Tupolev160 From Ukraine, joined Oct 2011, 135 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 2566 times:
I think we all lived those highly unpleasant situations in the airports worldwide when our belongings were confiscated by the airport security screening, through measures that sometimes do not give us a desire to travel by air at all anymore...
I find the today's security screening around the world excessive and exaggerated, especially since the introduction of all the "liquids forbidden and so on" rules.
You might also wanna talk about other absurd (or even surprisingly good) situations you faced in airports worldwide as a bonus. So i guess i should start the list, in the past year i was confiscated and had thrown to the rubbish the following staff:
- 2KG of natural honey in plastic bottles (@BEG)
- A small original swiss knife (@BEG)
Bonus:
- After landing @MAA and getting out of the terminal i wasn't allowed to re-enter the terminal by the security (people not travelling not allowed inside Indian airports) so i had to wait for 4 hours on the street until my scheduled transportation came to pick me up. No waiting halls for arriving passengers. In the matter Indian airports are one the worst in the world concerning absurd and/or excessive security measures, not mentioning the facilities provided. I guess they're trying to compensate with excessive security all the other shortcomings of the airport, without noticing they're making the things even worse...
- Istanbul's SAW airport, Wi-Fi provided (for free for 20 min.) though ONLY for people having Turkish Sim-cards, through an authorization system via Sms, one of the most absurd things ever.
Are the incoming passengers supposed to arrive with Turkish Sim-cards?
An international airport, managed in a mindset of a local bus station (such as many other things in Turkey).
You are welcome to react and continue, by specifying the airport in question for all relevant cases. Thanks.
Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
SmithAir747 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 1529 posts, RR: 38 Reply 1, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2483 times:
In September 2006, I was returning back to London for my 3rd and final year at King's College London, after having spent a month's summer holiday with my family in Fort Wayne, IN.
This was just a month after the foiled terrorist plot to blow up US-bound transatlantic flights from LHR. I had flown LHR-ORD-FWA on United, less than a day before the plot was revealed (and the liquids ban took effect).
So, when I was going through security at FWA (my home airport at the time) to start on my trip back to London (DL FWA-CVG-LGW), I put my violin case and carryon bag on the belt to go through the X-ray machine. Lo and behold, they opened up my violin case on the other end of the line--and found a tiny bottle of violin cleaner/polish (which I had purchased recently from a London violin shop for 25 pounds) in the case with my green violin! They confiscated and discarded it. 25 quid thrown away just like that.
SmithAir747
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made... (Psalm 139:14)
aklrno From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 432 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 2463 times:
A Jello pudding cup. But they let me keep the cup of cole slaw. The pudding had no volume indicated on the single serve package. I thought it was about the legal size. They disagreed. It couldn't have been off by much.
WestJet747 From Canada, joined Aug 2011, 586 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 2446 times:
A screener harassed me at YUL for a while before making me walk over to a garbage bin to throw out a half-empty tube of toothpaste.
A strange one was at MEL when I had a small bottle of cologne (well within the allowed limits) taken from me because the I didn't have the cap. The cap serves no purpose on a spray bottle, yet the screener I guess failed to see that. Luckily it was just some cheap cologne I was given from a friend.
Quoting aloges (Reply 2): a small original swiss knife
At BWN they have these clear plexiglass boxes where you can see all the sharp objects they've confiscated. It's pretty cool to check out when you're lined to get screened.
It was also at BWN that I witnessed security attempt to confiscate 5 bottles of liquor from a couple. Obviously flustered, the man proceeded to crack open a bottle of whiskey and start chugging on the spot while the wife offered me and my friends shots of tequila...
packcheer From United States of America, joined Nov 2008, 320 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 2437 times:
I made 6 trips this year with a 2 inch knife in carry on. I didn't know it was in there until before my 7th trip I happened to stick my hand in the bottom of my bag and feel it while I was in my office right before heading to the airport.
I'm glad I found it, but I'm also a little scared that I made it through the airport 12 times (6 trips, both ways each time).
Quokkas From Australia, joined Jan 2012, 437 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 2436 times:
In Cairo I witnessed tourists who had been told by their guide that they could buy bottled water in the terminal and take it through security have that same water confiscated.
Bottles that had been opened were emptied into a bucket that was periodically taken away (maybe to make coffee or to wash the floors) while unopened bottles were placed to one side and subsequently collected by the shop keeper who sold them in the first place. Nice little earner, all in the name of security.
aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 7587 posts, RR: 51 Reply 9, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 2427 times:
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 6): At BWN they have these clear plexiglass boxes where you can see all the sharp objects they've confiscated. It's pretty cool to check out when you're lined to get screened.
Same at LPB, although I got the distinct impression that the screener was back with me so quickly that he couldn't possibly have made it to that box with my knife.
Quoting WestJet747 (Reply 6): Obviously flustered, the man proceeded to crack open a bottle of whiskey and start chugging on the spot while the wife offered me and my friends shots of tequila...
That's giving them the finger in style!
Quoting packcheer (Reply 7): I'm glad I found it, but I'm also a little scared that I made it through the airport 12 times (6 trips, both ways each time).
I look at it this way: what could you possibly have done with it? Cut open your shoes to access the bo... no, those got X-rayed. Threatened or injured the pilots? You wouldn't have got into the cockpit in the first place. Threatened or injured someone in the cabin? They would have overpowered you in a heartbeat.
Interestingly, a security screener at THF ( little airport) thought much the same when he looked at paper scissors which I had forgotten in my backpack. He took them out, gave them a good look, put them back in and handed me my things. That was five years ago, IIRC.
Quoting Quokkas (Reply 8): Baksheesh involved? Perish the thought.
Crivens, no!
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
Flyingfox27 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2007, 378 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 2402 times:
I keep forgetting a small bottle of Volvic mineral water but they laughed it off and at Gatwick once my Lynx shampoo was a tad too big and i said oops sorry you can have it saves you buying some and he laughed lol! But seriously i better stop doing that as other countries might have more tougher standards.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 10397 posts, RR: 66 Reply 11, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2368 times:
I was travelling on the very first day of this ban in 2006, when it was still a total ban on everything. You walked through security with yourself and the clothes you were wearing, nothing so much as a pen was allowed to be in your pockets or otherwise on your person. I found out it was quite this strict inadvertently; I was returning from Svalbard and had half a dozen camera cards full of invaluable pictures, and I didn't want to check them in because I feared my bags would get lost or damaged so I kept them in a pocket of my jeans. They were disallowed as a security risk, so I had to go back to check in who kindly found me an small A5 envelope into which I sealed these cards and checked them in - the luggage tag was practically bigger than the envelope and I didn't really expect them to arrive at the other end in one piece or at all. Thank fully they arrived safely, as did all my camera gear which was just in my soft hand baggage with no protection from being dropped or thrown into the aircraft.
I flew again a couple of days later, but this time took no chances and packed all my camera gear and cards around soft clothing inside a wooden crate, which was in turn packed around soft clothing in a case.
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 3807 posts, RR: 4 Reply 12, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2319 times:
Quoting SmithAir747 (Reply 1): I had flown LHR-ORD-FWA on United, less than a day before the plot was revealed (and the liquids ban took effect).
I flew JFK-PHX the very morning the plot was unveiled and the liquid ban put into effect. I found out about it at 4AM sitting outside T7 on my laptop. Threw away a full bottle of hair gel, shampoo, and toothpaste. Meh.
One time, I accidentally left a Leatherman multipurpose tool in my backpack going to work. I heard "bag check", knew it was me, and then realized what it was. I was extremely lucky they didn't take my badge for that.
DesertAir From Mexico, joined Jan 2006, 1330 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 months 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2289 times:
A bottle of wine. I bought it at Duty Free in San Pedro, Honduras to get rid of excess Limperas. I forgot that after going through customs in Miami I would have to go through security to catch my domestic flight. The TSA agent acted outraged. What a show!
MH017 From Netherlands, joined Apr 2005, 1566 posts, RR: 29 Reply 14, posted (3 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2252 times:
Due to bad weather I took an umbrella along on in 2008:
BD AMS-LHR: no problems at Schiphol, although it had to go thru the scanner, to bring it on board...
BD LHR-AMS: could NOT bring it along on board "as this could be used as a weapon"...had to leave the umbrella behind at security...what a bad excuse/argument of the security staff...
Haven't flown ever since to/from LHR...
Never head any other issues when flying, even not at the strict German airports !!!
airtrainer From Belgium, joined Aug 2003, 1369 posts, RR: 15 Reply 15, posted (3 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2247 times:
a snowglobe
Back in early 2007 I made my first trip after the liquid ban and had to throw two bottles of Moscatel at ALC. Definitely enough to hate that stupid rule since...
Also got my shaving foam confiscated at CRL last year (didn't think about it when I packed) and a bottle of water that I had bought AIRSIDE at KUL...
Tupolev160 From Ukraine, joined Oct 2011, 135 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2229 times:
How can be honey or Nutella be considered as LIQUIDS? Someone could get us such a list from somewhere?
I personally appreciate a lot BEY airport cause there all the security screening takes time before even check-in so you don't risk having anything confiscated, you can put anything problematic into the checked-in luggage. I wonder why not all airports do the same.
Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.
TCASAlert From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (3 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 2183 times:
My first was a bottle of Kurust I had in my coat pocket when travelling MAN-ORD, had absolutely no idea it was in there (I hadn't worn the coat in some months).
The second was my collection of rehomed hotel coffee and teabags which I always take with me. On this occasion I decided not to check the bag in and take it as hand luggage, but had them taken from me
My last was when I had just spent £3 on a brand new can of deodorant in the morning, hadn't even used it but then got it taken off me when I tried to take it as hand luggage
TCASAlert From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (3 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2169 times:
Quoting signol (Reply 18): On what grounds could tea bags be confiscated?!
It was back in 2009 in Edinburgh, amid yet another media terrorism panic. I think it was the coffee rather than the teabags because it was a powder and not in a sealed clear plastic bag
747438 From UK - England, joined Jan 2007, 789 posts, RR: 7 Reply 20, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2119 times:
Quoting MH017 (Reply 14): BD LHR-AMS: could NOT bring it along on board "as this could be used as a weapon"...had to leave the umbrella behind at security...what a bad excuse/argument of the security staff...
Haven't flown ever since to/from LHR...
That was lifted 2+ years ago. No probs with umbrellas through LHR now.
Ah. I've had some customs officers look suspiciously at tea bags before, at the border between Peru and Chile, but we explained "it's tea. We are English!" and were let through.
To the OP, not much really. I've had a deodorant confiscated at STN, that I forgot about, and some children's yoghurts, which was annoying as they were soya yoghurts (our son was allergic to dairy - outgrown now) and we couldn't replace them in a shop airside, and the security staff said he was too old to count for the "baby can take anything through, as long as you taste it" rule.
srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16221 posts, RR: 57 Reply 24, posted (3 months 1 week 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2056 times:
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Quoting Tupolev160 (Reply 16): How can be honey or Nutella be considered as LIQUIDS? Someone could get us such a list from somewhere?
The consistency of those items fall under liquids/gels, and the regulations apply there.
As for what I have had taken away from my by airport security, not a thing. Anything that is not allowed in a carry-on bag is packed in my checked bag. If I'm not checking a bag, I don't take it. I never carry any sort of knife when I travel, so I don't have to worry about that, and the only thing I've packed in a checked bag that I had concerns about possibly being taken by the TSA was my cigar lighter (Even though it was packed in a TSA and DoT approved carrying case.). But it's never been an issue as I guess the TSA folks running the bag screening downstairs at the airport are aware of the approved containers for torch-style lighters (Which are still banned from being carried onboard a/c.).
Hello Airplanes? Yeah, it's Blimps. You win, bye....
25 AR385: I assume he did not finish it on the spot? He would have been in a coma within minutes. Some idiot did that with Vodka a few years ago in some Nordic
26 aklrno: I was thinking about the Jello pudding I mentioned in reply 3. It is claimed to be 113 grams of product. Since it is mostly (but not all water), that
27 WestJet747: Nope, they actually even let him board after that.
28 longhauler: I think the most ironic thing taken from me, was a dinner knife from my meal tray the day before. I was told it was not allowed on an aircraft. When I
29 YXD172: Only thing I've lost is a freezer pack. Went through security in YYZ no problem (when it was still frozen) but had it confiscated when I recleared sec
30 Tupolev160: Great addition to the topic longhauler, thanks. In what concerns me i think the most stupid security people are in the Indian airports, there is the a
31 Be77: Were they body shots? Where's the lemon and salt when you need it. There must be HUGE bins for that...they seem to get mine about half the time at ai
32 golfradio: You obviously haven't seen an Indian family come to the airport to drop off someone. Everybody from the third cousin to the said cousins in-laws are
33 Tupolev160: Ok, but why do also foreigners have to pay then if Indians come in herds? I would say that groups beyond 3 for example should have to pay, regardless
34 readytotaxi: List Things Airport Security Took From You I'm sure one of them took my virginity, never found it since.
35 IAHworldflyer: I had a very small jar of Apple Butter taken from me at PHL. It's a Pennsylvania amish thing that my Dad, who grew up in the area craves, and I was br
36 AR385: That´s impossible. Maybe he drank it within an hour. Then I would believe it. But in minutes, in 4 or 5 gulps? No. That puts your blood alcohol leve
37 WestJet747: I say right there in the quote: "Nope"...as in he did NOT finish it. But he did put a good dent into it, enough to put me under the table.
39 kurtjeter: If you're ever in Louisville and plan to visit the Louisville Slugger (baseball bat) factory and museum, be aware that the 14 inch or so souvenir bat
40 ALTF4: Never had anything taken, but.... I'm a bagpipe player and compete worldwide on the instrument, in the highest amateur ranking. No way in hell I'd eve
41 longhauler: I am of Scots origin, and even I have to admit the noise is a greater weapon than any pipe bomb.
42 WestJet747: Come on longhauler, it's not that bad. At least there isn't a picture of you as a child wearing a kilt and holding fake bagpipes hanging on a wall in
43 ALTF4: If somebody doesn't know how to play them, then sure, I'd agree. Find somebody that knows how to, and it's a bit different. For example: http://www.y
44 kurtjeter: THOSE bagpipes are awesome. That's a whole new world of music for me. Thanks for the introduction!
45 longhauler: Come on ... scan it and post it! I am just needling you guys. Honestly, I still get chills when listening to Scotland the Brave / Alba an Aigh. But,
46 Be77: Gotta love pipes, and the SFU band is even better live. A family member played a lot of amatuer competitions, so i have seen the weird looks pipes ge
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From Ukraine, joined Oct 2011, 135 posts, 
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little airport) thought much the same when he looked at paper scissors which I had forgotten in my backpack. He took them out, gave them a good look, put them back in and handed me my things. That was five years ago, IIRC.
From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2007, 378 posts, 
But seriously i better stop doing that as other countries might have more tougher standards.
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