500N,

Good advice (as I said before) about taking one of those clear "evidence" bomb-building liquids holding bag and put everything inside before reaching security. And as I am taking a closer look on what I am carrying it is not such a big issue (two mobiles, about a pound of keys and my glasses case). Not much but it still needs to be removed on time before I reach security.

The issue remains though is asked to remove a laptop / netbook from your bag. How do you keep an eye on it if it goes to the X-Ray machine before you? And yes maybe airport security should have a responsibility to supervise ones belongings while he/she waits to walk through the metal detector.

Rwy in Sight

hval posted: Laptop is pretty standard of course. However, as one who always travels with cameras, lenses and other apparatus; and who always places his phone in his bag at security, I have never ever been asked to remove them at any airport security checkpoint prior to processing and perhaps on the very odd occasion post processing. I don't disbelieve you but I am very surprised by this.

RIS

If you rely on others, you are doomed.

"The issue remains though is asked to remove a laptop / netbook from your bag. How do you keep an eye on it if it goes to the X-Ray machine before you?"

1. As much as you can, hold the box until the personal scanner you walk through is free, put the box on the conveyor and go through personal scanner.

And if you have done the right thing and removed all metal beforehand,
you will get to the other side before your laptop.

It's all about timing.

And in all cases, keep an eye on it anyway !!!

Keep an eye on who is ahead of you in the queue and move position
in the queue if anyone ahead looks like they might be a hold up
- ie metal on shoes, lots of jewelery, big fat greek wedding guests etc,
older, slower moving people, you know all the one's I mean.

Just work the system to YOUR advantage, not theirs.

Every system can be played, so play it.

.

Re cameras, phones etc, I am with Hotel Tango.

EVERYTHING either goes in my bag / back pack
or in my coat and the coat goes in the tray.

I've never been asked to take the camera / phone out.
(except where I have been pulled for a random separate check).

500N
 

Good advice on timing the release of the tray with me going through the machine. I will use it in the future.

Rwy in Sight

there was a persistent rumour that when T5 opened at Theifrow a fight broke out between the baggage handlers moved over from T1 & T4 as to who would get to "handle" the "lucrative" flights from the W Indies, Nice, Bhamas etc etc

Hotel Tango & 500N,

I am asked nearly all the time. I am also regularly asked to power on items.

hval, so where is this as a matter of interest? Glasgow?

Hotel Tango,

Quite often Glasgow (always made to take my belt off and sometimes shoes), but more often Terminal 5 at London Heathrow.

hval

I fly interstate in Australia quite often and have and do fly
Australia to NZ and onwards to the US and Aust to US
and return - (4 different airports in the US, only item ever
removed was an empty 250ml coke bottle !!!)

I have never been asked to turn on an item in 10+ years.

And quite often I fly with other restricted goods as well
and even then I don't get asked to open and inspect before
they go in the cage. Admittedly, I do come across as having
done it before and knowing what to do but even then ..........
(Did get called back once to open bag because some loadie
took objection to it but even the manager warned me to be
a yes man when answering his questions !!!)

Don't know what you do or where you are asked but seems
strange to me !

.

hval

They are trying to distract you so they can nick something !!!

And I thought the US was bad.

Never had anything stolen as yet: well not for a number of years.

Thank you everyone for your comments and observations. Whilst it wasn't me who was naive enough to believe that property could be stolen in a security check area, it probably could have been me at any point, because like my friends, I trust people (and I trust the system). I now know better, and so do they.

These people had never travelled by air very much. They were mesmerised by something happening to them which they were not familiar, in a strange and confusing environment with a foreign language, different mannerisms and (to be factually frank) a perceived authoritarian attitude (it was in Germany).

I've found myself in a similar situation only once at NZAA where I was really rattled by a confrontational woman who demanded I empty my entire camera bag - and right bloody now!. It was unexpected; I was confused and offended by the attitude, and in that state I could have easily missed anything else which might have been (and was) in another tray. It would have been an ideal opportunity for a quick grab by an opportunist.

And on the other side of the ledger, I've actually seen a security person racing some 100 metres after a forgetful pax with their camera which they had apparently forgotten to collect in YSCB.

I've gained a few tips from this discussion and I thank you for that. If I may, I share one which I employ. On all of my camera cards, memory sticks and computer(s) I have written a short text (txt) file with the filename "Owner_Details_if_found". In it I have listed details where I can be contacted if the device comes into the possession of someone else who cares - i.e. I lose it. If they really want to return it to the rightful owner, they have the information to be able to do it.

My friends are wiser now. But they will continue to hurt for a very long time because quite simply the system let them down - it failed them in a reasonably expected duty of care to ensure that the property of the travelling public is safe whilst undergoing inspection in a security area for which they (the security staff) are responsible

I can't stop them stealing from my checked luggage (Opinel knife from the side pocket LAXFRA. Again...) but you can de-risk carry-on theft as follows:

Before you get anywhere near security, put EVERYTHING from your pockets in your carry-on.
If you're selected for secondary inspection (I invariably am - various metal implants..) say in a VERY LOUD voice "I want to have clear visibility of all my carry-on items while you're carrying out this inspection"
If they get stroppy, say "You are NOT performing this inspection until you have retrieved my carry-on items"
Further intransigence: "Get your manager"

Never fails.

hval, yes but belt and shoes is quite common. We were discussing camera and other such equipment. I've been through Glasgow and have never been asked to empty any contents from my carry-on bag. I automatically take all metals off me (including my watch - which is not really necessary except at some airports where they use particularly sensitive equipment) and place them in my carry-on. You must just be unlucky or you have a suspicious looking face ;)

I too lock everything of value in the bag and apart from the laptop, if security want to see it then they 'see it' in my presence. I have limited trust in so called security the world over and openly displaying items of value is temptation too far for what are typically single (brain) cell organisms.

ZFT

Re your comment " too far for what are typically single (brain) cell organisms."


I often refer to them as Amoeba's.

And the funny thing is, if you drop the word "Amoeba" at someone and they look at you strangely as they don't understand, you have just had it confirmed that they are a single cell organism.

.

Some, but not all, security want to see my iPad. No problem but wish they all did the same thing.

It's easy to confuse some of them if you wear trousers that don't have a belt.

I didnt have anything stolen BUT a fe years ago I went though Adelaide airport security. I had taken my shoes off, belt off etc, walked though the metal detector and the alarm went off. I was told to try again with my watch off. I wasnt happy but had to comply. The security agent took my watch, looked at it and gave me a funny look. It's my one thing I love, my Rolex. They put it though the X-ray for it to fall on the floor on the other side, I went f&*king nuts. It was placed on the belt without a tray so it fell though the gaps in the metal rollers after the belt and fell 4" to the concrete floor. I will not let that stunt happen again.:ugh: