Security - what's the most senseless confiscation?

[Pushka]

This reminds me of travelling with our then 9 year old. He had packed his own backpack. Got to security and as it was scanned got some weird looks. They asked who the owner was, quite excitedly then groaned as our son claimed it. They pulled out a set of toy handcuffs, pocket knife and some other thing that 9 year olds treasure. Lost them obviously to the security bin.

 

[Warks]

My wife had about 5mL of moisturiser for when she got on the plane. Problem is it was in a bottle that didn't give its volume so they confiscated it. In hindsight what the hell was that all about? We took on empty water bottles and they were okay.

 

[bobbyjo]

I'm always amazed at the inconsistency, you can't take a nail file, but can take a tail comb, a toothbrush and of course they need you to have a pen to fill out all their stupid forms. Mind you I was pleased to see on a recent journey through Changi airport that they had a water supply to fill your empty bottle just prior to getting onto the plane, what a good idea, trust Singapore to get it right.

 

[Pella1]

I love the Vegemite confiscation - my 24 year old niece was departing for Britain last week. Over coffee at the Departure food hall, I teased her about the cost of the sacred black stuff in London. I said I would buy her a small jar which of course I foolishly said could just go in her carry on since she had already checked in. I also joked that this would come in hand during her 10 hour Dubai turnaround and it would be great to spread on the local flat bread.
I was relating this to my own travel experience since 1984 of ALWAYS having a small jar of Vegemite in my carry on to enjoy with whatever bread is offered with the in flight meals or to spread on any bread that I purchased during the various long haul turnarounds I have experienced over the years. Most recently also in Dubai last November (2011). I always carry a sporf - the single eating utensil which combines the properties of a knife, spoon and fork.
We went to the Newsagent which had a supply and after purchasing was given the very small jar in a sealed bag with a name tag for completion. We were then told that it would need to handed to the cabin crew on boarding who would return it to the identified passenger on disembarking at her destination. I giggled and asked what was the issue with Vegemite? The explanation was that since it is a food stuff it needs to be stored until arrival at the destination and not consumed in flight!.

 

[Greg Gadd]

Just returned from Fiji after my usual visit, with my partner (Fijian but now an Australian Citizen), and the Sydney Customs firstly confiscated her Fijian necklace (native shells), yet it was originally passed by Fijian Customs (ex Nadi). Obviously the woman Customs Officer wanted it, and my partner said, "Here, if you;re that desperate, you can have it!"
I was originally stopped in Nadi because of my Fijian cigarette lighter (my fault!), and he threw it into a box containing, say over 100 such lighters? Never even used, I wanted it as a souvenir of Fiji, to show the locals back here. Hmmm, never eventuated. We have learned our lessons, because it is clearly spelled out, what to bring, what not to bring.
Had a smaller problem with After Shave (non-pressurized) Pure Black, love it, but you used to be able to buy it here in Australia, but hard to locate, so I brought back 6 containers, luckily it wasn't Duty Free, and with a bit of a hassle, finally got it passed. Like where does it stop? Going back again to Fiji in December for a couple of weeks, and I hope to be more cautious of what to take, as an example, my medicine (on script) and I had a script with me, on previous trips, but the security conscious Customs people were at it again, even checked the contents of the enclosed seal-proofed tablets. I guess, it's all for our own safety, but makes a pleasant holiday a mind-boggling experience.

 

[gavinandraye]

Last year, travelling with my family to the US, I had a netbook computer plus a bottle of water in my backpack and went through LAX (twice), MCO and JFK, forgetting each time to take these items out of the bag and present them separately to the TSA. The backpack went through x-ray each time without being stopped.

 

[nonscenic]

I have noticed that some time ago, metal butter knives were reintroduced into the QP.
A couple of years ago, on a flight from Seattle to Anchorage, several passengers were passing the flight away knitting with knitting needles, something totally verboten in Australia.
Also some time ago, workers were doing some repartitioning in the MEL Virgin Terminal. They had left for lunch, leaving their tools including screwdrivers and handsaws on the floor for anyone to pick up.
A colleague of mine had the Kensington Lock for his laptop confiscated in Alice Springs.

 

[JohnCarrWestwood]

We know the rules and the inconsistency of the application.

Lets get over it and take SFA thats gonna set off alarms or twitchy noses.
I do Mel to LHR or Mel to LA often enough and neither I nor Mrs dont need all that paraphanalia that some folk cant seem to be able to live without

 

[cma1957]

While travelling thru USA in March 2011 at Pheonix airport I had forgotten to throw away a near empty bottle of water because I had to take medication before my departing flight. I arrived at TSA security & did the usual procedure -took my shoes off etc, after my bag went thru the scanner I was pulled aside....And it clicked with me I had forgotten to throw this near empty bottle of water away beforehand. I then was asked what was in my bag....in which I replied "OH! I forgot to throw the water bottle out". I was lucky enough to have all my tablets in the same bag and explained way the water was there. This did not stop them from frisking me before letting me continue with my journey. Mind you I wasn't being frisked because of my body..lol...I was 53yo and carry alittle weight.

 

[Quentin]

My favourite is cigarette lighters. The measure of what type is allowed varies from airport to airport, so I have defaulted to the simple disposable type which most allow. However, I recently had some halfwit at security in Darwin refuse to allow me through with two lights in my bag. He tried to convince me that there was a sign outside that informed me I couldn't have 2 lighters, but couldn't show me where the sign was located. I also had an experience in Davao where my lighter 'had' (her words) to be confiscated, but then I argued successfully to hang on to a box of matches I had in the bag - go figure!
I have questioned officials before about their policies on lighters and why I can't carry one and all I ever get is "because it's the policy".

 

[Hermes]

My mother-in-law passed her nursing exams in Adelaide in the 1930s. When she came to visit us when she was 90, needing a forklift to get her on and off the plane in her wheelchair, the special nursing scissors she got as a graduation memento, as blunt by then as a tennis ball, were confiscated at Adelaide airport. She had carried them in her handbag for 60 years.The security guard must have slept soundly that night, knowing he had saved us all from ... well, the mind boggles.

 

[Zaldiva]

The trouble with airport security is the number of bozos employed is directly in proportion to the number of shopping trolleys left uncollected around the suburbs for these are the same people who left their trolley jobs to become the first line of Aviation Security. I had a cigar cutter taken of from me at Perth. Was I going to force a passenger to delicately place his or her pinky within the cutter before I made demand of the Captain? Airport security is just pathetic. Anybody & by that, anybody can enter an airport at will without so much as a second glance with a sawn off 30-30 under their coat, but by Hell don't park your car out front more than 2 minutes. Report to these same zealots an unattended package and an air of authoritive concern crosses their faces as they garble into walkie talkies to call for back up but anybody can enter the arrivals hall & place a suitcase on the carousel and as it merrily whizzes around for hours nobody will give it a second glance. And remember, these are the same clowns who have allowed people to enter via an exit door and cause complete and utter havoc as the other clowns empty out the airport to re-screen everybody. Maybe screen these idiots for an IQ might be a start

 

[nick888]

Years and years ago I went to meet my parents at the arrival gate after I'd been on a camping trip. Realised only after getting through 'security' and x-ray, that I had a 6" hunting knife in my bag (!)


And there's always this old story:


"A mate of mine was going out to the aerobridge to do a walk-around in SYD last year, when he spied a pax walking down to board his aeroplane carrying...... a chain-saw. When he asked the guy how he got a chain-saw through security he was told that a chain-saw was not on the the list of prohibited items and hence security had no problem with it...."


(I'd post the link but I'm not allowed yet)

 

[suze2000]

I can say for a fact that knitting needles are now allowed. I have flown domestically and internationally with them and not had a problem.

Mind you, I generally use needles of the type with a cable and two removable needles at either end. If they confiscate the needles, I can at least save the knitting!

So sick of having my Swiss Army USB picked up at security (and then the rigmorole of going and posting it home so I don't lose it - at least they let you do that these days, I've lost at least two full-size Swiss Army Knives at security points, simply because I forget I'm carrying it). The blade in it must be all of an inch long, and fairly blunt. I never even use the blade, except to open parcels!

 

[mannej]

I think people calling airport security staff things such as scum, bozo etc is a tad harsh. They are there to do their job under the instruction of their employer.

However, without doing much research, it isn't hard to find out what is on the prohibited list. Google is your friend here.

Prohibited items

with the exceptions (note the discretion of the security agent)

I haven't really had anything confiscated, however I have had an agent try and take a Screw In tightener off me, only to relent as it is practically harmless.
Prohibited Items – exceptions

 

[Kerry Rowen]

Well all is OK if that is all that happens once in a Blue Moon, However consider the fact that one has TWO Artificial hips, and every time at every airport one has to basically strip, shoes off, scanner under feet, pat down in front of all passengers and then also after all this one must proceed to the person who has the drug tester pads to go through your travel bags, Perth security are the rudest pack one could wish not to encounter.

 

[midnight]

1- A fish hook. How big, about half the size of your little finger nail. One of the kids must have put it in the pocket of my bag. It goes through the Xray and they say you have something in the bag pocket, so I had a quick check and said there was nothing there. No, you have something in the pocket (officious voice) check again and find it attached to a little sinker and ask if this is the offending item. Yep sure enough that's it, can't take that on the plane. Wasn't going to argue it as you can't argue stupidity, but did make a little point and asked for the sinker back, which was returned.

2- Coming out of CHC with the kids my daughter had her usual kit of drawing stuff which we had not even thought about, it contained plastic scissors with a rounded point. Picked up on the Xray so had to pull them out. We talked to the officer and pointed out that they were only plastic and she agreed but had to check with the supervisor. Supervisor says no - the rules are no scissors. Fair enough we say. On to the plane we get and daughter sits down and after while pulls out the drawing gear and empties it out onto the tray and what do we have - a pair of metal scissors - woops.

3- Flying out of OOL for a couple of days and deoderant had about 6 sprays left in it, just enough for the time away (yes it had a lid). Security sees it and says I can't take it, so I pointed out that there was very little in it, but he said it is the size of the container not what it is in it. Fair enough I say and leave it with him and walk on with my water bottle which was a 600ml bottle but I had also made sure it had very little in it . Not sure why he didn't pick up on that. What it does show is how easy it is to get things past security.

 

[Justchecking]

A small quantity of brie. Apparently it's a 'gel' and apparently it had to be put through the x-ray machine 3 times before being ceremoniously dumped in the bin on the other side. Could we not have just dumped it in the bin prior to the xray machine? I mean I had already put it in a tray prior to putting it through the xray machine, you could have just said. Dump the cheese...

Does anyone else think that we are being regulated out of life? I'm not just talking about airport security, it seems the goverment and various governing bodies are hell bent on making nearly everything in life illegal, prohibited or only 'safe' in certain quantities. Gone are the days when if you did something stupid and died, so be it. I haven't felt this hovered over, well ever to be honest.

 

[chevyrecycler34]

Not quite senseless on the eco front but some years ago flying from the UK through ORD I`d just cleared immigration and turned around to wait for my wife who was asked if she was carrying anything "sensitive" hoping she`d say no since I`d been waved through only for her to say "I`ve only got a bit of unsmoked bacon" ! we`d carefully frozen and wrapped for her dad as well as a couple of breakfasts, out came the bacon to the tune of "we`ll have to destroy that" and with me thinking "yeah" for your own breakfast !

Couple of years ago in Dubhai we were quizzed about some "circular, ball shaped items" in hand luggage x-ray which was a box of Maltesers, (malt balls etc).

Same customs inspection g/f had a small tape measure confiscated ! What can you do with a small, cloth dressmakers tape measure ??

Goodness knows whats gonna happen in Melbourne next year when we take a yard long box of Jaffa cakes lol.

 

[LAH]

This reminds me of travelling with our then 9 year old. He had packed his own backpack. Got to security and as it was scanned got some weird looks. They asked who the owner was, quite excitedly then groaned as our son claimed it. They pulled out a set of toy handcuffs, pocket knife and some other thing that 9 year olds treasure. Lost them obviously to the security bin.

same, same. Daughter some years ago, same age, had a $1 pair of plastic handcuffs - really flimsy, they were confiscated! Same year a friend, a sculptor, brought his sculpting chisel all the way back from New York to Australia in his carry on!!!