Airport Security

rbubbly · 2009-06-11T09:44:03+0100

I am all for security, but how far does it have to go? I put my backpack in the tray to be x-rayed. (Brussels’s Airport) The security guard did not like the way I put it in. He picked it up and slammed it down in the try the way he wanted it. All my camera equipment was in it. I almost yelled at the guard to watch it. But I remained calm. You must be courteous and cooperate. 4 weeks before that one of my friends was traveling to Italy with his tripod and camera. He has been a pro photographer for over 35 years. They told him that his tripod could be a weapon. They gave him a hard time because, get this they did not know you use it for a camera. Back to my travel there was an elderly couple in front of me must have been in there late 80’s. Same guard telling the old man to take off his belt and shoes and turns to his wife and said it in a loud voice take off you shoes to her. Now I do not know of and 80 year old couple that has hijacked a plane or blew one up. I would think security guards need to user some discretion in there work. He would not know that this couple could have been holocaust survivors, telling them to take belts and shoes off. Do not get me wrong I am all for security but lets not over do it. In America you no longer able to lock your luggage. All luggage that is checked in can not longer be locked so security and open and inspect you personal things. Now anyone from security can look through all your things. What happened to the use of x-ray? Do they really need to open each and every luggage? Then to put a nice slip back in your luggage telling you they have inspected your personal things. A co worker left for the U.S.A. and is an American. He took a couple of baby toys for his young one to play with on the flight from Brussels to Ohio. No problem taking the toys to American. But on the return flight they did not let him take them back. He had to give them to his sister to mail them back to him. Last year on my return flight from Italy the security guard opened my camera case and saw that it was a camera. Then turned to me and asked me if I was a photographer!! I just looked at him and said I think I am. Do not get me wrong I am all for security but lets not over do it.

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Anvh Anvh

10412 posts
18 years
Dordrecht,
the Netherlands

Posted 11/06/2009 - 20:39 Link

It all depends on how it is checked, they have changed things now though but don't know how it is now, have only worked there before they changed it. It was just someone looking at your security pass and that's it.
Hopefully Heathrow have it better then Schiphol had in the past

Stefan