Practical Travel Safety Issues - Belt confiscated in Frankfurt security....really???

Well, that's a new one....

My husband and I flew YYC-LHR, LHR-FRA, FRA-ZRH last weekend. He was wearing his favorite cloth belt, made from braided parachute material, and intended for outdoor sport enthusiasts. It closes by feeding the belt through double metal rings, rather than with a clasp. Pretty cool looking as well as functional.

He had previously worn the belt on flights to England, Hong Kong, and Italy (via Frankfurt) as well as many in Canada and the US. Never had a hint of a problem until Frankfurt security. They confiscated it!!! The security agent stood swinging it around and claimed it could be used as a weapon. No more so than any other belt....in fact, there were no sharp pieces, so should be much more benign.

Line-ups were insanely long in Frankfurt that day for passport control and security, so our 2 3/4 hour layover was completely consumed by standing in endless lines. By the time this all happened, our next flight was boarding, so he didn't have the option of going outside security to mail it to himself.

Anybody have any experience with having items (which don't appear to be banned by any regulation) confiscated? There was no negotiating with these boys....not even politely. Do we have any recourse? These items aren't cheap!

Has it become acceptable for security to "pants" their passengers in Frankfurt? Yeesh....some men NEED their belts to avoid indecent exposure! :)

Perhaps he really liked it and wanted it for himself?

Frankfurt security nabbed my toothpaste this week.

Them: "This toothpaste is 25mL over the allowed maximum"
Me: "Really? I've probably been through security 50 times with this same tube"
Them: "I always catch items that are against the rules"

They're playing whack-a-mole with common household items. Sometimes I find Frankfurt worse than the TSA in the US.

And this after I was coming from Tel Aviv where you don't have to remove your belt or shoes and they don't give a crap about liquids in your carry-on.

http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/content/frankfurt_airport/en/contact.html Has a number for complaints about security. Good luck with that.

I have a similar belt. All I can say is wow!

It's a bunch of rope. Perhaps he thought it could be unraveled.

Sounds like an interesting belt. Do you have a link to it somewhere?

Thanks

Simple rule of thumb, avoid FRA.

i find certain european airports worse than the tsa with regards to liquids and gels.

perhaps because i don't speak the native language and their abilities in english are limited to curt phrases explaining what is allowed and not allowed.

A friend of mine had a socket set confiscated in Poznan - not the rachet just the sockets on a metal strip (he had hand luggage only) he offered the metal strip as I suppose it had sharp edges but wanted to keep the sockets - no way - he told the security people did they think he was going to dismantle the aircraft -

Since I believe I wear a similar belt, here a link to what I believe the "weapon" in question is:

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3650809

Simple rule of thumb, avoid FRA.

+1

I find MUC is a much better airport. No FCT, but otherwise superior to FRA.

Well, that's a new one....

My husband and I flew YYC-LHR, LHR-FRA, FRA-ZRH last weekend. He was wearing his favorite cloth belt, made from braided parachute material, and intended for outdoor sport enthusiasts. It closes by feeding the belt through double metal rings, rather than with a clasp. Pretty cool looking as well as functional.

He had previously worn the belt on flights to England, Hong Kong, and Italy (via Frankfurt) as well as many in Canada and the US. Never had a hint of a problem until Frankfurt security. They confiscated it!!! The security agent stood swinging it around and claimed it could be used as a weapon. No more so than any other belt....in fact, there were no sharp pieces, so should be much more benign.

Line-ups were insanely long in Frankfurt that day for passport control and security, so our 2 3/4 hour layover was completely consumed by standing in endless lines. By the time this all happened, our next flight was boarding, so he didn't have the option of going outside security to mail it to himself.

Anybody have any experience with having items (which don't appear to be banned by any regulation) confiscated? There was no negotiating with these boys....not even politely. Do we have any recourse? These items aren't cheap!

Has it become acceptable for security to "pants" their passengers in Frankfurt? Yeesh....some men NEED their belts to avoid indecent exposure! :)

Without his belt, how did he keep his pants from falling?