I have been on 12 flights since the "tragic incident" and most of my recent airport security experiences have been quite rapid and boringly unremarkable..........until yesterday at BWI.

I checked in quickly at the 1k line, walked over to security, placed my stuff on the belt and walked through the body scanner, setting off no alarms, like always. I then walked up to reclaim my computer (which they made me run through separately), my purse, my bag and my trusty antique projector off the belt. Wow was I surprised to find that the agent grabbed my bag and purse out of my hand and rushed them over to the hand inspection table.

He frantically rummaged through all pockets of my bag, grabbed all of my makeup, wrinkle creams, lingerie and electronic gear, tossed them around on the table, then stuffed everything back into the bag and reran it through the X-ray machine. Mr. Security then ran the bag back and forth through the X-ray machine a couple of times with a few of of his rapidly summoned security buddy types, all of whom decided that "it" was there, whatever "it" was.

They then brought the bag back to the table and proceeded to again pull out all of my belongings, rifle through all the pockets and become even more frantic. Mr. Security guy number one, started screaming, "It's right here, it's right here". Then he turned on me and said, "Where is it?" Not having a clue what he was looking for, I said, "I honestly don't know".

Now Mr. Security and friends are starting to get really mad at me??? Go figure. They gave me dirty looks, muttered, "You're not helping," and again stuffed all my gear back into my bag and ran it back and forth through the X-ray machine a few more times, brought it back again and started to toss my stuff around.

I innocently asked if it would be ok if I took my computer into the club, had a drink and checked my e-mail as it looked like they were going to take awhile. By this time the UAL rep at security was commiserating with me and the heavily armed young National Guardsman was smiling, but steadfast old Mr. Security was not amused--he obviously wanted desperately to be a necessary part of it all. ***sigh***

After the 5th time they ran my bag through the X-ray machine and had thoroughly tossed all my lovely scarves, lingerie and expensive anti-wrinkle creams many times, they finally summoned a young girl who researched all the pockets of my bag and uncovered my secret (from me) hidden contraband--a special Martel corkscrew that my beloved brother Rudi had gifted upon me a couple of years ago and which I had slipped into a center pocket of my bag and had forgotten.

Am I the only person in America who honestly believes that the terrorists are intelligent enough to move on to something else besides airplanes for their attacks, and that there just might be a better use of our time, energy and assets than aprehending old ladies with corkscrews at airports these days??

I can't help thinking that, while it has been a long time since I was a Marine, I could still infict every bit as much damage with a well place kick as I could with a Martel corkscrew.

Are these security folks doing more damage to our economy than did the terrorists?

Yep - couldn't agree more

(you know that saying about power corrupting and absolute power......)

Next thing you know they'll take your keys, belt and shoelaces.

But Punki, the $64,000 question is:

Did you get to keep the corkscrew???

Aloha!

I understand your point in it's entirely. However, if only those x-ray men would of been that thorough on September 11.

it was probably not the corksrew - the 'Martel' = swiss link is suspicious by itself.

Don't feel like the lone stranger, Punki - my watch set off the alarm today in Nashville and I was subjected to a body scan! I really fit the profile also!! For some reason, my husband's watch went through OK! What I could not figure out is why there are no Nat Guards in San Jose but there are in Nashville. Pardon me, but it seems to me that taking out Silicon Valley would be a more likely scenario than taking out the Grand Ole Opry!

Ah Punki

Is this the famous corkscrew that you have been carrying to give to the FC F/A's to open the wine with

...then they would have let the corkscrew go through, as they weren't forbidden in carry-ons until after September 11th.

Hmmm, profiling must be running overtime:

50+ FTs Who are Ex-Military, Upper Management, Monogamous for 25+ Years, 1K, Swiss Corkscrew carrying

I wonder how the computer thought that could be a threat

Sorry Punki!

I have no Martel corkscrew - so I'm safe!

Yet I have admittedly taken to leaving my engraved black Swiss Army knife, that was long ago given to me as a gift and which includes a corkscrew, at home!

We could all go with the two pronged "slide down the side and then pull up" kind, I suppose!

Incidentally I too had a bit of a security hassle two weeks ago and could not seem to pass through no matter what. Yet at the same airport, tewnty four hours later, I was subsequently permitted to pass security without showing any "papers" such as a boarding pass or whatever!

Go figure!

Ahh Punki! Thanks for the laugh!

As you mention yourself, you are a former marine and I am sure we can all agree that all ex-marines, gender and age aside, can be of fatal influence regarding air safety.

I'll remember to stash my hand grenade to my shorts next time I'm visiting the US.

It seems that womens' pocketbook and makeup cases must be seen as a particularly dangerous threat at BWI.
On 2Oct at C gate security, Francine's suitcase was opened and her makeup kit removed, rummaged through, and sent for another trip thru the xray scanner. There was much huddling over the image, pointing, and whispered conversation. Then the case was shaken down again, this time by two of the security people, and nothing was found. Back to the xray machine, back to the conferencing over the image, and back to the table where a final shakedown produced nothing. The bag was then returned to Francine with the explanation that there must have been some shadowing that looked like something dangerous altho they were now certain that there was nothing there (not even a corkscrew that she had taken particular care to leave in the hotel in VA).
So it appears that the old lady shakedown extends to 50+, monogamous women in upper management who are CO Platinums as well as 1K but who don't even carry corkscrews.

I'm not familiar with a Martel Corkscrew. Does it in xray profile look exactly line a 4-5" folded pocket knife? The corkscrew I use at home could easily be converted to a 5 1/2" knife.

BWI has had some really bad security in the past. There was an article last week in the Baltimore Sun about how many times the FAA snuck things through security.

For me, BWI security has been a joke. A friends shoes always set off the metal detector and if we walked close together, they would never stop both of us.

I think that they are really putting BWI under the microsope at the moment.