Airport Insecurity
Last week I was fortunate enough to travel across the state for work. I left MCI Thursday afternoon for STL. Through what I thought was careful planning I thought I would have no problem sliding through security, little did I know I was packing a 'deadly weapon'. After a confusing search for economy parking and a bag check mess I finally made it to the security terminal. As luck would have it I got singled out for 'further inspection' and was brought over to the time warp table. The security 'official' went through my stuff VERY meticulously because I apparently tripped their keen nose for bad things with my 'deadly weapon'. After about 10 minutes of waiting the lady finally came back to me and said that I can't take my cigarette case on the plane because it has a lighter attached and is considered a 'deadly weapon' - even though it was completely inoperable. She told me that I could leave the gate area and mail it back to myself, but by that time the plane was leaving in 10 minutes and I sure as heck wasn't going to miss the flight. Goodbye vintage Ronson Mastercase (deadly weapon).
I left STL for MCI Friday evening after working all day. I got a ride to the airport (stopping at White Castle, of course), checked my bag, and waited in the most ridiculous security line - one security checkpoint for an ENTIRE terminal. Only when I'd already waited 30 minutes in line and finally gotten to the metal detectors did I realize that I'd left my Leatherman on my belt. I stood there for a minute mumbling curse words to myself before I decided to try to sneak it in. I took the Leatherman out of it's case and put it in a pocket in the laptop bag, took the laptop out and set it on top of the bag, put all my other stuff in the tub and sent it through. When I'd gotten through I kinda sat there for a minute waiting for sirens to go off and some big guy to grab my arm and escort me away. What really happened? Not a damn thing. It took me a minute to realize that I had actually snuck a Leatherman through security and was about to take it on the plane with me. I quickly picked up my stuff and made the flight back to MCI.
I was thankful that I wouldn't have to spend $80+ for a new Leatherman, but was still upset that they took my other 'deadly weapon'. The most silly part was that the cigarette case was completely harmless, but I could've taken over the plane with that Leatherman. I should've done it anyway just so I could chalk it up on the long list of things you can do with only a Leatherman.
I left STL for MCI Friday evening after working all day. I got a ride to the airport (stopping at White Castle, of course), checked my bag, and waited in the most ridiculous security line - one security checkpoint for an ENTIRE terminal. Only when I'd already waited 30 minutes in line and finally gotten to the metal detectors did I realize that I'd left my Leatherman on my belt. I stood there for a minute mumbling curse words to myself before I decided to try to sneak it in. I took the Leatherman out of it's case and put it in a pocket in the laptop bag, took the laptop out and set it on top of the bag, put all my other stuff in the tub and sent it through. When I'd gotten through I kinda sat there for a minute waiting for sirens to go off and some big guy to grab my arm and escort me away. What really happened? Not a damn thing. It took me a minute to realize that I had actually snuck a Leatherman through security and was about to take it on the plane with me. I quickly picked up my stuff and made the flight back to MCI.
I was thankful that I wouldn't have to spend $80+ for a new Leatherman, but was still upset that they took my other 'deadly weapon'. The most silly part was that the cigarette case was completely harmless, but I could've taken over the plane with that Leatherman. I should've done it anyway just so I could chalk it up on the long list of things you can do with only a Leatherman.
15 Comments:
That's rough. That was a cool case/lighter. Can you find something similar on EBay?
~Jade
Ya, there are tons more exactly like it. I'm getting one that has genuine imitation wood trim.
Yeah, airport security is a joke sometimes. The fact that you can't bring a lighter on board, but you can take a pack of matches. I bet I could start just as big a fire with matches as I could with a lighter. I can't believe they didn't confiscate your leatherman. I guess I'll just bring a sword with me on the plane next time I fly. What do you think about surface x-ray machines being installed in airports to speed and enhance security?
` Ha ha haaa! What's really weird is they got me for an antique drafting compass, which is really, really sharp, but didn't make me give it to them!! WTF!
` Glad you at least escaped with your Leatherman!
hey guy! long time no talk!
now that things have calmed down at the homefront, we'll have to get together!
sorry to hear about your lighter. They took away my face cream ($30) and hair product ($25) because they were over 3 oz. But thank goodness I got through with all 4 of my bic lighters in the same bag!
` Sneaky Cassie!
` You know, I am starting to feel not-so-bloglazy after all....
` OMG! A-RON! I must alert you to the fact that The Rat movie trailer is out and you might want to czech it out!
Aaron, dude can we get some kind of an update on your life???? Been two months since you have put anything on here. I know for a fact that you were voted tournament MVP last weekend and won a very nice bat. Just give us an update sometime. YOU ARE STILL ALIVE I ASSUME??????
Larry
` Hear hear!
I think I may have to start a new blog, maybe I will call it "where in the KC area is Aaron Stevens"
` Hey, A-Ron! Your blog is collecting dust while I am DA BOMB!!
` ...I'm really starting to get worried about you.
` If you're not dead, you might want to check out the new iBooger.
` Congratulations! It's been about four months since you last updated this blog - (I'd be here the 27th but I'm shooting a movie this weekend).
` In that time, my house has been invaded by adorable aliens, my boyfriend has been killed twice, and I was killed as well, my corpse dug up and defiled horribly.
` Life-changing events no less!
` Now, I'm gonna come back in four more months and see whether or not you've updated this blog! If you haven't, I'll report you to the Blog Neglecter Crisis Line!
` I'll pretend that's an update by going 'yay!'
Poll Results:
Have you ever snuck anything through airport security?
Yes
4 (50 %)
No
4 (50 %)
Just some deadly fumes
0 (0 %)
Total votes: 8
Are airline security regulations effective?
Yes
3 (27 %)
No
8 (72 %)
No, they won't let me take my combat weapon on board.
0 (0 %)
Total votes: 11
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