tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post3875519375749544463..comments2024-03-29T01:03:21.329-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: When TSA tells you, "Empty your lady bags..."Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2492141815036569522022-03-15T11:02:04.476-04:002022-03-15T11:02:04.476-04:00The comment about books reminded me of a story tha...The comment about books reminded me of a story that my Mom told me about. She decided to leave the tour group and fly home. She happened to catch the last seat on a chartered? flight from London, England. Most of the people travelling on that plane headed back to the USA were British war brides who were visiting home for the first time since the Second World War. My Mom had bought several books in England that were banned in the USA at that time. The airport security treated everyone on that plane like VIPs and did not bother to check the bags. I am trying to recall if it was the airport security in the UK or the USA when she arrived home. No one confiscated her books! That was in the early 1960s.<br /><br />DianaBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5176309261254489022022-03-15T10:53:43.443-04:002022-03-15T10:53:43.443-04:00Did anyone see the movie Airplane? There was a sc...Did anyone see the movie Airplane? There was a scene where the airport security was watching an elderly person with a cane while several Yassar Arafat terrorist types were wheezing by airport security.<br /><br />DianaBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37163915052287246832022-03-14T16:38:35.828-04:002022-03-14T16:38:35.828-04:00I remember that extra screening for Reagan Airport...I remember that extra screening for Reagan Airport too. I was being searched by a Sikh gentlemen and each time he found something he wanted to check out, he had to call the woman agent from the next line over because he couldn't touch me. I'm not sure if it was a religious issue or a TSA issue, but it would have been comical in another setting.<br /><br />They also had random security checks at the gate for a while. My 5 year old niece with a clear plastic backpack of toys for the plane was selected. She was not impressed.Sue Newellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08036061496174643030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-76983525635280036012022-03-14T16:36:15.390-04:002022-03-14T16:36:15.390-04:00Luckily the disintegrated fabric was between the t...Luckily the disintegrated fabric was between the thighs, so I was able to waddle into the ladies' room without anyone (including my traveling companion) being aware. But pulling the spare pair out of the case must have triggered them to mark my ticket, and I was pulled over for in-depth check at every leg of the journey home. Apparently, there is something sinister about changing your clothes in the first class lounge.Ellen M. Kozakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18342774310814059158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84209915226165760402022-03-14T15:54:15.074-04:002022-03-14T15:54:15.074-04:00At the time, it wasn't available in the US and...At the time, it wasn't available in the US and I wanted to read it. I have never forgotten the lesson that books are dangerous.c d moultonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17899545521206329219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-26185226871261245902022-03-14T15:41:38.456-04:002022-03-14T15:41:38.456-04:00Shalom Reds and readers,
I haven’t flown...Shalom Reds and readers,<br /> I haven’t flown in many years. As a young man, I flew around the country perhaps half a dozen times. Only once, did I travel internationally. In 1989, I traveled to Israel. I was in a troubled time of my life, and I found a kibbutz which would allow me to work and study Hebrew at no cost to me except my air fare and whatever spending money I wished to carry. <br /> My dad accompanied me to Kennedy airport. I was booked on a non-stop El Al flight to Ben Gurion airport. My memory does not make exact sense to me now, but what I remember is arriving for my flight in the late afternoon. I came quite a bit early and hung out with my dad for a couple of hours. He left me when I got on a long line waiting to board the plane. <br /> The line was moving slowly and at some point, someone from security, pulled me out of the line leading me to the front and to a small anteroom. I think I had two large duffle bags and perhaps a small carry-on. The proceeded to search the bags thoroughly, while peppering me with intense questions. Looking back in hindsight, I realize I fit a profile that they were looking for. My father was black, and both my parents were born with black hair, so I am not blonde, blue-eyed and fair-skinned. I was a young (35 years old) male traveling alone, having paid for a one-way ticket with a check from a newly opened money market account (the equivalent of cash). <br /> This interrogation lasted very close to the scheduled departing time of the plane and their questioning was making me nervous. They asked me where I was traveling to in Israel. I told them I traveling to a kibbutz, which I named, which was in the northern part of Israel. They told me there was no such kibbutz in the north of Israel. I showed them my paperwork, but they were having none of it. These were not TSA types. They were Israelis working for either El Al or the Israeli government or even both. They could see I was nervous, and they asked me about that. I frankly told them that I was nervous because they were giving me the “third degree”. This was well before the time of laptops and cell phones etc. and I think my only electronics were a clock radio with back up batteries. They took that apart as well as they could. I had a miniature facsimile of a scroll of the book of Esther and they wanded that up and down and back again. I finally complained that I was sure to miss my flight. <br /> I think they had decided that I was safe, because they told me “You won’t miss your flight.” When I arrived in Israel, it was in the middle of the night. I was greeted by someone I think from the Jewish Agency. A taxi was arranged to take me the long ride from Tel Aviv to the kibbutz which was just about 30 minutes south of Haifa. The director of the program was awake at what I remember was about four in the morning to check me and one or two others in and get us to our rooms for a few hours of sleep. <br /> I left Israel about 6 months later. At the airport, the security woman asked me three questions. Were these my bags? Did I pack them myself? Did anyone else give to anything to bring on the plane? Yes. Yes. And No. That was it. “Have a nice flight.”<br /> I hope to travel back to Israel before I reach 70. <br />David Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17144607647071920674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89854414480630790042022-03-14T15:37:18.282-04:002022-03-14T15:37:18.282-04:00I wonder if it's because we pack crime novels ...I wonder if it's because we pack crime novels and thrillers that they give us "special" attention?Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22332611485932815562022-03-14T15:35:29.948-04:002022-03-14T15:35:29.948-04:00I noticed that on going through this time... 75 is...I noticed that on going through this time... 75 is the magic age when at long last you can keep your shoes on!Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90681761524597458472022-03-14T15:34:05.224-04:002022-03-14T15:34:05.224-04:00Ouch!Ouch!Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-40736709286074961272022-03-14T15:33:15.388-04:002022-03-14T15:33:15.388-04:00Proving (as if we needed proof) that there are goo...Proving (as if we needed proof) that there are good people in the world. My daughter said (as we waited, broken down by the side of the road in Puerto Rico and a car pulled up to help us), "Nine times out of ten people would rather help you than kill you." Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17561957334086258052022-03-14T15:29:54.264-04:002022-03-14T15:29:54.264-04:00What is it about boys and guns and knives? Though ...What is it about boys and guns and knives? Though I do miss being able to travel with my Swiss army knife.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-25278145238241241562022-03-14T15:27:06.454-04:002022-03-14T15:27:06.454-04:00I didn't realize the scan detected skin anomal...I didn't realize the scan detected skin anomalies... wondering if anyone had disease inadvertently diagnosed while getting wanded.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-71281702521776684162022-03-14T14:36:50.789-04:002022-03-14T14:36:50.789-04:00Karen, that is exactly why I never travel with any...Karen, that is exactly why I never travel with any expensive cosmetics - nothing I can't buy at Target. I've read stories of people losing high-end makeup collections worth hundreds of dollars.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-4022091572059309462022-03-14T14:26:18.584-04:002022-03-14T14:26:18.584-04:00In 1970s a co-worker who was a clothing designer h...In 1970s a co-worker who was a clothing designer had her shearsin her carry on, she always had them with her for work ..very heavy,very short blades (they may have been pattern shears. too long ago for clear memory). They went on the flight with her in the custody of one of the flight attendants. And from then on were checked, always.Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09047379987310210498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89504430076876648892022-03-14T14:17:23.115-04:002022-03-14T14:17:23.115-04:00I don't have any horror stories going through ...I don't have any horror stories going through airport security, just a couple of minor glitches. I had forgotten to take a couple of tubes of lotion out of my carry-on and put in my checked bag. They were gifts, and I was quite irritated when the lotion was pulled from my carry-on and put in their barrel of confiscated items. I call it the TSA Present Barrel, where they divide up the items amongst themselves. The other incident is where I had gifts packed into my carry-on, packed very carefully in tissue paper and boxes. They wanted to take everything out of my bag, and I told them I wanted to pack them back in, not them. Oh, and Liz, I've had the same experience when I pack lots of books in my luggage, and they took a closer look at my carry-on with the books stacked in the bottom, too.Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6036215638123401912022-03-14T14:14:02.234-04:002022-03-14T14:14:02.234-04:00Like Jenn, although for light hearted reasons, I h...Like Jenn, although for light hearted reasons, I have flown more than usual during the pandemic. Nothing slowing me down at TSA, no rowdy folks on my flights...more like almost no folks on my flights, 3 across rows to myself, quickest delivery of checked bags, ever. And, yes, TSA seem to have let senses of humor show...like "deciding" bagel split 5 ways just wasn't worth confiscating or the agent who told me soto voce, 2 months before my 75th birthday, "keep your shoes on and tell the next agent you're 75." Best experience: booking my first vaccination at 38000 ft in March 2021 on the first try. As earthbound folks were struggling. Elisabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09047379987310210498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21205688052858293652022-03-14T13:55:14.566-04:002022-03-14T13:55:14.566-04:00Back in the 1970s, there was no TSA, but in some E...Back in the 1970s, there was no TSA, but in some European countries, the airports had metal detectors. We'd flown to England with my 85 year old grandmother (her birthday treat) and on the way back, she set off the alarm. The security guard looked at the little old lady in a wheelchair in some confusion. Then light dawned. He leaned over, shielded his mouth with his hand and asked discretely "Do you wear stays, madam?" Madam blushed and admitted she did, and he smilingly waved us on.PlumGagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11969263926873169050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55041022427371341172022-03-14T13:53:49.925-04:002022-03-14T13:53:49.925-04:00HALLIE, I am laughing about "lady bags"...HALLIE, I am laughing about "lady bags" because I was reminded of a story that my Mom told me about travelling to a conservative country in 1962. Because she was travelling to Europe for 11 weeks that summer, she brought ? nappies ? ?pads? tampons ? and airport security was going through her stuff in her lady bags. The agents were all men. They were puzzled and did not know what they were. My Mom knew the language and explained what they were. The men freaked out! LOL. I am still laughing about that story because I can imagine their comedic body language.<br /><br />More recently, I was flying home from England and I had eye drops (for dry eyes and allergies) in my fanny pack. It was like 3 oz. They went through our bags at the gate before getting on the plane. I told them there was nothing in the fanny pack and whew! I was able to bring the eye drops on the plane with me! I drank my water bottle and threw it away before I got to the airport. I remembered that water bottles were not allowed. This was years before the pandemic.<br /><br />When I flew for the last time on 12 March 2020 coming home from San Diego, CA, I adhered with every requirement. I took out my keys and cell phone. I took off my shoes. I had to go through the body scan walk through again. It was funny because there was a guy going through security too who looked like Prince Harry. he signed to me and said his parents were Deaf and offered to help me when he heard my Deaf accent. The security let me through and I made it to the plane moments before leaving!<br /><br />DianaBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86550792015863524152022-03-14T13:48:51.580-04:002022-03-14T13:48:51.580-04:00Oh, those mischievous ones! I was driving home fr...Oh, those mischievous ones! I was driving home from storytelling at New Salem when the nephews saw a fancy train and wanted to stop . . . we found parking and walked up to Bush's campaign stop. Of course there was security . . . and my nephew was delayed by a guard because he was carrying his souvenir switch-blade . . . comb. The guard told him to keep it in his pocket, but knowing he had no pockets, Aunt Mary put the offending comb in my pocketMary Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00952344253284240716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36992871116057497862022-03-14T13:43:41.976-04:002022-03-14T13:43:41.976-04:00I once had the TSA guys ask for info on the comfy ...I once had the TSA guys ask for info on the comfy insoles in my shoes . . . all those hours of standing were taking their toll on them. No recent travel, but years back I felt bad about the Woolite powder I should have left behind. I told the customs guy it was jabon, but he had to sniff to be sure. Achoo! <br />Returning from teaching in Jamaica, I had my paperwork marked for extra-thorough searching ("what's that for?" "nothing" . . . I think it was because I'd been chatting with the Jamaican man I met on the flight and then stood with all our bags while he went back for the backgammon set he'd forgotten on the plane). When he had searched the first bag and found books and dirty clothes, he looked at the donated extra suitcase, tied shut because it was broken. "If you open that one, you'll have to help me close it." "Let's pretend we looked through it." Mary Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00952344253284240716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84733171399863271772022-03-14T13:32:11.415-04:002022-03-14T13:32:11.415-04:00Karen, thanks for the support. It was a tough deci...Karen, thanks for the support. It was a tough decision. Kids went, fully masked at all times, and had a great trip,so we did have regrets.But large crowds, (school vacation week),huge airports at both ends, plus FL peculiar decisions? No.Trisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08058396345946250313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-74724310179584246462022-03-14T13:23:24.157-04:002022-03-14T13:23:24.157-04:00*either Although "withered" isn't f...*either Although "withered" isn't far off. Fintahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17087809450585073206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16678251155299452482022-03-14T13:21:58.965-04:002022-03-14T13:21:58.965-04:00I thought it might be because I looked like wither...I thought it might be because I looked like wither a drug mule for some cartel or maybe a shoe bomber. Pftt. Fintahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17087809450585073206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81880982591247507982022-03-14T13:19:46.229-04:002022-03-14T13:19:46.229-04:00Before the TSA days, we were returning from Texas ...Before the TSA days, we were returning from Texas to Ohio. We'd visited my in-laws out in the boonies and were flying out of Houston. They were x-raying carryon bags and the woman asked me about the knife in my purse. Huh? Turns out it was a fancy letter opener in a metal sheath my travel agent mother-in-law had given me. I'd dropped it in my purse and forgot about it. Our son was next; he was about nine or ten at the time and was totally averse to listening and obeying. She looked in his bag and next thing several police were there. The little #*!@#$ had put a metal toy gun in his carryon. I was furious because he had just helped himself to it at his grandparents'. No one had given it to him. I said something like "Adrian, I could just kill you!" and had a head slap moment, wondering what the airport personnel thought about us. They said we could mail the toy or they could keep it. I told them to keep it and got out of there before I could say anything else stupid. Or murder my son.Pat Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732230586783432052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-74996272934296887682022-03-14T13:11:46.028-04:002022-03-14T13:11:46.028-04:00I had an absolutely horrible experience with US Cu...I had an absolutely horrible experience with US Customs, coming from Canada (Vancouver Island) to Seattle at the end of a vacation. I have HATED any customs / TSA people since. I do not fly. Period. Ever.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.com