes and handbag a thorough going over despite the fact she could barely stand unaided.When I moved to complain I was informed that I'd be considered a 'risk' to passenger safety.
Utter,utter mongtards.
I always buy a cheap digital whilst i'm away, for fear that if I take a decent watch one the numpties doing the security will in some way ding it or break it........Anyway, airport security staff are in most cases pretty good, but unfortunately they are seemingly stating to employ more jobsworths.
I once had a cigar lighter confiscated by Virgin Atlantic. They told me the Captain wouldn't permit me to board the aircraft with a flame thrower :roll:
After arguing with them agreed to keep it at Heathrow for me until I returned.
Ralphy, I take it from your post that you travel a lot for your profession, and from your last image I take it that your profession is: actual terrorist.I don't think it's pointless nor that it achieves nothing. My take on it is that a balance has to be struck between no security and being 100% thorough. I think we'd all agree no security is not an option, but also 100% would be too inconvenient for us, hence the randomness of spot checking as a means of deterrent for would-be bombers.
It's a pain to go through, as a frequent flyer I get just as frustrated at times, the randomness has both picked me up on pointless items and missed more relevent ones. As an example, I've done a number of flights recently with two of the items in this pic in hand luggage, both containing blades and never have they been picked upon:
A couple of months ago I went through at least 4 airports with a fully-loaded swiss army knife in my hand-luggage (genuine mistake on my part), but perhaps the most extreme example is this in my suitcase (bottle shown for size comparison):
R
Welcome aboard! :)
BG
:D :D It's actually a discharged mortar I picked up in the desert, but you'd think it would cause some interest whilst passing through the scanner? Not a bit, despite the klaxon going off.
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Yes that was OP's experience. Could be different if you hear it from them. They probably thought "what an idiot" when the answer to why it was so heave was, that it was because it was expensive"If you believe the propaganda there is certain a reason for the extra security. The propaganda may even be partialy true.
However, the OP's experience was not "extra security"; it was merely idiocy and/or ignorance.
They are there all day, and many people might even think that the value of their watch can be felt - as it is heavy duty - and staff could either have gotten angry with the answer, and thrown him out of the line, or - at that point, felt convinced it was a watch and nothing but that, and let him through with their eyes rolling.
I have seen so many people, also trying to be funny in the security lines - and think that staff there are stupid - but it can go both ways
(and yes staff may have been stupid too, that is a possibility - I have just seen to much just to buy any story)
br
I wouldn't mind the checks if I had any sense that they were being carried out intelligently. My wife recently giot glared at and sent back though scanners because she had a belt on - it basically consisted of a piece of string but because it was around her waist it had to come off...
most amusement i had at airport security was the guy who didn't believe that my fenix p2d q5 was a torch, i'd set it on turbo mode previously, anyway, he shone in straight into his eyes, and jumped back about a foot! i tried to make out iwas still getting the rest of my keys etc out of the tray but had a good laugh round the corner
also had a couple of incidents with a black extendable poster tube in the us but thats another story.
steve
Many knives are made so that they are integrated in the belt - either simply inside the belt, or more common - as part of the buckle. Therefore many securities have the rule - "belts of" - and other "shoes of". The worrying thing, if anything, is that they are not the same world-wide - but it also has to do with certain destinations, and each country is allowed each own rules..
Often it will be made clear with big signs if belts and shoes has to come off - and generally laptops have to go separately, and also there, the methods are not the same. Some places just scan them, others, like Germany, have sniffing machines like vacuum cleaners which can sniff explosives, and other places you need to switch them on. Anyway, it would be easier if all places had the same rules, but different countries different laws and regulations, and each place, anyway has there own strict rules to be followed.
A narrow belt - string belt, can hide a cheese-cutter string to take around the head of the stewardess. The setting is so that we can walk through with small bits of metal (buttons and so), but the belt in the X-ray - if with a cutter string, is detected immediately
If we all read the signs while we are in line and comply, empty pockets, place fluids and laptops separately and just do as told, with as little extra communication as possible, things goes much faster for all the next in line.
I pass security on average 4 times a week, and I often look at people who needs to comment and re-inquire every little thing they are being asked, delaying us all.
Its fair to laugh a little afterwards, but often, there are better reasons than we can believe.
br
It must be a pretty boring job I'd have thought, some of them are fine & you can have a smile with, other's really don't have much to offer by way of 'customer experience'.
But the very worst of them are still light-years better than their Sudanese equivalents. :shock:
"Got any offensive weapons on you, sir?"
"Err, no!"
"Best be taking this machete then, some very bad men on your flight today."
R
Ignorance breeds Fear. Fear breeds Hatred. Hatred breeds Ignorance. Break the chain.
Agree - not so surprising though
:lol: :lol: :lol: needed - have a great weekend
Not a lot you can say to that one... :)
Posting Permissions
