Airport Security - just venting

It's been a couple of years since I was at the airport. You have to show up hours early, so when my older son took a plane for the first time, we went early enough for him to check in, figure out where he had to go, etc. and get to his plane on time. We were able to have breakfast with him and hang around with him until it was time for him to go through security. That was a big change from the previous time I was at an airport with my daughter, when I could go straight to the gate with her. Those areas were waaay too crowded and unorganized back then so the change made sense to me.

Well, we figured we could do the same thing yesterday when my younger son left. Not a chance. This time we couldn't get past the baggage check. So we couldn't spend any time with him as we planned before he went through security because we didn't know how long any of the other lines would be and couldn't take a chance on holding him up.

Geez - what's the point. Maybe I'm naive or clueless, but what's the difference WHERE the security lines are ? A very unexpected disappointment to an already unhappy event that totally shot my resolution to not cry out the window, which started a chain reaction that nobody needed.

Yup, it's been that way since 9-11. Those days are gone, never to return. We used to do that too with family members flying out. Check in, visit till boarding time and watch them go up. In Nov., with all the family flying in and out, at Toronto Intl., we mostly used the quick drop off at the departures driveup, a quick hug, kiss, call when you get there, and they're gone!

Yes - and airports vary big time. Definitely more tight here in the US (understandably so). In the past two months, I've been in Warsaw, Gdansk, Dublin, Prague, Budapest, Zurich, Paris airports - and kept my shoes on. I probably fly two or three times a month to different countries and they're all different.

Landed in Newark last Wednesday and off came my shoes. I have been fortunate though in terms of getting through security - never been more than ten minutes recently - the worst was Paris trying to check in at the airline counter - LONG lime and small bag, they sent me to do the electronic check-in, it failed - so I went back to a LONGER line - said, "uh uh uh - YOU sent me to the kiosk" - so I breezed through First Class (even though I flew coach) because I wasn't going to go back in line with 40 minutes until my flight after being sent to the electronic kiosk. 40 people in line to none - that was a relief.

The absolute worst - was Baltimore airport, 2 weeks after 9/11 on a Sunday night after a Baltimore Ravens football game.... 2 1/2 hours through security. That was painful.

I completely respect the security constraints, just wish it would be more consistent - just very frustrating with all of the inconsistency - is this airport the one where you take the computer out of the bag, etc. But, you learn to pack light, avoid anything questionable and stay as polite as can be. I fly to New Mexico to see family on Christmas, so shouldn't be too bad - but, NOT looking forward to flying through NY to Dublin on New Year's Eve - hate to think of the number of people trying to get to NYC for NY Eve.

I found a pretty interesting site while I was looking for flight status though. The airline website showed that his plane hadn't departed, while this site showed a map of the plane's progress.

http://www.boston.com/travel/flights/tracking/

I got to see the altitude and knew when the plane was landing. Way cool for me and kept me from pacing.

I've heard that security can even vary at airports based on "levels of security". And sometimes, the general public is not aware of hightened levels for specific days, etc.

The last time I flew out of Phoenix, the lines were awful, etc. I was grumbling to myself until I saw a uniformed soldier and reminded myself that possibly where he was heading was going to be a lot worse than what I was having to go through.

We flew out of London Gatwick on 10/11, the day after the big mess. It was chaos - I wasn't even allowed to keep my purse, everything had to be checked. I had to carry passport tickets medication etc in my hands as I had no pockets, and we practically had to strip to get through security. Taking your shoes off is minor after that - They were searching inside the mens pants - all of them, with that hand held scanner machine they use if you set the alarms off. Women got a total pat down. It took 4 hours to get through all the stuff, and they did it again just before we boarded the plane.

My grandson flew into St. Louis last year & my DH & I got there early to pick him up. I went to the ticket counter & told them that I was meeting him, flight #, showed my ID & they issued me & DH a pass to get through security so we could wait at the plane with him & then we got a pass to escort him to his plane when he flew back out. He was 10 years old. Don't know how hold your son is, but if you had asked about it, they might have issued you passes too.
Jan

I thought about that possibility but he was in uniform so it was probably better not to make a fuss.

Probably right - bet he looked like he was more than 8 years old.... ;-)

well, when my son travels, they make a big deal of searching through his crutches, they actually take them from him, leaving him to try to stand (duh why does he use them?) and search them. when I am with him, i get very in their face to make sure that he at least has something to prop himself up on. I dont know if he has tipped over when they take them, maybe he only gives them one at a time....

Pebble,your son can request a chair at any time during a search if he is hadicap. Do not let anyone take his legs away.It may take a little longer but I find it would work better in the long run.My daughter is a flight attendent and I get searched at least once on every trip when flying on a family pass. Jeez,I keep forgetting to NOT wear an underwire bra and I get nailed every time! Last time my bags were so well packed by the searcher that he must have been on the Q gay guy show. I wanted to go back and have him teach me how to pack!

Actually, there is a good thing about the new limited access rules ...

Before, I always felt obligated to escort someone to the gate for some reason. Not only that but DW and all the kids wanted to go as well and it meant hanging around the gate until the passenger(s) boarded.

Departures are so much easier now... and cheaper if you count parking and inflated terminal prices when hanging around saying good bye for an hour. Get all the farewells, boohoos and good byes done at the house. Take only the passenger(s) to the airport and put 'em on the curb at the departures terminal.


IMHO

After travelling for Christmas, I can say that with all the other num-chucks at the airports, the last thing those terminal gates needed were boo-hoo-ing goodbyes. There were quite enough people just as passengers cluttering the hallways.

Note: I'm a disgruntled 2004 holiday traveller, so if you take offense at my remarks, understand I had awful holiday travel, and deserve this once to be aggrevated.

Let it out!!!

I have all but quit travelling, especially if I can't drive. With the t.v. continuously showing tales of traveling woe the last 2 weeks.... I feel justified in telling the DF "if I want to go somewhere - I'll take a bucket out, sit in the middle of the street and look at our house!"

The latest story I saw last night was some 28 hour transit from the Netherlands to Washington state or somewhere. Plus I think there's still a mountain of luggage that got separated from the owners due to the Christmas snows and reroutes. I've had all of my stuff lost twice so.. been there and done that. Except they lost my tshirt.

Cheryl, I'm sure you don't travel much, because for those of us who do (for business etc.) your story elicited a "huh? so what?" reaction. So, let me turn your original question around for you: What difference does it make where you spend time with and say goodbye to your loved ones? Are you aware that you could check in, get your boarding passes, check your luggage and then leave the airport for lunch, or quality family time or whatever? Then your loved one could be dropped back off at the airport and head straight through security to the gate. Just because one is checked in with boarding passes issued does not mean one is prisoner at the airport.

Finally, my own little anecdote. My dad and step-monster do not travel much out of their own state. When they do go out of state, they tend to drive. (I guess they still think it's less expensive or something, I dunno why. It's cheaper to fly to Florida from Ohio than drive and takes a heck of a lot less time.) Anyway, the last time they dropped me off at an airport (pre-9/11), they couldn't just open the car door at the curb and slow down to 30mph (like I asked them to). They had to park the car and walk me all the way to the gate. It was completely unnecessary and I nearly missed boarding my flight because my step mom was so into telling me her little inane story, I had to interrupt her to hear the announcement that it was the FINAL boarding call! My dad, still parking, never made it to the gate before I had to board. Stepmonster was taken aback and probably a little offended that I interrupted her to board the plane and did not wait for my dad!

Now, I've traveled a lot for work and being the only person in my family to live in Florida, I get on planes pretty frequently. When I'm at the airport, I'm busy listening to announcements, reading signs and in general making sure I'm in the right place and I'm on time and there aren't any shady characters around trying to pick my pocket or steal my wallet out of my purse. I'm in Self-Defense-Travelling Mode. I do not want my family getting all sentimental and boo-hooing when I'm trying to be responsible for getting myself from point A to point B. I would be much more comfortable with slowing down and opening the car door to boot me out at the curb. Then I don't have to be rude, cut short my step-monster's endearing and highly entertaining story of her latest glucose level reading, interrupt and dash for the gate because I'm the only person who is paying any attention anything besides myself. There can be delays, flights get overbooked, gates change -- I need to listen and read and understand what is going on. I need to pay attention to what is going on around me, not hold my parents' hands because they're sad... they can say goodbye and be sentimental at home, before we ever leave for the airport.

And just think! That's one less hour I have to listen to the Diabetes Diatribes!

Dogzilla - good perspective.... I was dropped off by my mother and father in Albuquerque to return here to Dublin on Friday - and I do have to admit that 30 seconds of tears at the curb is quite preferable to the boarding gate. Much more relaxing to skim the WSJ than endure a scene.

That said - I do have to admit -as silly as a movie as Love Actually is - I do love the portrayals of the family members greeting each other at Heathrow.

I remember the days of sitting in an airport, crying every time i would look at my watch thinking "he's leaving in an hour"..."hes leaving in 45 mins"..sob sob..
We've got it down to a fine art now, he pulls up to the passenger drop off point, we get out, unload his baggage, quick hug and kiss and vrooommmm i'm outta there.
I HATE long, tearful "cya laters"
Now, if it a child was concerned that would be a totally different matter.
Jen

I found this thread while browsing the site. I know its an old thread, but you might be interested in what happened to me a couple of years ago when my husband and I went to Finland for 5 days.

Knowing we weren't going to be gone long, one of the last things I did before packing was to water and fertilize my house plants. I used a 15-30-15 water soluable fertilizer and disolived it in a 1 litre narrow-necked bottle which I like to use for watering plants. It guarantees that I get a bit on my hands. ;-)

Well, when we got to the airport and my hand luggage was swab tested, it came up positive for traces of explosives. I was given the third degree but passed since they couldn't find any more traces in subsequent testing. It was only later that I thought of the nitrates in the fertilizer.

Consequently, I no longer fertilize plants within the last week before I fly anywhere. And just in case there are traces of nitrates on my watering bottle, I don't touch my luggage at all without thoroughly washing my hands.

Ann

This year in departing for Nassau, we flew from Cincinnati, Ohio. Our flight left at 9:10. We were at the airport at 7:00. Security lines were so long we barely made the flight, then had mechanical problems, set on the runway 1 hour, making us miss our connecting flight in Atlanta. Arrived 4 hours late, almost didn't get our hotel rooms. Had a lovely 5 day vacation, but in trying to depart Nassau, went through 3 security checks to get to the gate. Thought we were through but had another security check before we were allowed outside on the tarmack to board the plane. Then set another 1 hour on the runway, because of backed up air traffic, due to a thunderstorm. I wish there was someway (quick) to travel and avoid all the airport hassle. I understand the need for security, but some of the red tape is ridiculious.

The security and waiting is a hassle, but just think how angry you'd be if there was something that happened, i.e. flying through the storms, etc. I'd rather wait and have the trouble than risk my life.

I didn't know that the Louisville airport had changed their security to almost the front of the airport. You cannot go anywhere near the gates unless you are a passenger. We brought my Son-in-law to fly back to TX as he was leaving in a few weeks for Iraq. We thought we had more time with him, but the line was so long for security. We all just cried because we needed those few more minutes to prepare.

But, I am a crier at the airport. I cry when leaving and arriving. I am glad that they have the security because it forces me to drop off and go rather than having to hang around forever and cry at the thought of my loved ones flying away. :(

And my SIL is leaving again in 4 weeks for his 2nd tour of Iraq. I'd appreciate prayers for Jim.

Thanks, Kathy

I agree. We certainly want the security, but I find it is very inconsistent. In early June of this year, we went to Iceland. Our routing was Ottawa, Toronto, Boston, Reyjkavik. Security was good and thorough in Ottawa and Toronto, but was a real joke at the International Terminal in Boston where they were far more interested in talking with each other than in checking us properly. BTW, we also spent time sitting on the tarmac and doing circles approaching both Toronto and Boston.

Returning, we were two hours late leaving Iceland due to mechanical problems but it worked to our advantage as we were put on a direct to Ottawa flight (that we hadn't been allowed to book ourselves) and got home about 2 1/2 hours earlier than anticipated. The security in Boston at the terminal which serves Air Canada was thorough. ;-)

Ann

We flew out of LAX this spring to Taipei, Taiwan. Signs directed you to take your luggage to an inspection station. After the luggage was inspected it was given back to us to carry to the airline checkin. What was to prevent us from putting something into those suitcases.

I cannot walk very far so I request a wheel chair. My wife and I are led past the lines and checked very quickly.

Airport Security keeps yourself safe. My daughter flys International and those bombs on buses in London could have been planes. They would have done a lot more destruction from air than ground.

Mpls-St.Paul, Humphrey terminal is shutdown as I type. 2 separate bomb sniffing dogs detected something in 2 vending machines that are about 40 yards apart. 200 people were evacuated to a parking ramp. I haven't heard the outcome yet. Will listen to the news at 10PM.
Bernie