What have you had taken off you by security?

[quick_dry]

I had some deadly toothpaste taken off me because the little bottle it was in said "140g" on it. I pointed out that was grams, not mL, and that toothpaste is probably a lot heavier than water but my pleas met deaf ears.

Later on I measured a similar bottle to be about 90mL.

I've had this one too - Colgate tube marked "110g", the packaging has since been redone to "90ml". I thought it was self-evident that a measure of weight is not the same as a measure of volume - apparently not.

The dumbest one was half a roll of electrical tape, "because you could restrain people". If I hadn't been so annoyed I would've been chuffed that the guy thought I'm some super powered ninja able to restrain a plane-load of people with a few metres of pvc tape.

 

[Chimpy]

I had my key ring taken off me at Rockhampton airport as it is "a tool".

 

[travelislife]

Had a bike lock confiscated as they said it could be used as a restraint. I guess so!

The other annoying one is just deodorant without the lid, fine with, not without.

 

[mushez]

I had my key ring taken off me at Rockhampton airport as it is "a tool".

View attachment 67012

That would have pissed me off. Grenade belt buckles I understand, but that key ring - don't get it. Next all key-ring bottle openers will be on the hit list.

 

[OATEK]

I was given one of those small luggage scales, which was used quite a lot in my Y travelling days as we always seemed to struggle to keep to our allowance.

It was still in my carry on bag when passing through DXB, and after transit x-ray the female security officer asked if I would remove it. Puzzled, but of course complied.

When I took it out she pulled out the small metal measuring tape designed to help you ensure your carry-on is within the size rules. The officer expertly snapped the full tape off without damaging the scales, and handed the scales back to me and we were on our way. It went unsaid, but presumably they had assessed that metal tape measures could be used as a weapon.

I still laugh about the time a 20+yo female was snagged with a bottle of something alcoholic in transit at SIN on the way to the UK. She protested it was a gift for her father. They said no way can you take it. Then she said can I drink it as it cost a lot of money. They said yes, certainly but then we cannot allow you on the plane having drunk so much alcohol. They had it all sorted!!!

 

[mimishat]

I had an unopened 600ml bottle of water that was purchased airside at BNE int airport confiscated by security in Sydney (were in transit) - they didn't care about my opened bottle of coke though...

 

[AnnaB]

I had a full bottle of Glenfiddich confiscated at Frankfurt as I had bought the bottle in Singapore while in transit. In Singapore they put it in a DFS bag with receipt, bag was not tampered with but Frankfurt still saw it fit to take it while I transferred to another international flight. Really peeved me off.... Besides that they hardly touch any of my things even though I dont even put my make up or alco gel in the clear plastic bags to go through security.
Oh, they did take my nail file once though as it could be used as a weapon.

 

[dajop]

I've had this one too - Colgate tube marked "110g", the packaging has since been redone to "90ml". I thought it was self-evident that a measure of weight is not the same as a measure of volume - apparently not.

I think perhaps those with a little knowledge know that 110g water ~ 110ml of water which may cause an issue, as would those who have no idea. I can understand getting finicky about measures written on containers. But the thing that I can't fathom is that how someone can let a container through because it is marked with an acceptable volume measurement but won't allow a container that is clearly smaller (on a side by side comparison) because it has a gram measurement.

I've also had an issue with a clear plastic snap-lock (or zip lock) bag. Mine had a real zip - as in plastic version of the standard zipper you might find on a pair of jeans - this was not acceptable, it had to be a snap lock bag Thankfully that was almost 10 years ago now.

 

[medhead]

Sorry but I disagree. I don't want to attack mushez, but IMHO the stupidity lies with someone attempting to carry such stuff onto a flight. These are complicated times - let's all try to make things run smoothly.

So far in just a few short posts "we" seem to expect that every single security guard on the planet speaks every language, understands every single bizarre cultural detail, and has a god-like ability to understand not only any object, but also read the minds of the pax.

If you are someone who lives in Australia and are focused on that culture, the idea that vegemite is a weird item may not make sense. But to the vast majority of the planet, it is a product they do not know, they have never seen the lable, and it does neither appear nor taste like any food stuff they have experienced. Funny for us, but it does not mean they are stupid.

It's a toy in manufactured packaging! If the word Boom on the package is dangerous then why let them proceed with the contents of the package. The package isn't going to go BOOM, surely it would have to be the contents of the package going boom. The security guy is clearly delusional.

I didn't see any inference that the security guy was stupid for not knowing about vegemite.

Aircraft have been diverted for less - remember this?

Soft-drink ‘bomb’ a fizzer as police admit flight crew misread label | Aviation News

Not saying I agree with the reaction.

Yeah, because all bombers write boom and bomb on their bombs. Another big difference, I'm going out on a limb here. But I'm pretty sure no one was going to actually take the toy out of their luggage for people to see the word boom. Here's a good idea, a quick round of a game that requires balance and limited disturbance on a flimsy tray table on a vehicle bouncing around in the air.

 

[mushez]

It's a toy in manufactured packaging! If the word Boom on the package is dangerous then why let them proceed with the contents of the package. The package isn't going to go BOOM, surely it would have to be the contents of the package going boom. The security guy is clearly delusional.

I didn't see any inference that the security guy was stupid for not knowing about vegemite.



Yeah, because all bombers write boom and bomb on their bombs. Another big difference, I'm going out on a limb here. But I'm pretty sure no one was going to actually take the toy out of their luggage for people to see the word boom. Here's a good idea, a quick round of a game that requires balance and limited disturbance on a flimsy tray table on a vehicle bouncing around in the air.

If it was not clear in my original post - the items including the Jenga set - were gifts given to me at the last minute, all wrapped up as Birthday and late Christmas presents for my 3 sons. I didn't have a clear idea of what was in them, but I did inquire to ensure no liquids, gels, and any imitation weapons - as the only way I could fly with them, is to carry them on, as my checked baggage (boxes) were already done up and to the maximum allowance and didn't have tape to tape them back up if I did a re-shuffle. And hence I got set up well by my family.

As wrapped up gifts, all anyone could see was green gift wrapping - but going through the Xray it looked of substantial concern to them, and they asked me about them, and explained I didn't know what they were etc, so they un-wrapped them.

I on this occasion I don't have an opinion on the given item and circumstances presented to the security team as to if it is a correct call or not - it was a 50/50 call in what they choose to do. They gave me the option to take some of the packaging that did not upset them, and cut off the parts that did - to which I just surrendered the full packaging as it would end up in the bin anyway.

Like imitation knives and guns, the packaging was made to look like a bomb to what one would associate a bomb to look like - and it even looked like the workings of a bomb on an xray. You just need to have some crazy running down the isle saying they have a bomb waving it around, and I am sure a few will get rather upset on a flight and not dismiss it as a toy.

Just because it was attempted to be taken onboard gift wrapped and card attached it is a Birthday gift for a child - doesn't make it any less of a threat that should be dismissed as not being an issue.

 

[Buzzard]

Years ago when all these new regulations came in I had a pair of nail clippers taken off me in ADL.
I just purchased another pair airside for a couple of dollars. These days you can't purchase the airside but you could back then.

 

[Archphoto]

Got caught in China my first time travelling domestic - until then had always been international flights.

Had a small bottle of JWB, that I figured (erroneously) would be fine. No, sorry can't go as HL, and they politely directed me to a desk that had boxes and bubble wrap for those passengers who didn't want to give up their beloved items, so you could check them. Cost me another $20, but another bottle of the stuff would have set me back $60, so wasn't perturbed at all.

Japan was interesting - they would confiscate your "illegal" item, note your ticket details, mark on an envelope and have it travel in the hold for collection with your luggage. All the envelopes stacked upright in a box similar to AustPost's plastic mail containers.

And the worst was at SYD as I was rushing to make my flight to BKK (that QF connection from ADL is *woeful*). Had forgotten about my cigar cutter in my backpack and yep, in the box it went. Took me forever to find one I really like to replace it!!

 

[moa999]

Tokyo. The guy decided my plastic bag was too big and instead pulled out a smaller one and started putting stuff into it. Everything fitted but for an expensive bottle of aftershave which didn't fit so he wanted to keep it. Took the bag took out a near empty deoderant and gave that to him instead

 

[coles525]

This the tub your refering to?

Got caught in China my first time travelling domestic - until then had always been international flights.

Had a small bottle of JWB, that I figured (erroneously) would be fine. No, sorry can't go as HL, and they politely directed me to a desk that had boxes and bubble wrap for those passengers who didn't want to give up their beloved items, so you could check them. Cost me another $20, but another bottle of the stuff would have set me back $60, so wasn't perturbed at all.

Japan was interesting - they would confiscate your "illegal" item, note your ticket details, mark on an envelope and have it travel in the hold for collection with your luggage. All the envelopes stacked upright in a box similar to AustPost's plastic mail containers.

 

[coles525]

Take 2: Large letter tray.

 

[marki]

Delamere moisture spray brand new in box (was over 100ml) right at the beginning of the liquid saga starting. Expensive yes

 

[Archphoto]

Take 2: Large letter tray.

Not sure how big that is, but yes, very similar.

 

[donovan301]

So, for the last 3 years I ve been travelling with a Carabiner sorta Keyring , it had a 2 inch bladed knife, a saw type blade , both which folded partly into the carabiner... it also had an LED micro light in it.

Basically it was a game I decided o play with ports, both dom and intl.

I finally had it confiscated just now in Feb, of all places "NADI" Fiji.

They have eyes of Eagles and detector sensor set to the highest degree.
(They picked up a titanium watch, (which never shows up), an alloy necklace(again, never shows), and a titanium clipset & screws in my ankle from an ancient injury (again, never).

Point being, The Carabineer clip with blades I have travelled countless times domestically..and internationally.

When in doubt, hang some house keys off your pocket type travel tool.

... in Australia( cant remember how many bne-syd bne-mel, bne-regions,Bne Intl, Syd Intl, Mel Intl,... several times dom NZ(akl-wtn,... and multiple dom flights in Argentina, Phillipines, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore....

Not a bad game to play over 3 years,

and was always able to cut my zipties off my checkin bag on the odd occasion I had it.

;-)

 

[albatross710]

When I travel internationally I carry my Travel Doctor medical kit which includes scissors and a needle. Depending upon my travel plans it's usually in my checked bags and sometimes I take it in carry on. The scissors usually get confiscated (Hanoi, Perth, Bangalore & Surigao) the needle never.

Surigao was impressive. When I travelled through there in May 2015 the scanner was out of order. The manual search found the scissors which were in my toiletries bag.

In typical Filipino fashion as a Feb 2016 the scanner was still out of order, the manual searches were still taking place and the newly purchased scissors flew.

It might also be now that I suggest each airport give you the option for a voucher for being able to collect a matching pair of nail clippers or scissors at security at your destination airport. ie get nail clippers confiscated in BNE, pickup a pair of confiscated nail clippers in AMS or LAX.


Disclaimer: I haven't put too much thought into the practicality of the exchange scheme.

 

[clifford]

Nail clippers (pretty dangerous, actually).