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They're just as bad at identifying actual "weapons": I flew to South America with a layover in Miami a few years back. Got past TSA without any trouble on the d
by nfriedly 11y ago
They're just as bad at identifying actual "weapons": I flew to South America with a layover in Miami a few years back. Got past TSA without any trouble on the domestic leg, then I had to go through again for the international leg.
The second time through security, they said they saw a blade on the x-ray.. turns out they were right. I forgot I had left a multi-tool in my bag.
Thankfully, they just trashed it and let me continue on my way. The story still flabbergasts me, though.
- peterwwillis 11y agoFYI you are allowed to carry on screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers less than 7 inches long. More bulky than a multi-tool, but at least you can carry something? https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/prohibited-items https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/prohibited-ite...
- morcheeba 11y agoThey can still confiscate whatever they want, regardless of the rules: https://bbs.boingboing.net/t/makers-tsa-compliant-multitool-finally-confiscated/76457 https://bbs.boingboing.net/t/makers-tsa-compliant-multitool-...
- aqme28 11y agoThey confiscated a friend's _comb_, because it opened with a switchblade-style button.
- i_are_smart 11y agoNo, I'd wager the comb got confiscated because the TSA agent thought it looked cool and wanted one.
- themartorana 11y agoJust like iPads. http://www.wired.com/2012/12/tsa-ipads/ http://www.wired.com/2012/12/tsa-ipads/
- lostInTheWoods3 11y agoI had a wine opener confiscated because of the 1 inch knife ... can't imagine how someone might use a wine opener to hijack a plane
- venomsnake 11y agoA stab in the jugular will get the job done. But of course you can break the plastic knife and fork they give you and still stab someone in the jugular. You could even sharpen the headphones connector.
- xyience 11y agoOr repurpose any of the other things you can buy after the security line: http://www.terminalcornucopia.com/ http://www.terminalcornucopia.com/
- peterwwillis 11y agoI'm sure i'm on some watch list for visiting that site now, but it's still fantastic that somebody put all together. It's like an anarchist cookbook that isn't designed to maim bored teens!
- spinlock 11y agoThe 9-11 hijackers used razor blades. So, its been done. Of course, no American passenger is going to believe that everything will be fine if they comply these days so I don't think its possible to pull off 9-11 again.
- nommm-nommm 11y agoThere is a huge difference hijacking protocol between now and 9/11. Post 9/11 passengers are not going to allow a guy with a razor blade hijack a plane, or even several guys with razor blades. Passengers and crew members now fight back and have the advantage of numbers.
- henrikschroder 11y agoOnce I was flying out of Stockholm, and behind me in the security check was a handyman who was just passing security to fix something on the inside. He had a small open toolbox on wheels with him, so after I went through the metal detector, they pushed his box through, which obviously beeped, since it was full of screwdrivers, knives, hammers, and a lot of other sharp metal things. And then the handyman went through, and he also set off the metal detector, so the security people started checking him and patting him down. So noone is looking at the toolbox that I'm standing right next to. I could easily have grabbed a knife or two if I had wanted to. And once they finished patting him down, he grabs his tools and walks on. And I'm just standing there, gaping at the stupidity of it all.
- seanp2k2 11y agoOoh yeah, in between times when they're actively inspecting YOU, it'd be totally trivial to hand things off and circumvent their "secure" zone. Thinking about all the ways you could sneak something through if you wanted to is always entertaining while I'm waiting.
- vinay427 11y agoSlightly off-topic, but just to clarify Miami requires everyone to go through security again for an international connection, or was this a special case?
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- silencio 11y agoI wonder if it's a case like domestic terminal -> international terminal without any post-security options to move between the two. I do know that flying _back_ to the US on my last few international flights, there was a second security checkpoint I had to go through. Very silly. I had filled my water bottle at a fountain at the gate and then had to empty it right out 5 minutes later.
- Symbiote 11y agoI think the theory with this is many foreign countries don't do sufficient checks. Based on travelling in south America, south East Asia etc, this is sometimes correct.
- seanmcdirmid 11y agoWhenever you transfer at different security zones, you have to go through security again. So I fly threw Japan a lot, and always have to recheck (but they are pretty fast). I'm connecting through Moscow next week to get to Europe, and I'm dreading Russian security a bit (it's pretty fast, they don't actually check much, but very disorganized).
- eastbayjake 11y agoYou have to go through security again for international flights that connect to a domestic flight, but not usually (ever?) if you've passed TSA within the US and are connecting to leave the country. That's true at every airport in the US, not just Miami.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
- Diederich 11y agoI have passed through TSA on four different flights (across two trips) with my multitool in my backpack. This was, of course, completely accidental on my part. These events caused me to put together a pre-TSA personal checklist, since I can't count on getting lucky again, and I really like that multitool. (:
- seanp2k2 11y agoSame. It's basically a crapshoot if they'll find it. I've accidentally brought pocket knives, bottle openers, and multi-tools. The detection rate is about 1 in 8 if I forget to grab it out of my carry on.
- stevesearer 11y agoSimilar story - a member of my group went through security at LAX with no problems, but was stopped at Heathrow because of something suspicious in her handbag. We emptied everything out of the bag, re-scanned it, and the object was still detected. After feeling around in the bag we discovered some fabric cutting shears had apparently been accidentally been sewn into the lining by someone on the factory line (they looked something like this if I remember correctly: http://imgur.com/ZKlsjJw http://imgur.com/ZKlsjJw). We just cut them out, handed them over and went on our way. Was a really strange experience though.
- tehwebguy 11y agoTSA factors in if an item appeared to be intentionally concealed as well, I'm glad you didn't get a notice with a significant fine
- gsnedders 11y agoThe TSA has nothing to do with Heathrow where it was found, though. (I don't think in the UK anyone can be fined: if there's any belief of malice, you're likely to be dealt with under normal criminal law such as conspiracy to murder, or potentially terrorism related offences; if there's not, you can either surrender your property or return landside).
- menage 11y agoA criminal conviction could lead to a fine.
- tlrobinson 11y agoMy friend accidentally took a multi-tool through airport screening shortly after 9/11 and had to lawyer up to get the resulting shitstorm to go away (and he's white and an American citizen) On the other hand, I remember when I was a kid in the 90s and accidentally took my pocket knife (3" blade) through screening, and they found it but let me bring it on the plane...
- tomsaffell 11y agoI accidentally took a multi-tool (with several blades) through an airport security checkpoint 2 weeks after 9/11. It was found on my person, and confiscated. I was told I could collect it on arrival at the 'weird items' desk at London Heathrow baggage claim. When I arrived a Heathrow it was waiting for me in a padded envelope at the desk. I was flying out of Beijing, you know... that country with terrible human rights... To be clear: there are multiple human rights issues in China, many of which are far worse than the US. Just not everything.
- RyJones 11y agoI used to take my CRKT M16-14 knife on the nerd bird SJC<->SEA round trip twice a week. Nobody cared. This was mid-90s until just before 9/11. I didn't try to hide it - just tossed it in the bin with my keys etc. https://www.copsplus.com/prodnum4396.php https://www.copsplus.com/prodnum4396.php
- fapjacks 11y agoWell, before 9/11 you didn't have to check your firearms. You could carry them on as long as they were in a case. Things were more reasonable back then.
- petemc_ 11y agoA lot of people wouldn't consider it reasonable to allow people to carry guns around, least of all on a plane.
- 11y ago
- nommm-nommm 11y agoI routinely bring contraband through airport security, not weapons, mind you, just silly contraband (unallowed arosols). I am almost never "caught."
- refurb 11y agoThis is so true. I was traveling with my partner and she decided to buy a bunch of haircare products. Like the 4 or 5 big 1L containers of shampoo and conditioner. I told her "we need to check those bags, otherwise they'll make you throw them out". She said it would be fine. And guess what? It was. Almost 4L of liquids in her carry-on and no one said a thing.
- elif 11y agoVery similar story about MIA. I flew out of ATL with a pocket knife, and lost it at MIA on the way back. Also conversely, ATL wouldn't let me carry-on my pool cue and forced me to check it, but at YUL on the way back, they had no problem with it. I think it's more of a roulette of circumstances more than a pattern of compliance/negligence, but it is curious to have 2 MIA data points.
- semi-extrinsic 11y agoFlying out of London Gatwick, I once had a pack of torx driver bits confiscated "because they're dangerous tools, you see". But they failed to confiscate the 8" flathead screwdriver that was also in the bag, much to my amusement when I found it during unpacking. I also flew Oslo->Lisbon->Sao Paolo->Rio de Janeiro->Lisbon->Oslo about five years ago with a 7" soldering iron in my hand luggage. Then there was the time when I had my bag very thoroughly searched flying out of Geneva because of a highly suspicious loaf of bread.
- incongruity 11y agoFlying out of Louisville, I saw the same story with the guy in front of me - except it was a clip for a pistol and he was livid because this was his return flight, meaning they missed it in Miami (I think it was Miami). I'm glad the SDF TSA caught it but it definitely didn't inspire confidence overall.
- kelnos 11y agoI used to carry a multi-tool on my keychain. I would routinely forget to remove it when going to the airport, and it was never flagged or even noticed. Amusingly I lost it when I was going to a club in SF and a bouncer found it during a pat-down and wouldn't let me bring it in.