Practical Travel Safety Issues - Odd iPad security question at LHR T3 Fastrack on Jul 4th

I had only a small bag going thru T3 Fastrack at LHR. As I was putting my bag on the xray conveyor belt, I was asked if I had a laptop or an iPad. I said no laptop, just an Android tablet. The security guy said, "An iPad?" and I responded, "no iPad, but I do have a tablet, an Android Tablet." He said "I only asked about an iPad. It's a simple question." (He was a bit arrogant.) I responded, "No iPad." He said, "See how easy that was." (BTW, kept my shoes on. I guess they were secure.)

Is there something less secure about an iPad than an Android tablet? Have I missed something? Does Apple know about this? Has anyone else encountered this at LHR or anywhere else? It's a first for me. I searched and found no other post on this issue.

Maybe he's just clueless and doesn't understand that iPads belong to a class of devices known as tablets?

Probably belongs in the Travel Safety and Security forum since it has nothing to do with AA. Move requested.

Cheers.

I had only a small bag going thru T3 Fastrack at LHR. As I was putting my bag on the xray conveyor belt, I was asked if I had a laptop or an iPad. I said no laptop, just an Android tablet. The security guy said, "An iPad?" and I responded, "no iPad, but I do have a tablet, an Android Tablet." He said "I only asked about an iPad. It's a simple question." (He was a bit arrogant.) I responded, "No iPad." He said, "See how easy that was." (BTW, kept my shoes on. I guess they were secure.)

Is there something less secure about an iPad than an Android tablet? Have I missed something? Does Apple know about this? Has anyone else encountered this at LHR or anywhere else? It's a first for me. I searched and found no other post on this issue.


Poor little guy had no clue.

Probably belongs in the Travel Safety and Security forum since it has nothing to do with AA. Move requested.

Cheers.

Concur with move request. I was in the AA thread when I remembered the issue. Sorry.

Poor little guy had no clue.

The OP? If so I'd agree. The correct answer to the question is "no". Never volunteer any more information than what is specifically asked.

The OP? If so I'd agree. The correct answer to the question is "no". Never volunteer any more information than what is specifically asked.

Gotta disagree with that. Given the proclivity these days to refer to a tablet as an "iPad" (see "Band Aid," "Xerox," etc.) it is more likely that the person was asking about a tablet than an iPad specifically. Saying "No, I don't have an iPad, but I do have an Android tablet" is the correct answer. Just saying No, then having the person find the tablet and question why you mislead them (never mind that the answer was accurate) is the more than likely outcome of that. Best to be avoided.

Cheers.

The OP? If so I'd agree. The correct answer to the question is "no". Never volunteer any more information than what is specifically asked.

Well, no, actually, because you could get the moron security officer who would accuse you of trying to lie to him.

Given the "security" employee's choice of "employment" with DfT, I can understand why the OP might have assumed the employee was clueless about different tablet types.

And off this goes to the appropriate TS&S Forum. Assuming it will pass muster, of course. ;)

/Moderator

iPad has become mostly synonymous with a 10 inch tablet, much like most MP3 players are often referred to as an iPod.

If that happens again the easiest answer is "it is my tablet"

Gotta disagree with that. Given the proclivity these days to refer to a tablet as an "iPad" (see "Band Aid," "Xerox," etc.) it is more likely that the person was asking about a tablet than an iPad specifically. Saying "No, I don't have an iPad, but I do have an Android tablet" is the correct answer. Just saying No, then having the person find the tablet and question why you mislead them (never mind that the answer was accurate) is the more than likely outcome of that. Best to be avoided.

Cheers.

Not my duty to educate them about the difference. Oh, and don't forget "Kleenex".

Well, no, actually, because you could get the moron security officer who would accuse you of trying to lie to him.

I've done it before and breezed right through.

Given the "security" employee's choice of "employment" with DfT, I can understand why the OP might have assumed the employee was clueless about different tablet types.

And finally the "assume" cliche. I assume they mean what was asked.

I had only a small bag going thru T3 Fastrack at LHR. As I was putting my bag on the xray conveyor belt, I was asked if I had a laptop or an iPad. I said no laptop, just an Android tablet. The security guy said, "An iPad?" and I responded, "no iPad, but I do have a tablet, an Android Tablet." He said "I only asked about an iPad. It's a simple question." (He was a bit arrogant.) I responded, "No iPad."

.

I would have said: "asked and answered".

Maybe it's related to when they asked me (also at LHR) to remove my laptop from my briefcase, I did and then they searched me when I didn't take out ipad. They then told me ipad was a laptop...

I had only a small bag going thru T3 Fastrack at LHR. As I was putting my bag on the xray conveyor belt, I was asked if I had a laptop or an iPad. I said no laptop, just an Android tablet. The security guy said, "An iPad?" and I responded, "no iPad, but I do have a tablet, an Android Tablet." He said "I only asked about an iPad. It's a simple question." (He was a bit arrogant.) I responded, "No iPad." He said, "See how easy that was." (BTW, kept my shoes on. I guess they were secure.)

Is there something less secure about an iPad than an Android tablet? Have I missed something? Does Apple know about this? Has anyone else encountered this at LHR or anywhere else? It's a first for me. I searched and found no other post on this issue.

This seems to be the security equivalent of the question "Have you stopped beating your wife?"

I had only a small bag going thru T3 Fastrack at LHR. As I was putting my bag on the xray conveyor belt, I was asked if I had a laptop or an iPad. I said no laptop, just an Android tablet. The security guy said, "An iPad?" and I responded, "no iPad, but I do have a tablet, an Android Tablet." He said "I only asked about an iPad. It's a simple question." (He was a bit arrogant.) I responded, "No iPad." He said, "See how easy that was." (BTW, kept my shoes on. I guess they were secure.)

Is there something less secure about an iPad than an Android tablet? Have I missed something? Does Apple know about this? Has anyone else encountered this at LHR or anywhere else? It's a first for me. I searched and found no other post on this issue.

puppysara:

I too went through T-3 Fastrack security @ LHR, but on July 1st, and was asked the exact same question about whether I had an iPad. I thought it was peculiar to have singled out a specific device, but as I was only carrying a PC Laptop, I answered "No iPad, just a PC laptop", and proceeded onward.

So you're not alone with this particular question being asked @ LHR T-3 Fastrack security. :)

Pretty standard clerk behaviour at LHR. They're not as bad as the TSA, but some can be quite disagreeable.