Having bag pulled for bug spray
 

I had a first yesterday when my bag was pulled post check-in after X Ray at an airport in the Atacama in Chile. I was asked to attend and open bag, so back through arrivals to LATAM desk who took me back office security where my offending bag was sat on a table with a security officer. I asked what the issue was, and was shown the normal contents chart and was asked if anything was in there to which I said no.

At this stage I decided to drop the bomb shell that I spoke Spanish and I then opened the bag and produced the offending bug spray in a it’s normal water proof bag. I have travelled extensively for years and this was a first. It was a close thing to make the flight but all went ok and indeed bags made flight and connection.

Has anyone else had similar issue as a first for me.

Cheers
Mr Mac

Last year, passing through LHR and they had a new piece of screening kit, which means there is an efficient, faster, less intrusive checking of bags - except I was pulled over as I was scanned on another machine and the lens wipes in my back pocket, which I'd forgotten about were spotted in the scanner and I was scolded for not removing them and the offending wipes had to be sent back through the luggage scanner.

Whatever

Similar experience with a folder hankerchief except I wasn't scolded!

Probably fearful of a potential 'handkerchiefs at dawn' scenario somewhere in the terminal between two evenly dressed gentlemenn.....

It's a lottery these days as to what and where bags get pulled imo. Even with the newest scanners that allow you to leave everything in your bag, the consistency seems less than it should. I'm surprised that the OP hasn't been pulled over before for this 'transgression' simply because of overzealousness by an airport security bod. At least if it had been confiscated the bug possibilities in the Atacama would have been low ;-)

SHJ
The bug spray has already been through 10 scanners on this trip before this, and it was in hold bag and was not confiscated either just identified. I have never had a hold bag pulled like that before for bug spray or any other spray. With regards to use in Atacama, I have yet to use it there or indeed anywhere on this trip so far.

Ad got handkerchiefs guilty a few times and scolded at T1 Manchester a few months ago unsurprisingly.

Cheers
Mr Mac

A daily occupational hazard when working airside I'm afraid. Woe betide if you bring a frozen curry in for your tea. The tissue in a pocket is very common. I've been caught a couple of times. The first at LHR where the security staff were incredibly rude and unpleasant, at MAN it was just an oops, never mind do it again.

Too dry for bugs in the Atacama

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....22ac883300.jpg

As we all know, dangerously flicking a handkerchief at someone could have their eye out! :rolleyes:

If that's the case then the supposed great minds behind the operation haven't thought things through, as real operators will glide through one of the many other possible vectors available. All it does is create costly delays and resentment from the paying public frustrated by overzealous stoppages. That said, some of the paying public seem to be either woefully naive or downright stupid if witnessing what they think can be brought through security ;-)

I think I'd fall into the category of 'woefully naive or downright stupid' as I didn't know about the handkerchieves and tissues one. How do they pose a hazard?

In the late 90s I carried a PC motherboard in my luggage LAX-ORD-FRA-LIN. Nothing said. I wonder what it looked like on x-ray. :)

I've mentioned before the fun I had with several rolls of promotional magnets in my baggage ARRIVING at Sheremetyevo.................... it all turned out OK inthe end... eventually....... :cool:

Or one person's common sense can be another's lack thereof!

An experience at Budapest some years ago, flying RyanAir. Had a single case, to check in. Told to take it ourselves to the gate at which point it would be taken off us and put in the hold. Consequently pulled over at security, couple of liquids > 100 ml. Explained the instruction we had been given - "Ah, Ryanair's latest scheme, no problem, off you go".

I'm told that in some places they are even more devious by making the searches randomly random ...

They’re protecting against a Morris dancer invasion!

Asturias 56
I agree re Atacama but other areas on this little jaunt are not so bug free and they had some pretty nasty potential side effects so spray essential though I do not appear to be flavoursome in comparison with Mrs Mac.

Cheers
Mr Mac

Guess you're getting a bit too tough & stringy, Mr Mac!

Can someone explain why tissues cause a problem when bags are scanned?