Airport kerfuffle

[JOEPRO]

Had a strange one on the way through security coming home from USA the other day.

My bag was taken aside for inspection. Then they took out 2x gift candles my GF had bought which were in my case for testing. They immediately said one candle tested positive for explosives and did I know anything about this?! So said no, it's just a candle bought and tagged from a large shop.

They took me aside in front of all and full search and went through all belongings whilst an expolsive expert was called to examine the candle! During this time they also scanned my shoes and said we got another hit on them.....

No idea but I kept calm and polite. Then heard them say "another one?" And then "can we get a machine that works?".

And about 20 minutes later they handed the candle back and my stuff all unpacked. I asked can I go then? And they said yes. No explanation or anything offered I presume they realised their test and accusations were incorrect but found the whole thing quite strange altogether!! Anyone else had something like this happen?

 

[KemppiFrog]

Some years ago, I went through customs at Newhaven. They looked at my passport, then went right through my car, even pulling out the sound insulation.. Lost interest and walked off, leaving me to put it all back together.
I did have a Morrocan stamp in my passport, so suppose that was it.

 

[JOEPRO]

This may be of interest to members also FYI!

They took out thankfully the only tool I packed in my hand luggage as it was a last minute purchase:



They waved them around and said this isn't permitted and before I could reply their manager said they are OK as they are under 7 inches. I see this online:

 

[jimbo84]

A number of years ago coming back from Spain I got stopped and bag searched, they swabbed it and the machine showed explosive something or other, questions asked about where I'd been whilst in Spain. I'd been in a ship builder's yard, telling them this and politely answering their other questions seemed to appease them and they let me on my way.

Truth is the bag hadn't come out of the boot of the hire car other than in the hotel and airport so who knows what the machine had picked up.

 

[galooph]

I had the explosives swab experience heading back from Las Vegas in 1999. I'd accidentally spilled a little bit of liquid from a takeaway Chinese onto the top of my carry on bag, which they got very interested in and did an explosives residue test on it! Waved me on through, thankfully, after the test was negative.

 

[daleyd]

I was leaving Riga in Latvia the day a NATO conference was on there.

Had to get an escorted bus to a building on the outskirts of the airport where all our bags were searched before we were allowed to go to the airport terminal building and then go through security as normal.

I had a suitcase, laptop bag and hefty toolbox full of test gear, and general tools. Suitcase and laptop bag - no worries. But the toolbox was a bit more problematic

One particular item they pulled out was a differential pressure meter like this…

Unfortunately it looks a bit like a taser, so the security guy thought I was going in kitted up ready to stun George W Bush …

It probably made for interesting viewing me doing charades trying to show what a pressure meter was used for to a non English speaking security goon

 

[bricol]

Everything goes in checked luggage - I carry a work laptop, my tablet, a kindle and my phone. That's it. Tools declared in tool boxes, usually going through additional security, but never bothered with small amounts of tools in my suitcase.

I've declared stuff on entry to the US, and been pulled to one side on internal flights when living there, and when visiting since - be polite, explain, keep receipts, documentation etc and I've never had any real hassle. In fact, I've been taken out the queue, led down past everyone, a locked door opened, ushered through, passport return, "have a safe trip" and waved on before now Usually veers off into conversation about motorsport as my default travel jacket is a multi-coloured jacket in ~Jeff Gordon Hendricks Motorsport colours from 20 yrs ago.

Just be English, polite, smiley and it usually works.

 

[atomant48]

This may be of interest to members also FYI!

They took out thankfully the only tool I packed in my hand luggage as it was a last minute purchase:

View attachment 470972

They waved them around and said this isn't permitted and before I could reply their manager said they are OK as they are under 7 inches. I see this online:

View attachment 470971

I brought a bunch of tools back from NZ last year - mostly packed in suitcase but put the set of inside micrometers and a couple dial indicators in my hand luggage to protect them. Nothing of huge value but hugely sentimental value. NEver even gave it a thought. Was told I was “extremely lucky” to keep them at every scanner I went through …. The chap in Qatar was most interested in what they were and we had a great conversation which may have helped me keep them.

 

[daleyd]

I was also travelling to the states from Manchester airport the week after Richard Reid (the shoe bomber) was caught…

Because of the extra security before I checked anything in properly a girl came over and asked if she could have a look in my bags.

She opened the toolbox which had all sorts of plc and vfd programming cables coiled up on the top and gave me a sideways look as she said “erm, I’ve been told to look out for suspicious cables and wires…”

We got chatting about what I was doing and she decided I “looked like I could be trusted” so off I popped through to normal security

 

[Morris]

a work colleague and myself were stopped at dutch customs in 1982/3 ish. Among our kit was wahat was described on the carnet as a "static discharge gun". Static and discharge meant nothing to them but GUN! was a word they knew. Cue massive search and 5 hour delay while it was cleared up. What fun.

Going into the States last year I went through immigration first and waited for wifey. Cue the metal detector going off. Recheck pockets, belt etc and back through. Goes off again. Coat off and detector wand waved over her. That goes off. "Please step to one side madam" and I could see the rising panic on her face. They finally decided it was her trainers, took them off and all seemed ok. So she come through to the passport check. Which fails. For some reason something wouldn't tie up with the biometric bit. So now they want a full set of fingerprints and inform her that if she is not flagged up as leaving on our return flight she will be arrested. She was not a happy bunny after that. Cheered up in the California sun though

 

[Cobbler]

Back in the early 80s we were coming back from a trip to Spain. Wife & small son went through the metal detector watched by 2 guards one with a hand gun, the other with what I can only describe as a light machine gun over his shoulder. I went through … clang clang clang …. Off it went. The guard had one word of English metal metal metal & got out the pistol. Emptied pockets & tried again …. Clang clang off it went again, by which time the guy with the machine gun thing unfolded the tripod & set it up on the floor pointing at my legs. My son was screaming his head off, wife in tears & the 1st one still shouting metal metal. Turned out it was my belt buckle, took of the belt & went through all ok & guards relaxed. A bit of a worrying time, as this was the first time we had flown anywhere as a family holiday.

 

[brightspark]

on holiday and our lass was asked any sharps or other stuff she said yes a few epipens and prescription tablets she just got waved through

 

[JOEPRO]

Back in the early 80s we were coming back from a trip to Spain. Wife & small son went through the metal detector watched by 2 guards one with a hand gun, the other with what I can only describe as a light machine gun over his shoulder. I went through … clang clang clang …. Off it went. The guard had one word of English metal metal metal & got out the pistol. Emptied pockets & tried again …. Clang clang off it went again, by which time the guy with the machine gun thing unfolded the tripod & set it up on the floor pointing at my legs. My son was screaming his head off, wife in tears & the 1st one still shouting metal metal. Turned out it was my belt buckle, took of the belt & went through all ok & guards relaxed. A bit of a worrying time, as this was the first time we had flown anywhere as a family holiday.

OK you win!

That sounds terrible

 

[minimutly]

The Mrs and I were pulled over in Bristol last year, their scanner didn't like our carry on bag. Wanted to know my profession, hers, where was the bag stored etc. it seems certain loft insulation sets these things off...

 

[RichardM]

I usually get wiped when I have put O'Keefes on !

 

[northwest]

Bristol airport similar thing, right after the "shoe bomber" was caught, checking the soles of everyone's shoes. Some wifey at the back commented "wonder what they are looking for" ? My pal, forever the comedian piped up "they are looking for who it was brought the dog sh1t in". Raised a laugh anyway.

 

[Onoff]

That was lucky, you might have been subject to a full cavity search!

Or did I mean unlucky?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Got pulled by one of Luton’s finest coming through passport control on my way back from Bulgaria. A cheap suit walked up as I passed and ushered me into a side room where he informed me that due to the fact I had a military style rucksack and desert boots he was going to question me as he had suspicions I was a fighter returning from Syria.

The first question was “do you, or have you ever worked for the uk government or in uk defence in any capacity. Judging by the way his face lit up when I said yes I presume this was a jackpot question. Took them an hour to do a background check and let me go. I did point out that there’s not many submarines in Syria, if I’d been in Syria I might have a slightly better tan, and terrorists don’t tend to mince around in the uk in desert boots, but he appeared to have had his sense of humour surgically removed

 

[brightspark]

Got pulled by one of Luton’s finest coming through passport control on my way back from Bulgaria. A cheap suit walked up as I passed and ushered me into a side room where he informed me that due to the fact I had a military style rucksack and desert boots he was going to question me as he had suspicions I was a fighter returning from Syria.

The first question was “do you, or have you ever worked for the uk government or in uk defence in any capacity. Judging by the way his face lit up when I said yes I presume this was a jackpot question. Took them an hour to do a background check and let me go. I did point out that there’s not many submarines in Syria, if I’d been in Syria I might have a slightly better tan, and terrorists don’t tend to mince around in the uk in desert boots, but he appeared to have had his sense of humour surgically removed

should have said to him on the way out dont smile your face will crack

 

[Onoff]

Coming back from New Zealand after 9/11 they had drafted in military personnel to manage their ports and airports. One chap was sitting, feet up at the x-ray desk.

My suitcases went through and clear as day both were obviously stuffed with bottles wrapped in various clothes.

"What's in the bottles mate?"

"Erm...Speights".

"Good on ya!"

That was the extent of his interest.

My trip to Countdown was thus not wasted.