Airport security getting out of hand; are there solutions?

I'm going to London after the Olympics to visit relatives.

...hope it's still standing.

It survived the Nazis for a few years, Im sure it can survive tourists for a few months.

If the tourists had the same amount of time, they'd do more damage though

edited 24th May '12 8:09:49 PM by Joesolo

True facts.

Right, but during WWII, Britain was guarded by people with skills.

This is g4s.

Also, I love all the non-British tropers reactions to g4s. It's like, us Brits are very casual about telling you about their screw-ups, and everyone else is like "... -suicide-"

edited 29th May '12 1:39:23 AM by Inhopelessguy

We find the wry, grim humour to our liking, so tend to underplay it for all its worth. Plus, we like knowing exactly who to swear at.

If there's a balls up in which guys wearing flack jackets were involved, we don't even have to place bets on the probability of it being G4S-related in some way.

edited 29th May '12 2:19:57 AM by Euodiachloris

"So, he stole 200 tonnes of uranium, killed fifteen atheletes, got arrested, and then died in custody before he got questioned?"

"Fucking G4S man."

You forgot the evidence against the guy going AWOL as the secure shipment kinda didn't end up going to the right place, so was badly misfiled. It turns up about 15 years later in the bowls of HMRC for some reason, surrounded by the corpses of irradiated woodlice, mice and one cat.

And, therefore explains the weird computer issues the department above has been having, on and off.

The security vehicle that was in used in the shipment (which, for some reason, had the world's worst GPS on board)? Theirs. Also the staff supposedly trained to deal with secure transport of fissile material.

edited 29th May '12 2:52:11 AM by Euodiachloris

C'mon, G4S aren't the "evidence" type. They're "leave to die in custody now, get asked questions later" type of people.

Oh, he actually did something seriously wrong?

I figured he he just gave them trouble at the metal detector or something and they forgot he was locked up...

Since TSA seem more and more self-serving,and there doesn't seem to be any good way out,the best solution I'd say is to fly from a good small airport and just risk the layover.

I mean every big airport I've flown out of that ain't San Francisco has always been mostly unreasonable,the real problem is trying to find one where security isn't completely berserk,so avoid Los Angeles or Chicago.

I made this metal crab I wanted to give my mom for her Birthday, and were gonna be in the Dominican Republic on her Birthday. It's copper and "Nugold"(basically a alloy that looks like Gold), You think they'd give me a problem over it?

@Joe: Just put it in your checked luggage, and you should be fine.

Ok, thanks.

That always works,besides if you can't do that, well I can't even count how many times I got scissors past them

They dont always catch stuff. I remember hearing Adam savage accidentally brought a razor knife on an airplane and they didnt even notice.

One guy brought a dying passenger through secur—

Oh, that was a G4S guy.

No, but seriously, this one Border Agency worker stole money out of a passenger's wallet.

...Captain, If you would be so kind.

Excuse me.

Just view from here to the bottom of the page.

I find it still ever so humourous.

I've never had a problem with it myself. I just check everything that might hold me up. So the only things I'm carrying when I get on my plane are cigarettes, lighter, wallet, cell phone, car keys, maybe some pocket change, and a backpack with snacks and a laptop.

So it's not that big of a deal for me. I put all my other shit in a duffel. I take the laptop out and put it in the tray, put my shoes in a tray, empty all my pocket shit into the tray with the shoes, then the backpack, then I step on through and reclaim it. Quick and easy process. Hell, I regularly take firearms with me in non military trips and don't get hassled, because I fill out the form and check the firearm with a padlock and the ammunition is separate, also padlocked.

Yeah, unless you're somehow on a list somewhere. I always get to the airport early, because unless I'm going through a small one, I can count on security taking forever, even if I don't take a carry-on.

Yeah, obviously being on the list will be shitty no matter what.

We were past words.

Also, I like using Picard's facepalm.

Oh no doubts that getting there early is the way to go,but I try to avoid checking because I like being able to see and reach what I need when I need,not mention most of the time you gotta pay up.

All the same,even when I've checked it all,security is a mess.

I've had a few problems in the DC area airports, but I've never actually been pulled out of the line for a search. Here's what I've learned:

1. Some guards will take away needles and safety pins. I lost a whole tin of safety pins this way. Don't even try to bring knitting. (On this same trip they accidentally let my Swiss Army device, which I will not dignify with the name knife, through. Go figure.) 2. Optics of any kind are not a thing to put in carry-ons, and it's wise to let them know at the bag check if you've packed binoculars or something, because on a scanner they can look just like a pipe bomb, apparently. I once had to disassemble a hand telescope at the security check to prove to them I wasn't a miscreant. 3. No bath salts. 4. There is such a thing as looking too much like you have nothing to hide.

On the other hand, I've never had any problems at Ben Gurion, even with some antique weapons in my checked bag. I'm all for the Israeli method.