Airport Security

[bucks1605]

So in a few days I'm going to be flying home from college and I have to bring my race tech springs I bought home.  Do you think they would have a problem with me putting them in my carry on bag? I don't really want to check any bags, but if they think I'm trying to make some kind of weapon with my springs and spacer tubing, I'd rather just skip the hassle and check my bag. So what do you guys think? Anyone with experience in airport security?

[ajaxgs]

flying out of canada ...they won't even let you fly with freaking toothpaste , one lighter for your smokes ect , i imagine they will want you to check em!

[bucks1605]

That's what I was leaning towards. The last thing I want is to make a huge scene with the t.s.a at the security checkpoint.

EDIT: Just got an answer from someone who's wife is a csa, and they said no way. So it looks like at best I'll be checking my bag, maybe even shipping through ups.

[GeeP]

UPS it.  The security people will go apeshit over them.  They're not "normal" for luggage.   

That's why I don't fly commerical.  Too much bullshit. 

[yamahonkawazuki]

and funny thing  is you can send a gun with your luggage, in the cargo area of course  did that when i flew from az to tn, and then back ( post 9/11)

[spc]

TSA can suck my ass.
Post 9-11 I'm flying home from training.  I'm in full uniform with a VERY packed duffel.  I got flagged for my bag, so they removed the entire contents to inspect.  I missed my flight over this, but that's not the fun part.  As I'm going through security the little agent who appears to have been in this country all of 5 days tells me I've been flagged for additional screening........... They had me removing uniform items to make sure I didn't have a f%$king bomb..............until another much higher ranking soldier (full of himself captain) noticed this.  He came over and raised hell, We both got to meet the TSA supervisor whom also appeared to have been in the country less than a month.

[bettingpython]

Drove 2 truck loads of servicing files to las vegas from tulsa when the mortgage company I worked for went under were talking 28' uhauls. The company bought an assload of ratchet straps to secure the rolling file cabinets we transported the paper files in. They said I could keep the ratchet straps, packed them suckers in my checked bag. Since I was flying one way on a cash ticket to come home I got flagged for screening you oughta see the the raised eyebrows 2 dozen ratchet straps in a suitcase gets

Just pack your springs in a checked bag you'll be fine.

[jserio]

personally i'd go UPS. baggage handlers could give a shaZam! less about your checked luggage. if it's valuable, ship it or try to carry it on. it would be a shame for them to get broken by a careless baggage person. just my thoughts though.

[spc]

They 'claimed' that the problem with my bag was because all of my shaZam! was crisp and rolled properly like a good little fresh-out-of-training-soldier's shaZam! would be.  Apparently it looked like I was trying to hide something inside of my clothes

[jserio]

you being military personnel i'd figure they'd let ya pass without any trouble. guess some people are just morons.

[spc]

Obstinate little chicken-suckers with an inferiority complex.  but, yeah, whatever.  I got pretty worked up at the check point. 

[yamahonkawazuki]

i would to terry. i saw a few at sky harbour in phoenix. was was about to go ballistic on a person( i hada  first class ticket form a layover. i gave it to that soldier and swapped. dude at security was a total asswipe

[ohgood]

fedex or usps. insure it for double the value. airport monkey can destroy an amazing amount of stuff in a surprisingly short amount of time.

if i could remember where the 'broken anvil' link was, i'd post it.

screeners are well, let's just be polite and say "interesting subjects".

[jserio]

when i was 12 i flew from Houston to Witchita with a plane change at DFW. i remember i had a barlow pocket knife my dad gave me. nobody said a word about it. it was like, beeeep, "oh what's that, a knife, ok get on the plane.".

[Kasumi]

Tryin to get on a plane over here is fooking rediculous too. Your not allowed to take any liquid through security that isnt absolutly neccessary like medacine or baby milk - it can't be over 100mls and it must be in a clear plastic bag, same for ointments and everything. Also have to take off all jackets, jumpers, coats, shoes, belts jewelry when you go through security, if they  thought they could they would probably have you strip naked.

And it isnt even better if you work at airports!  I work in air traffic so naturally super high security, i get searched at least once a week at the gate and they know me! They reckon it takes about a year of working at the airport before your fully trusted. It annoys me sometimes, security on the gate there isnt always in (due to low staff) in which case i have to ring up to the tower and get them to open the gate. Ontop of that when you get to teh bottom of the tower we dont have security passes which would just open the door you have to intercom request to be let in.

It can get annoying but you soon get used to it its just the culture of air travel these days and id rather it was there than it wasnt. As much of an inconvenience it is, once your in the air theres nothing you can do retrospectivly if something gets through.

[asobi]

TSA can suck my ass.
Post 9-11 I'm flying home from training.  I'm in full uniform with a VERY packed duffel.  I got flagged for my bag, so they removed the entire contents to inspect.  I missed my flight over this, but that's not the fun part.  As I'm going through security the little agent who appears to have been in this country all of 5 days tells me I've been flagged for additional screening........... They had me removing uniform items to make sure I didn't have a f%$king bomb..............until another much higher ranking soldier (full of himself captain) noticed this.  He came over and raised hell, We both got to meet the TSA supervisor whom also appeared to have been in the country less than a month.

These people are overpaid and the whole thing is "security theater".  I once left a Leatherman multipurpose knife in my backpack by accident while flying, and they never saw it on the X-ray.  I really think that with a sealed cockpit the risk of hijacking is just minimal these days - keep an armed air marshal on board for if anything funny happens, and make sure no other firearms make it on board.  Don't sweat the nail clippers and nail files.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theater

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/08/terrorism_secur.html