"did you pack your bag yourself?"

Some years ago (before 9/11 and all that) a couple of colleagues were "collected" by security in the departure lounge, they had been discussing a work issue about Bills of Material. Unfortunately they were using the acronym BOM and another passenger had overheard them and got worried..... They did make the flight but it took a bit of explaining...

[G]

I sadly spend a lot of time in airports... if you **** them off once they don't forget. I presume your name gets a mark against it so when your passport is scanned in they take the **** a bit. A colleague left his laptop in his bag and then made a joke about it in a German airport...he's been frisked and had his bag emptied EVERY time since when in europe.

The americans have a serious failure in humor too. My girlfriend flew to New York a month or so ago and she was interogated when she got off the flight because she was sweating so she must have something to hide... it had been the most turbulent flight she has ever been on and she doesn't like flying FFS

[tigersaw]

On holiday in Tenerife about 20 years ago, a coulpe of chavs were a real nusiance around the pool, bar, hotel, everywhere, annoying everyone and especially the girls. I had a word and got abuse, so made a call back home, to my chums at the airport.
I'll always remember managing to catch their eye and smile as we disembarked, as they were led away for a thorough interrogation.

The question was prompted by a recent incident at work where I needed to get a flight at short notice.

While I was driving home to pick up clothes etc the Mrs packed me a bag.

When I got to the airport (Stanstead) I lied.
I just wondered what would have happened if I has told the truth.

Hi dizzy; thanks for noticeing.
Hopefully I will have a bit more input for a bit.

Originally Posted by PsychoCannon

Only ever had two incidents at airports, one was a simple case of visiting NY and the finger print scanners insisting I didn't have any fingerprints

The other was a bit errr...hairier.
Going to Neuchatel or Vienna (I forget which) and I've landed at the far side, it's a fairlt small airport.
I've ridden to Heathrow so have my helmet, tank bag etc as hand luggage.
Tank bag goes through security at the far side which is basically a waist high desk with an operator in slapping distance and a conveyor.

Put the tank bag in and having never really had a good close look at the screens (this being an perfect chance) i stand to watch it appear on the monitor.

Lets put it this way, 8 very strong magnets glowing red was funny enough.
The Laptop cables etc wound around the outside of the bag making it look like they are linking up these glowing red dots was funnier still.
The Circuit board of my SAT Nav sat happily at the top of all this was the icing on the cake and I just started laughing.

A nervous security guy does a double take at me then the screen and I decide (Without really thinking about it) to take a photo of it.
It all seems to go slow motion here, I reach behind me and pull out my mobile and point it at the screen while giggling like a school boy to take a photo.
Security guy goes pale and bunny in the headlight eyes then tries to dive under the desk, misses, and nearly knocks himself out as he smacks his head on the desk.

It takes a few seconds for it to sink in for me why he did that and my exact words as secuirty guards start decending on me are "...oh....err..right.."

Lets just say survival instinct had my hands in the air waving the phone around (probably not the best idea), thank god they weren't armed!, and a quick explanation at the desk had me continue on my way, note to self: don't try that in America, especially if the scanners telling them I have no finger prints

i have just laught uncontrolably for the last 5 min thank you so much