[foreverfree]

bump

[Bon mots]

I had a similar experience in Atlanta and again in New York. Just search the stinking Muslims, leave the rest of us alone already.

[A_perfect_lady]

This is too bad, and I refuse to fly anymore. But Mike sounds a bit stupid. You really don't leave your bag and wander off like that. And I suspect he's leaving out a few smart-ass remarks of his own in the retelling of this story.

[Labyrinthos]

Mr. Masterson is obviously an idiot and shouldn't be entrusted with an airline ticket.

[Alouette]

Well, last February I was traveling to New York. I am a redheaded, middle-aged Orthodox Jew. I got pulled out of line for the random "special treatment." Meanwhile, while they were going through the linings of my shoes and the inside band of my hat and the pockets of my overcoat and jacket, several gentlemen of the Mohammedan persuasion, one of whom was carrying a large cane and the other, a young gent in his 20's wearing a bulging backpack, were obsequiously salaamed on through the boarding gate.

I asked the security professional who was thoroughly inspecting my person, why these guys were not being treated as thoroughly as myself. They gave me the fisheye and said, "So you think they should be?" At that point I figured that if I said HELL YES I would miss my plane so I just said, "it might be a good idea" and they let me board just as the jetway was being unlatched for takeoff.

[PackerBoy]

Lessons:

1. Check your bags before you go to the airport so that you can be sure to remove any "dangerous cargo". If you fail to do so, it will delay you.

2. Don't be a smart aleck at the security checkpoint in airports and they will leave you alone.

3. Never leave a bag unattended in the airport, not even to step away to get coffee.

4. Whatever joke or wisecrack you have just got to share with the security people, they have already heard it 100 times and are no longer amused.

Jeez, this guy seems kinda jerky to me, even if the security guys did go overboard (especially keeping his ticket, which I find completely unacceptable under any circumstances).

[CyberSpartacus]

Airport security did not stop 9-11, nor will the obsessive and oppresive security measures now in place. I refuse to fly until the government stops being politically correct, enforces our borders against illegal entry, and tries traitors for treason.

[zoen]

Profiling would change alot of this. All you have to do is look for arab islamic muslims. We all know this.

I wont be flying again probably for a very long time. Say good by to my money

[January24th]

ping!

[Noachian]

I stopped flying when the TSA jackboots took over the airports. Flying use to be fun, but now it's an unpleasant experience, third world, I can do withhout.

No way I'm going through the hassle factor. It may take longer to drive but I can carry whatever I want, and I don't have to undress for some repressed Gestapo wanna-be.

I can understand the need for security, but it's being overdone. If a terrorist wants to bring down a plane he'll find a way, and it won't be by going through the passenger gates.

[demsux]

I drive anywhere that takes 1 1/2 day or less.

Bad experience with the morons at Logan...

[spald]

I too want to know just how many Americans HAVE hijacked airplanes.

[two23]

Wait till they start taking the diapers off babies to check their bottoms...FoxNewsChannel mentioned this the other day before they ran the report of all persons having to walk through "security" barefoot.
Anyone parents out there want the airport carnival workers looking at their babies bottoms??? I sure as H--ll wouldn't.

By the way...we all may want to buy stock in foot fungus cream & spray companies. In the FNC report the whole line of people were shoe and sock-less all tramping on the same floor. YUK.
We have already delcared that flying ANYWHERE is no longer an option for us.

[Hinoki Cypress]

Reason #3557 why I don't fly anymore.

[chiefqc]

Our goverment has created another bunch of mindless, moronic, ego driven little tin gods.

[colorado tanker]

I got the "extra" screening a few months ago as we were boarding for a family vacation. I guess to the TSA brain trust I looked like the terrorist who would take a wife and four kids down with him. Made the plane just fine, but one of those yahoos gave me the nastiest cold I've had in years.

[Daus]

Just had to share this one...

I was flying through Cincinatti a few months back and the woman two places in front of me in the line to go through security apparently had 1 too many carry on items. The TSA guard at the initial 'show me your ticket and ID' stand could NOT abide by this and told her she couldn't proceed with that many items.

She protested and generally looked panicked, the solution that the TSA agent came up with is that she should give her drafting tube to the complete stranger who was behind her in line (who didn't have any carry on's and would not violate the limit), and that she should carry it through security and give it back to her at the end.

As I watched, stunned, they actually agreed to this and moved on. Somewhere down deep I was hoping for the drafting tube to be filled with either cocaine or pastic explosives, just to see that second woman try and talk herself out of that one... :)

[takenoprisoner]

My 82 year mother in law in a wheel chair was scrutinized beyond reason at Houston. She told me she was touched (by a female) places "no one should be allowed to touch." From her point of view, she was molested.

Terrorists win when freedoms are forfeited. Terrorists win when our grandmothers are molested at our airports in the holy name of "national (in)security" courtesy of the TSA...

[Calvin Locke]

Some 1980s stories: A 3/4" or so blunt probe (inductive amplifier) was considered dangerous. Fortunately, it was
screwed on, and could easily be removed.

A CSR told me some guy tried to bring a used chain saw on as carry on. The would-be passenger couldn't understand either
the mace potential, or the dangers of gasoline/oil fumes.

[Pentagram]

Wow. I knew it was bad, but I had no idea.