AK airport crap

[Pixie]

I'm sitting at the domestic gate lounge at Auckland airport at the moment.Having triggered the metal detector as I passed through it,with absolutely no metal on me and observing that everyone is triggering the detector,leads me to the conclusion that they have wound up the sensitivity on the things since the last lot of ragheads tried to bomb a plane.
Of course the drones at the security gate denies this.

Or perhaps those aliens left a probe in.

[Nasty]

I managed to set off the detectors most the time .. was surprised when I didn't the last time I passed through. Have no metal is hard ... underwire bra, zips etc seem to be on my list of things that I wear all the time.

[crazyhorse]

Unfortunately I always will and always do set it off - have had hip op, so its a huge pain in the arse for me to travel...... Didn't know Auckland had metal detectors for domestic travel, unless its only to the main centres. Little Napier isn't one of them. Can't wait for them to make us a international airport - but thats been on the cards since I was a little girl........

[Flatcap]

The only reason metal detectors are there is to create the perception that we are safe.

As the first terrorist act has been performed with a bomb in the anal cavity, scanning is a waste of time. Should be digital exams

Now THAT would make boarding interesting.......

[davereid]

Its all a waste of time anyway.

These systems are designed to catch hi-jackers, carrying weapons.

But the current crop of terrorists are happy just to blow the plane up, and themselves with it.

Even the strip-ya-naked millimetric radar so popular in Europe is useless. It assumes a fella who wants to blow everyone up wouldnt be brave enough to stuff his bomb up his backside, or simply put it in the checked baggage.

There is no way the checked baggage can be well screened, the system relies on not letting baggage on the plane if the passenger is not on it.

Not an issue for a blow-myself up for god, wheres my hundred virgins kind of terrorist.

Even hijacking would still be relatively easy. You dont need firearms or knives, as you can be quite sure no one else will be armed. A good size group of you, say booked on as a rugby team. 15-20 big guys armed with broken bottles would easily control most aircraft.

[Usarka]

Maybe today they replaced it with an awesomeness detector.

[Genie]

haha....i flew up to ak a couple of months ago and when i arrived and looked in my bag i'd taken my stanley knife and a pocket knife in my bag.

security is a bit of joke in New Zealand

[oldguy]

its the sign of our times, get over it, better than hearing about someone trying to hijack yah plane, and people asking where was the security.

[pzkpfw]

They oughta carry three pigs on each plane, and make sure everyone knows that if the plane blows up their bits will be mingled with pork.

[Mikkel]

There's really no security on domestic flights. They don't even check your ID when you are using the self-service check-in booths.

I am all for it too. Every moment spent worrying about all this stuff is a moment wasted. Us living in fear is what the terrorists want, the authorities are happy to help them.

[Miscreant]

Didn't know Auckland had metal detectors for domestic travel...

Wouldn't want some loon to hijack a plane and fly it into the behive now would we?

[Mully]

have had hip op, so its a huge pain in the arse

Heh. Pun intentional?? You might want to get the op re-done; sounds like they stuffed it up.

I occasionally set it off - shoes have bits of metal. Watch, belt, zips, etc.

There are settings for the metal detectors - the person in charge of the floor for that day decides where they're set. Some set them super sensitive and some don't.

The funny thing is, this means the terrorists have won - they've caused a huge amount of inconvenience and hassle and made everyone alter their lives.

Then again, AvSec have to try to catch anyone trying to do anything.... It's a no-win situation for them.

[p.dath]

haha....i flew up to ak a couple of months ago and when i arrived and looked in my bag i'd taken my stanley knife and a pocket knife in my bag.

security is a bit of joke in New Zealand

Having stuff like that in checked on luggage is fine. You just can't take it on the plane with you.

I used to travel quite a bit for work, and use to carry a technician case with me. It was filed with things like wires, snips, screw drivers, soldering iron, etc. I was never questioned about it. I used to leave it unlocked. Once I bad the bastards change the combination lock on me though! It is one of those three roller locks you see on brief cases. Luckily there is only 1000 combinations to try, and you have a lot of time to kill at air ports.

I also used to wear steel capped boots, and set the detectors off everytime as a result.

[James Deuce]

Funny story.

October 2001, I had to go to Auckland to start planning the move of an office. I follow Christine Rankin up to the metal detector, put my carry on bag on the conveyor and the lads with the wand make a big fuss of divesting Christine Rankin of every piece of jewellery, such a fuss, that my tool kit slides through completely uncommented on. Security is as security does.

[Mully]

Another funny bit is the pilots have to go through the security process as well.

I presume in case they want to take over the plane......

[crazyhorse]

Heh. Pun intentional?? You might want to get the op re-done; sounds like they stuffed it up.


Not at all - worked a treat. I healed well, cause of my younger age having one done. Didn't even pick up on the pun... so good spotting! Just annoying to travel now.

[avgas]

Wouldn't want some loon to hijack a plane and fly it into the behive now would we?
Hell I would almost pay for someone to hijack that flight and crash it. The cost of life would almost be worth it.

[SPORK]

My favourite airport moment was when I got questioned by several security people as to why I was carrying a half-empty roll of masking tape. Masking tape is the lifeblood of architecture students!

[vifferman]

I'm sure a determined (or smart) terrorist isn't phased by metal detectors and x-ray machines. F'rinstance: I never remove my watch - it's titanium, and so doesn't cause any induction in the metal detector's induction loop. OTOH, my shit-metal belt buckle does.
There are many many weapons easy to smuggle onto a plane - even a length of nylon fishing line can be lethal in the <s>right</s> wrong hands. Weapons can be made from plastics or reinfoced plastics - there are even handguns which have no ferrous metal parts.
As others have said, the 'security measures' are there to reassure passengers, to dissuade the casual or terminally stupid terrorist, and to justify the use of collection of personal data, biometrics, etc by US agencies.

[Disco Dan]

I fly domestic regularly, never had problems.

Last time I forgot I had a bic lighter in my pocket... walked through no problems. Realised as I stepped on the plane I had it and asked the flight attended if I could give it to her. Her reply? "it's okay, I never saw it *wink* just don't use it okay!"

Bit of a worry.

[Jeaves]

I fly domestic regularly, never had problems.

Last time I forgot I had a bic lighter in my pocket... walked through no problems. Realised as I stepped on the plane I had it and asked the flight attended if I could give it to her. Her reply? "it's okay, I never saw it *wink* just don't use it okay!"

Bit of a worry.

I think off memory your allowed a single lighter.

[Miscreant]

to dissuade the casual or terminally stupid terrorist,

Hmm a casual suicide bomber? I dunno, sounds like a career move to me.
Or a life sentence.

[Swoop]

The only reason metal detectors are there is to create the perception that we are safe.


Its all a waste of time anyway. Even the strip-ya-naked millimetric radar so popular in Europe is useless.
There is no way the checked baggage can be well screened...


As others have said, the 'security measures' are there to reassure passengers, to dissuade the casual or terminally stupid terrorist, and to justify the use of collection of personal data, biometrics, etc by US agencies.
Quite true, gentlemen.
There is NO such thing as a safe commercial aircraft, since too many people have access to it. Think of the amount of servicing, cleaning, catering, maintenance people who can do whatever they want with an aircraft... But the public will give away their freedoms for the perception of safety.

[Pussy]

Another funny bit is the pilots have to go through the security process as well.

I presume in case they want to take over the plane......

That's highly unlikely....

[Mully]

That's highly unlikely....

That they'll want to take over the plane?

True. According the Pacific Blue ad, they spend most of their time singing.

[Chooky]

Brisbane is the worst place I've had to go through... The pricks there should be running a POW camp in Iraq.
Auckland is usually OK, last time there,I told the big maori fella, titanium bones.
He said so you have, have a good time.
It shits me to tears the crap you have to put up with when you've got artificial joints.
There are thousands of travellers with tin joints, its not like ya got a fukin towel on ya head ya know...

[swbarnett]

All I have to say on the matter of knee-jerk "security" measures is in the first two lines of my sig.

[Lias]

I think it depends on the route and size of the aircraft.

During a project I did a fair bit of flying for work last year, and have only encountered metal detectors etc on major trunk flights (IE 737's Welly to chch etc). Never get them on regional services (Hamilton, Gisborne, Palmy, etc) , although I'm pretty sure we did have to go through security when exiting chch to return to Hamilton last time.

[Pussy]

My favourite airport moment was when I got questioned by several security people as to why I was carrying a half-empty roll of masking tape.

Did they want to know about the hamster, too?

[Pixie]

Hey,I 'm back at the airport again and the fuckwits still have had their scanner fixed.
Weren't amused when I asked them why not and do they expect it not to give 100% false positives.
Maybe they are doing a "Parliamentary Security Dept." and trying to look busy to protect their jobs.

[LBD]

I think off memory your allowed a single lighter.

Just do not walk up and down the isle, when the lights are down, 1/2 way across the pacific, looking in the overhead lockers, using the lighter with a 4 inch flame as a torch...As one guy I shouted at did...Effing Knuckle head, one leaking bottle of spirit or perfume and kawhoomph!

8 security gates coming up in the next 10 days including in countries with names that include in stan, bul and arab....at least there is none of that most paranoid of countries....seppoland