Don't pack food, don't lock bags, fliers told

Chicago Tribune ^ | 12/20/02 | Jon Hilkevitch and Crystal Yednak

[Slings and Arrows]

Don't pack food, don't lock bags, fliers told

By Jon Hilkevitch and Crystal Yednak

Tribune staff reporters

December 20, 2002

Preparing the public for yet another big change in air travel, the government asked passengers Thursday to stop packing certain kinds of items in checked bags, including, for example, Christmas fruitcakes.

High-tech bomb-detection devices might mistake them for explosives.

Just in time for the holidays--and with the Dec. 31 deadline to screen 100 percent of checked baggage--aviation security officials want travelers to know that things like chocolate bars, wheels of cheese and books can trigger a hand-inspection of luggage.

[Eala]

I like this "hand-inspection" element. Do you suppose the screeners will put on new gloves every single time they open another bag?

Think about the dirty laundry they're be putting their hands on, and all the other things like lice that might be present in that laundry. And lucky you, your bag is the next one they stick their hands in.

[Eala]

the government asked passengers Thursday to stop packing ...Christmas fruitcakes.

"But sir, this isn't a Christmas fruitcake, it's a Kwanzaa fruitcake!"

[Eala]

This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of from these idiots. OK, put zip ties on your luggage, what if you need to get inside once you get your bags at the other end? Open it with the pocket knife/scissors etc. that YOU CAN'T CARRY WITH YOU ON THE PLANE??? I guess we will have to have Federal zip tie cutters at airports now too.

Excellent point!

Idiots!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

...including, for example, Christmas fruitcakes.

High-tech bomb-detection devices might mistake them for explosives.

This one may be understandable because nobody would ever identify fruitcakes as food.

[Deguello]

Shoplifting indeed!

This will be the end of hunters packing their long arms. If it cannot be locked/chained and then marked with security tape, then one can cancell all flights for big game hunts. Do not expect your legally packed handguns to survive either.

[Doomonyou]

This will be the end of hunters packing their long arms. If it cannot be locked/chained and then marked with security tape, then one can cancell all flights for big game hunts. Do not expect your legally packed handguns to survive either.

Well, I guess we'll just have to open carry on the planes.

[Veggie Todd]

Looks like I'll be sending everything ahead on UPS before my trip.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Y2k Fruitcake and You

Written in a state of somnambulambic inebriation.

[Wright is right!]

"Just one more reason not to fly unless I absolutely, positively, have too. From here in Southwest Montana, it really isn't that bad of a drive to the Left coast and Nevada."

Out in the driveway is OUR response to the airport farce - a 35-foot motorhome. We can go anywhere we like in the states, we can take our dogs, I can have a smoke if I like, and the kitchen is stocked with oodles of very sharp knives. Not only that, but you get to see the scenery and meet some nice people along the way.

Michael

[freepatriot32]

you know what iwas thinking if you are traveling withing say 400-500 miles since you haveto show up 2 hours before your flight leaves to get through security plus the goverment mandated sexual assault you gotta go through by horny feds that cant get to 2cd base with a willing women and some small children outside an airport terminal you would get there faster if you took amtrack and it would be about 1/2 the cost thats what ive been doing since 9/11 and havent run into the new gestapo agents in a train station yet its somethig for all freepers to think about and what i also do is send a letter to every major airline i use to fly telling them exactly why they lostmy business and how much i use to spend on their airlines per year

[Dick Bachert]

[Mulder]

Yet another reason why I refuse to fly.

I can simply drive and pack whatever I please, without some third-worlder trolling through my private property.