Re: [Philmont]:  Post 9/11 air travel--Hiking boots

From: Gary Dodge <dodge914@earthlink.net>
Date: Sat Jul 05 2003 - 11:55:19 CDT

As a frequent business traveller, I think you may be giving TSA too much credit for planning a uniform process.  Yes, the inspections are somewhat random.  I haven't traveled by air with our troop, but I can imagine that scouts in  Field Uniforms (boots, buckles, neckerchief slides, maybe even pocket knives???)  may have caused some problems in the past.

Different airports have different requirements for inspecting checked baggage based on whether or not they've actually implemented the automated screening required (but not yet funded).  My wife (a nurse) had a hemostat confiscated because it was metal (with no sharp edge or point anywhere) but it didn't fit anywhere on their list of prohibited/permitted items.  When in doubt, they resort to caution rather than logic.  Fair enough

Since hand-wanding takes so much time, many of the the TSA employees are suggesting (some more strongly than others) that you send your shoes through the X-ray because steel shanks in many shoes are setting off the detectors and forcing more people to go through the wanding process.  That wastes their time as well as yours.  Over time, I've learned which of my shoes cause problems and which don't.  I've rarely had any fuss from the staff when they say "send your shoes through" and I assure them that I know these particular shoes have no metal.

They're just trying to keep  things flowing smoothly.  But, as in so many things, your mileage may vary.

Gary
Old and feeble, but still a Fox! (and a staffer for 2003)
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