Flying hassles

[drdank]

With CAPS and their ilk promising to make things interesting for air travel, this question sprang to mind: have any of you been hassled by airport security or seem to be singled out because of your activities?

[MacEnvy]

Personally, I can't ever say I've made airport security aware of my "activities". It seems that the best way to stay out of trouble is not to stand out. Don't start pointing your Pringles can at everything in the terminal, and they'll probably leave you alone. I've traveled with a lot of hardware in carry-on (2 laptops, AP, extension antenna [rubberized], you get the idea). They've never hasseled me, since one trip through the machine generally rules out anything immediately dangerous. A word of advice: don't bring anything pointy. I have a feeling a nice long, sharp antenna would worry them, so go with the rubberized if you're going to bring one on the plane.

//back to lurking

[drdank]

Personally, I can't ever say I've made airport security aware of my "activities".

Not to say that one would shout "lookie here! I'm a hacker" in an airport, I meant more along the lines of being found on some list of "subversive/shady types" consistently and given the riot act every time you wanted to hop on a plane.

I have not flown since 9/11 and wonder if anything aside from the nail clipper/ninja sword-as-carry-on would put one on their hot list (i.e. - 2600 magazines, etc).

[d3thStaR]

I was working on a program while on a flight from Chicago to Philadelphia... when the stewardess saw I wasn't watching a movie on my laptop, she became alarmed and asked me to, "please stop". I really didn't feel like an argument, so I said fine.

[Zhym]

No offense to anyone's l33tness, but the TSA really doesn't care if you're a hacker. They're busy enough trying to find guns, explosives, and letter openers. As long as your computer gear doesn't look like a weapon, you're fine.

No matter how famous you are for your subversive hacker activities, I doubt that J. Random Security Screener at the airport knows or cares.

[astcell]

When my notebook shuts down the wav file goes, "5...4...3..2..1...KABOOM!" Maybe I need to change that. :>

There was a story online where a Congressional Medal of Honor veteran was not allowed to take his ribbon on the plane because of the pointed star on the end of it.

Those TSA guys are unarmed for the most part. And my tortoise can outrun half of them. Tell me again how I'm safer?

[renderman]

From personal expereince flying since 9/11 expect to be singled out for the random-my-ass additional searches, especially if you have a counter culture look about you (purple hair, big boots, etc).

I routinly get searched again on flights leaving the states, however so far they have always been pleasent about it and generally not been a pain. I have no major issue with them wasting thier time as long as they are'nt asses about it. Just don't give them a reason to be asses. If they are, get badge numbers or names and file complaints.

I just make sure to have the emergency phone number for the Canadian consulate sharpied on my arm before I fly to the excited states. I figure that the blinking red box on the computer I saw reflected in the customs officers glasses will make my life interesting someday.

[drdank]

From personal expereince flying since 9/11 expect to be singled out for the random-my-ass additional searches, especially if you have a counter culture look about you (purple hair, big boots, etc).

If you're the same Canadian with the 802.11b antenna on your hat and the handlebar moustache, I do remember you from H2K2.

[renderman]

If you're the same Canadian with the 802.11b antenna on your hat and the handlebar moustache, I do remember you from H2K2.

Hehehehe. Interesting, yet accurate description.

[octalpus]

Hehehehe. Interesting, yet accurate description.

I like your description better. You said you look like your avatar.... and you do, oddly enough, hehe.

[Nibowin]

oh yea dont wear pants with alot of medal zippers on them cuz they take your shoes and pants then use a medal detector on your person

[Qu|rk]

oh yea dont wear pants with alot of medal zippers on them cuz they take your shoes and pants then use a medal detector on your person

I propose a paint chips thread dedicated to a few specific as of late... That being said... medals I have won for anything stay home, and they sure as hell don't get melted down to zippers. *smirks* There is only an issue with 1 specific type of pants, and it is for the most part overlooked due to the fact that it's well known, and thus not a surprise whatsoever. Levi's with rivets down the legs tend to set off some of the machines built that are older, and a short number of the new ones. I would bet 99% of the time if they don't see a bulge in the thigh that looks like your stashing throwing knives under it that you'd be fine.

Qu|rk-

[noid]

Its real simple. You wont get fucked with if you dont go out of your way to draw attention to yourself. I fly a lot. I frequently fly with firearms. I get 0 hassle at the airport. The reason for this is that I dont act shifty, or like I'm 'up to something', and I leave my politicaly defiant t-shirts at home. The TSA could care less about computer nerds, even if they're all going to a big computer nerd convention. However, if you act shifty and like you are up to something (even if you are not), they'll hone in on that and fuck with you. If you go to the airport with your bright red mohawk and your 'Fuck George Bush' or 'I'm an evil hacker' shirt on, yes you are going to get hassled. If you are asked to take your shoes off during the security check in and get up on your 'I'm a fucking American, dammit' high horse, once again you are going to get hassled. When you show up, dont make a scene, and help the TSA through a job that even they dislike (TSA insider joke is that TSA stands for This Sucks Ass), then you'll get to your destination fine and those TSA guys will never know they had a sneaky hacker in their midst.

[drdank]

I frequently fly with firearms.

What kind of special arrangements do you have to make for that?

[astcell]

To fly with firearms you need to have it unloaded and in a hard sided luggage case. It cannot go in a cloth suitcase. There is a special form you fill out declaring the firearm at the ticket gate, and then the ticket agent wants to place the tag on the luggage handle saying FIREARM INSIDE. No thanks! You can ask that they tag go inside the luggage, that is legal.

Incidentally if you are flying to and from a location inside California, it is legal to transport real guns but ILLEGAL to transport toy guns. Is it any wonder we recalled the guy who signed that into law!