Things that might delay you at security

tdew · 04-20-2012, 07:14 PM

Even though you know what should and shouldn't be in your carry on bag, sometimes things get by you.

This morning I found out that it's not a good idea to carry a bunch of foreign coins in your carry on luggage. Since we're going to be in many different countries and I had some leftover currency, I decided to bring it along. Between the Euros, Danish Krone, Swedish Krone, Norwegian Krone the package got pretty heavy. It also shows up on the xray machine as a big blob of metal.

Then, to make matters worse, my carry on had to be taken apart and sent through the scanner again. I felt really dopey when one of the little zipper bags was found to have a small folding knife in it. The bag was stuffed with little things that you throw in at the last minute - "just in case"
It was supposed to go in my checked luggage, but somehow got into my carry on.

My friend, who came from TX also had an unusual experience. Without thinking, she wore a blouse that had snaps all down the front in place of buttons, snaps on the pockets and even on the sleeves. Of course, it caused a problem with the metal detector. She had to be patted down.

We're off on our adventure tomorrow. Lucky for me, the family is still home, as somehow I left without my phone and my ebook. Very glad there's such a thing as overnight mail!

Ned · 04-21-2012, 05:24 AM

Kip Hawley former head of TSA recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal, explaining his triumphs and failures, and where TSA, in his opinion, should go today, that despite the very small risk that small knives and box cutters are today in the post-9/11 world, allowing them back on board was and apparently is considered too emotionally charged for the American public.

Personally, I believe that's nonsense. I think the American public would welcome being about to carry a small pocket knife with them on planes again, the same knife that many carry daily, though box cutters, I believe no one cares about and could easily stay on the prohibited list.

In fact, I think most American's would welcome back many items which are currently on the prohibited list, but not directly listed, even though they shouldn't be, like camera tripods, which most every TSA TSO says, they're like a bat or hockey stick which can be wielded like a club, so you can't bring it on board.

Have a great trip. Return home safely at its end.

tdew · 04-21-2012, 07:21 AM

I was impressed though that they found it in the bunch of stuff that I have to carry on so that there's no chance it gets lost. It was a really small pocket knife (maybe 2 inches total when closed.

oh well, I should have been more careful about where I packed things.

Thanks for the nice sendoff. it should be interesting. Hope the family at home doesn't fall apart without me there...

04-20-2012, 07:14 PM	#1
tdew Senior Member Über Poster Member since: Apr 2005 Location: Bergen Co, NJ Posts: 4,265 Rep Power: 278	Things that might delay you at security Even though you know what should and shouldn't be in your carry on bag, sometimes things get by you. This morning I found out that it's not a good idea to carry a bunch of foreign coins in your carry on luggage. Since we're going to be in many different countries and I had some leftover currency, I decided to bring it along. Between the Euros, Danish Krone, Swedish Krone, Norwegian Krone the package got pretty heavy. It also shows up on the xray machine as a big blob of metal. Then, to make matters worse, my carry on had to be taken apart and sent through the scanner again. I felt really dopey when one of the little zipper bags was found to have a small folding knife in it. The bag was stuffed with little things that you throw in at the last minute - "just in case" It was supposed to go in my checked luggage, but somehow got into my carry on. My friend, who came from TX also had an unusual experience. Without thinking, she wore a blouse that had snaps all down the front in place of buttons, snaps on the pockets and even on the sleeves. Of course, it caused a problem with the metal detector. She had to be patted down. We're off on our adventure tomorrow. Lucky for me, the family is still home, as somehow I left without my phone and my ebook. Very glad there's such a thing as overnight mail!

04-21-2012, 05:24 AM	#2
Ned Kishef macher Super Duper Über Poster Member since: Jul 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA USA Posts: 16,687 Rep Power: 449	Kip Hawley former head of TSA recently wrote in the Wall Street Journal, explaining his triumphs and failures, and where TSA, in his opinion, should go today, that despite the very small risk that small knives and box cutters are today in the post-9/11 world, allowing them back on board was and apparently is considered too emotionally charged for the American public. Personally, I believe that's nonsense. I think the American public would welcome being about to carry a small pocket knife with them on planes again, the same knife that many carry daily, though box cutters, I believe no one cares about and could easily stay on the prohibited list. In fact, I think most American's would welcome back many items which are currently on the prohibited list, but not directly listed, even though they shouldn't be, like camera tripods, which most every TSA TSO says, they're like a bat or hockey stick which can be wielded like a club, so you can't bring it on board. Have a great trip. Return home safely at its end. __________________ Ned [Visit my Travel Photography Blog, and Photography website NSL Photography]

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04-21-2012, 07:21 AM	#3
tdew Senior Member Über Poster Member since: Apr 2005 Location: Bergen Co, NJ Posts: 4,265 Rep Power: 278	I was impressed though that they found it in the bunch of stuff that I have to carry on so that there's no chance it gets lost. It was a really small pocket knife (maybe 2 inches total when closed. oh well, I should have been more careful about where I packed things. Thanks for the nice sendoff. it should be interesting. Hope the family at home doesn't fall apart without me there...