Getting the "Random" Explosives Test when no other PAX around

[pshepvic]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

Just flew back from Sydney and was pleasantly surprised, for a number of reasons:

• Premium Lounge Entry at Sydney airport - no queue, in fact almost no-one in there. Four security gaurds to process us through. Of course with no-one there, they can do the explosives check on almost everyone! One thing - I couldn't get the photo of the silver flying lady on my iPhone to look as pretty as the photo provided by Virgin Australia!
• After landing in Melbourne saw out the window of the E190 the new A330 parked with the new livery. Looks good - the only thing is the back half of the plane looks very white, like a big blank canvas that maybe could do with something there? The red cowlings around the engine look great too.
• And finally, speaking of iPads as IFE, I managed to leave mine in the seat. Got a call from Virgin Australia within the hour to let me know. I didn't have my name on it, but they'd manage to find my details in a TripIt Calendar entry showing the flight details. Nice to see they're on the ball.

 

[Reggie]

Of course with no-one there, they can do the explosives check on almost everyone!

This really really really annoys me, and they have the nerve to say "You have been randomly selected ....". At this stage I look around around and say Randomly ???????". There is no random, it is exactly the same at PBO and ZNE.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

This really really really annoys me, and they have the nerve to say "You have been randomly selected ....". At this stage I look around around and say Randomly ???????". There is no random, it is exactly the same at PBO and ZNE.

I don't see a problem with this personally. These checks have been proven as a necessary encumbrance with air travel and unfortunately one we all have to endure. If these checks help to keep me safe in the air, then I'm all for them. Let's face it, whats the big deal? It makes me 30 seconds late from my flat white!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

This really really really annoys me, and they have the nerve to say "You have been randomly selected ....". At this stage I look around around and say Randomly ???????". There is no random, it is exactly the same at PBO and ZNE.

+1
You can also add KAL and ROK to that list.

It's not so much the test, more of the whole, "excuse me sir, this is a random swab test" line that gets up my nose. As Reggie said, how can it be random when your the only one in the que...? I also made a remark at T3 security, 'this is a waste of time and money mate', security reply, "Yeah mate, l agree, it's just a job"...... Gee, now that's confidence.

 

[AaronBradford]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

Ever occur to you guys that the last people through security, whom you didn't see, might not have been randomly selected? The guy is doing his job. The lines they say have been hard-wired into them, and if it irks you get over it (or stop flying) Twenty seconds is a small price to pay for decent security.

// Back to the real topic now please.

 

[UP4014]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

Ever occur to you guys that the last people through security, whom you didn't see, might not have been randomly selected? The guy is doing his job. The lines they say have been hard-wired into them, and if it irks you get over it (or stop flying) Twenty seconds is a small price to pay for decent security.

// Back to the real topic now please.

Decent security I'm not so sure, where I work we can sometimes end up with explosive residue on various things (being vague on purpose), a letter on company letterhead saying it's a result of 'xyz' works wonders, never seen them check either.

One explosive check I had a Townsville, I had the wand rubbed over by bag and clothes and then the security guard asked to wait where I was while he went to another room to check the results - I could have just walked off into the crowd. The officer from an arm of defense I was travelling with thought it was most amusing.

 

[AaronBradford]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

One explosive check I had a Townsville, I had the wand rubbed over by bag and clothes and then the security guard asked to wait where I was while he went to another room to check the results - I could have just walked off into the crowd. The officer from an arm of defense I was travelling with thought it was most amusing.

Oh dear - that's very lax indeed. :shock:

 

[medhead]

Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

One explosive check I had a Townsville, I had the wand rubbed over by bag and clothes and then the security guard asked to wait where I was while he went to another room to check the results - I could have just walked off into the crowd. The officer from an arm of defense I was travelling with thought it was most amusing.

Adopt the german system. "We make special test". Then you get taken to a separate room and they do the explosives test.

 

[Justchecking]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

+1
You can also add KAL and ROK to that list.

It's not so much the test, more of the whole, "excuse me sir, this is a random swab test" line that gets up my nose. As Reggie said, how can it be random when your the only one in the que...? I also made a remark at T3 security, 'this is a waste of time and money mate', security reply, "Yeah mate, l agree, it's just a job"...... Gee, now that's confidence.

I get the impression you would be ready and willing to argue with this person no matter what they said. Perhaps you are not being particularly original in your hardwired desire to 'fight the system', maybe the poor sod has copped the same rubbish from 10 other people that day and he just wants you to stop arguing and get on with it. Why rail against something you cant change? I am randomly selected for an explosives test approx 90% of the time I pass through any airport security and I just stand there for 30secs while they do their thing without complaint or argument, it costs me nothing to be polite. If its a waste of time and money in your opinion take it up with your local member of parliament instead of taking out your frustrations on someone who cant do anthing about it. Why make another persons life difficult? Its not as if you arguing is going to get you through security without an explosives test. Or are you in the habit of making your own day less pleasant than it needs to be?

 

[oz_mark]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

It is very easy to work out a "system" to avoid being checked - I've managed to avoid the explosives check for the last 3 years of domestic travel, until now. I won't share my system in case there are terrorists reading, but it doesn't take a genius to work it out. It is easy for someone to get through without being checked if they really want to, and the only way to ensure absolute security is to check everyone like they do in a number of US airports.

I don't really get too concerned about it - I've been explosive tested, and LAG checked several times over the last year. The extra minute it takes to get through security hardly bothers me. Waiting in a huge line before getting checked bothers me more!!!

 

[aurora]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

+1
You can also add KAL and ROK to that list.

It's not so much the test, more of the whole, "excuse me sir, this is a random swab test" line that gets up my nose. As Reggie said, how can it be random when your the only one in the que...? I also made a remark at T3 security, 'this is a waste of time and money mate', security reply, "Yeah mate, l agree, it's just a job"...... Gee, now that's confidence.

There's a key word missing from this discussion. Explosives Trace Detection is required to be not just random, but also continuous - in other words, if you're the only person going through the screening point, you have to be tested.

Slightly nerdy for my first post, but there you go!

 

[NSWhere]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

Welcom to AFF Aurora

 

[aurora]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

Welcom to AFF Aurora

thanks!

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

There's a key word missing from this discussion. Explosives Trace Detection is required to be not just random, but also continuous - in other words, if you're the only person going through the screening point, you have to be tested.

Slightly nerdy for my first post, but there you go!

Probably true, but I've never heard the word continuous from any security swab check, only the word "random" and "you".....

OT; l did try to "break the ice" with a rent a cop at KAL swab test. It went something along the lines of, "Gee, you must get traces of explosives a fair bit, considering it's a mining town and all...?" She didn't even blink, l think she was looking for Bin Laden in WA.

 

[aurora]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

Probably true, but I've never heard the word continuous from any security swab check, only the word "random" and "you".....

will have to check with the friendly neighbourhood premium entry security team next time i'm there

 

[Reggie]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

I don't really get too concerned about it - I've been explosive tested, and LAG checked several times over the last year. The extra minute it takes to get through security hardly bothers me. Waiting in a huge line before getting checked bothers me more!!!

Problem is that for some of us it can be more than a minute, and could result in missing a flight or flying sans baggage of any kind.:shock:

I have been checked many times as well, all over the world, but here in Australia when they say random and in fact they are grabbing practically everyone to get their numbers up, that irritates me.

 

[samh004]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

While we’re sort of on the topic of explosives testing, if they ever ask you how your day is going, don’t answer literally that it was going well until you got stopped as they gave me a lot of s**t about that and I was just being honest and truthful. Now I know to lie to security people.

 

[777]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

Actual conversation in an actual airport

Security guy: Can i ask you to do this explosives test?
Me: Sure, seems to be happening to me all the time lately.
Security guy: We're not picking on you, it's totally random <pause> i take every 6th person [actually can't remember actual number but something like that]
Me: Actually, that's not random then.
Security: Huh?
Me: Well, that's predictable. It's the exact opposite of random. If it was random you'd be varying the number all the time.
Security: No, it's random because i take the same number all the time. That way we never know who it is. <pause> You're all clear.
Me: Thanks. <walks away to try and find a table to bang my head against>

PS, mods may want to split this security stuff off into another thread

 

[JohnK]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

Off topic, some time ago JohnK asked how you would describe a new colour to someone. See here for my answer:
Flag of Australia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
sorry it is the scientist in me.

The person you are describing the colour to does not understand anything scientific.

Explain the new colour to them in such a way that when they see the new colour they are able to recognise it! It is very close to impossible.

While we’re sort of on the topic of explosives testing, if they ever ask you how your day is going, don’t answer literally that it was going well until you got stopped as they gave me a lot of s**t about that and I was just being honest and truthful. Now I know to lie to security people.

I did this in Sydney the other day. He asked me how my day was! I said it was fine until now! :shock: He did not look too impressed.

I should not have been rude. They are only trying to do a job but sometimes it gets frustrating getting chosen all the time.

 

[medhead]

Re: Now You're Flying Virgin Australia

The person you are describing the colour to does not understand anything scientific.

Explain the new colour to them in such a way that when they see the new colour they are able to recognise it! It is very close to impossible.

But there's the trick, I just need to work out the RGB, Hex, or CMYK numbers for my colour, feed them into a computer and show them. Robert is my father's uncle.

I did this in Sydney the other day. He asked me how my day was! I said it was fine until now! :shock: He did not look too impressed.

I should not have been rude. They are only trying to do a job but sometimes it gets frustrating getting chosen all the time.

I try to be very polite, and use the tactic of saying that I'm being checked all the time. Last year I was checked about 4 times IIRC. This year it has been at least 10, a big frustrating indeed.

I also try to time my way through the screening point carefully. If someone is at the explosive check point, I grab my stuff, run to the seat just past security and put the computer away. If they are standing there counting fingers I put my stuff away on the roller bench thing, taking my time until someone else walk away and then takes the bullet (so to speak). This has only failed once where the guy let 3 people go and waited for me. Clearly I must have looked like I was avoiding him. :shock: