I haven't flown with an airline since pre-9/11, does anyone have some tips to get me through the escalated security process smoothly? I'll be flying out of Chicago Midway on Monday morning, and I'd prefer to get off the ground without a cavity search.
Anyone flown recently?
- Thread starter DrumminBoy
- Start date
I flew in August.
Don't wear tennis shoes.
No lighters or matches in the carry on (or one lighter/book of matches, can't remember).
No nail clippers.
No weapons.
Get there early.
There's probably a site with better/more advice too.
Don't wear tennis shoes.
No lighters or matches in the carry on (or one lighter/book of matches, can't remember).
No nail clippers.
No weapons.
Get there early.
There's probably a site with better/more advice too.
IIRC, wearing tennis shoes makes it more likely to get you out of line to check them.
I could remember that wrong though, I rarely wear tennis shoes...
dont worry if you are male, they only single out the hot women and bring them to a private room to do a more thorough search on them.
edit for speel
edit for speel
HardcoreRobot
Lifer
- Nov 7, 2000
- 16,403
- 3
- 81
wear shoes that you can take off easily, dont put a lot of stuff inyour pockets. your laptop must be taken out and put through in a separate bin. its really easy you shouldnt stress out this.
1) Carry as few bags as possible. It's a PITA to line up all your stuff for the X-Ray machine (always was, but now you have to take your laptop out of storage and it gets its own tray, you have to take your shoes and coat/jacket off and put that in a tray, etc.)
2) Take off everything metal. EVERYTHING. The sensors are WAY increased in accuracy. A couple coins in your pocket will set them off now, as well as any metal on your belt or clothing (well, zippers seem to elude the detector). I always take off my belt and throw it in the shoes/jacket tray with my wallet. Just easier that way.
3) Don't wear clothes with metal on them - this a "duh" after point 2, but....pant "fly" zippers are usually okay, don't go crazy with metal chains or larger side zippers or anything. That'll likely set off the detector, then you get a free personal pat-down from Arnold the bi-curious security chief.
4) Needless to say, don't pack anything "stupid". No knives (to include letter openers), straight-edge razors, hazardous chemicals (or mace, whatever), anything sharp and/or pointy (scissors, etc - if you COULD harm someone with it in any circumstance, it's a no-no)
2) Take off everything metal. EVERYTHING. The sensors are WAY increased in accuracy. A couple coins in your pocket will set them off now, as well as any metal on your belt or clothing (well, zippers seem to elude the detector). I always take off my belt and throw it in the shoes/jacket tray with my wallet. Just easier that way.
3) Don't wear clothes with metal on them - this a "duh" after point 2, but....pant "fly" zippers are usually okay, don't go crazy with metal chains or larger side zippers or anything. That'll likely set off the detector, then you get a free personal pat-down from Arnold the bi-curious security chief.
4) Needless to say, don't pack anything "stupid". No knives (to include letter openers), straight-edge razors, hazardous chemicals (or mace, whatever), anything sharp and/or pointy (scissors, etc - if you COULD harm someone with it in any circumstance, it's a no-no)
Originally posted by: richardycc
dont worry if you are male, they only single out the hot women and bring them to a private room to do a more thought search on them.
I have that vid too!!!
datalink7
Lifer
- Jan 23, 2001
- 16,765
- 6
- 81
Don't take an alan wrench with you!
*I made this mistake last week when flying. I forgot it was in my backpack. It sort of went like this:
*Bag going through scanner... stops*
Scanner guy " BAG CHECK!!!"
*Two security people rush over, look at scanner, and then pull my bag out. They hold it up and ask "Who owns this bag?"
"I do" I reply.
"Come with me."
So I walk over to this table, flanked by two guards. The woman starts going through my bag. She eventually finds the alan wrench.
Holding it up, she asks "Sir, what is this used for?"
I say "Uh.... it is used for tightening."
She says "Sir, what it it used for specifically?"
Me: "Um, it is like a screwdriver. I think I may have used it on my desk but I don't remember."
"Sir, you're going to have to wait here while I talk to my supervisor."
She walks away while another guard watches me suspiciously.
A few minutes later she comes back and says "You are not authorized to have this."
I say "Can it be given to my dad on the other side of security?"
She says "Yes," so I reach to get it so I can toss it to my dad and she jerks it back saying "You are not authorized to have it."
So I point out my dad, she walks over and says "I'm officialy handing this over to you."
Then they run my bag thorugh the scanner again.
Moral of the story, don't take an Alan Wrench with you to the airport (could you just imagine if it had been the alan wrench OF DOOM!!!??? :Q:Q)
*I made this mistake last week when flying. I forgot it was in my backpack. It sort of went like this:
*Bag going through scanner... stops*
Scanner guy " BAG CHECK!!!"
*Two security people rush over, look at scanner, and then pull my bag out. They hold it up and ask "Who owns this bag?"
"I do" I reply.
"Come with me."
So I walk over to this table, flanked by two guards. The woman starts going through my bag. She eventually finds the alan wrench.
Holding it up, she asks "Sir, what is this used for?"
I say "Uh.... it is used for tightening."
She says "Sir, what it it used for specifically?"
Me: "Um, it is like a screwdriver. I think I may have used it on my desk but I don't remember."
"Sir, you're going to have to wait here while I talk to my supervisor."
She walks away while another guard watches me suspiciously.
A few minutes later she comes back and says "You are not authorized to have this."
I say "Can it be given to my dad on the other side of security?"
She says "Yes," so I reach to get it so I can toss it to my dad and she jerks it back saying "You are not authorized to have it."
So I point out my dad, she walks over and says "I'm officialy handing this over to you."
Then they run my bag thorugh the scanner again.
Moral of the story, don't take an Alan Wrench with you to the airport (could you just imagine if it had been the alan wrench OF DOOM!!!??? :Q:Q)
the "security" people are for the most part morons who wouldn't know a bomb if it blew up in their face. they'd much rather harass people over nail clippers and toothpicks.
Don't counter any of the TSAs. If they ask you to remove your shoes, or whatnot, comply!
Don't say "Bomb" at any time in the Airport, Plane, etc.
Arrive early (if you're flying locally, 1 to 2 hours before your flight).
Be patient and keep your cool -- better safe than sorry, right?
Bon voyage
Don't say "Bomb" at any time in the Airport, Plane, etc.
Arrive early (if you're flying locally, 1 to 2 hours before your flight).
Be patient and keep your cool -- better safe than sorry, right?
Bon voyage
Mermaidman
Diamond Member
- Sep 4, 2003
- 7,987
- 93
- 91
LOL
Go ahead and wear your tennis shoes. It doesn't make you more likely to be searched. Now--no matter what kind of shoes you wear, do take them off before you go through the detector. Once, I asked TSA dude if I could where my sandals through. He said yes, then as soon as I passed through, he pulled me aside for a personal search EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT SET OFF THE DETECTOR. I asked him why and he said it was because I didn't take off my shoes . . .
Another thing to remember--Make sure you don't have any gum/candy wrapper that is metallic foil. I set off the detector once because of my gum wrapper!
Other tips:
Use online check-in
Choose seats near the back so you can board faster and put your stuff in the overhead bins (I assume you don't have elite frequent flyer status)
Take a bottle of water with you onto the plane in case you get thirsty
edit: Oh yeah, as Dragon said, keep your cool and fly stress-free!
Go ahead and wear your tennis shoes. It doesn't make you more likely to be searched. Now--no matter what kind of shoes you wear, do take them off before you go through the detector. Once, I asked TSA dude if I could where my sandals through. He said yes, then as soon as I passed through, he pulled me aside for a personal search EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT SET OFF THE DETECTOR. I asked him why and he said it was because I didn't take off my shoes . . .
Another thing to remember--Make sure you don't have any gum/candy wrapper that is metallic foil. I set off the detector once because of my gum wrapper!
Other tips:
Use online check-in
Choose seats near the back so you can board faster and put your stuff in the overhead bins (I assume you don't have elite frequent flyer status)
Take a bottle of water with you onto the plane in case you get thirsty
edit: Oh yeah, as Dragon said, keep your cool and fly stress-free!
Wear shoes that are easy to take off (ie. Avoid Dr Martens boots). Reduce the amount of metal you wear, put all change, keys, wallets, watches and such in your carry-on.
Doing this will make it a breeze through security.
Drakkon
Diamond Member
- Aug 14, 2001
- 8,401
- 1
- 0
this is kinda freaking me out...i fly out for business on 1/23 and i havent flown since pre-9/11 but even BEFORE that each time i flew (only twice) i was taken aside for one reason or another (stuff in bag, didnt look right, etc) and i'm just normal US redneck white boy.
Mermaidman
Diamond Member
- Sep 4, 2003
- 7,987
- 93
- 91
Air travel is usually slower on the day of a holiday, hence the better bargains. Fly on C'Mas day and save!
Same thing happened to me.
I have yet to go through security and not be searched, I have never set off the alarm [Post 9/11]
I don't go to the airport any earlier than I used to, the lines move along fast enough [Although, I dont fly on the holidays, so ignore what I am saying here]
Don't overpack your bags, I learned this the hard way flying standby?e? They took everything out of my bag and I couldn't get everything back in
Uppsala9496
Diamond Member
- Nov 2, 2001
- 5,272
- 19
- 81
I fly at least twice a month. Take your shoes and belt off for the xray machine. Make sure you don't have any metal on (take of watch, cell phone, keys, etc) and you will be fine. I haven't been stopped by the metal detector in over 2 years.
EDIT: It is no big deal if you get randomly selected for a more detailed search. Happens to me everytime I fly from Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale since the plane doesn't have a door separating the cockpit from the rest of the plane. They search everyone extensively that go on those flights.
EDIT: It is no big deal if you get randomly selected for a more detailed search. Happens to me everytime I fly from Tampa to Ft. Lauderdale since the plane doesn't have a door separating the cockpit from the rest of the plane. They search everyone extensively that go on those flights.
Uppsala9496
Diamond Member
- Nov 2, 2001
- 5,272
- 19
- 81
I've never had to take my dvd player out. I take it with me almost all the time. I just leave it in my briefcase. They only ask that you take out laptops.
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