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A new low: liquids confiscated at the gate in PTY
So I went through my usual practice of going through security and then buying a bottle of water air-side for my long-ish flight from PTY to EWR.
Agents went through all bags at the gate and confiscated the water. Do their x-rays at the security checkpoint not detect liquids? Is this a new rule? Only for flights to the U.S.? Of course the security agent had the usual blank, indifferent look when I tried to ask questions. There were certainly no signs or announcements about this.
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All us bound intl flights are subjected to US DHS level security check addtional to local check at the gate. The US bound gate check is in full compliance with DHS regulations where the local check is different.
This additional gate security check is not just a PTY issue, it is also for SJO next door as well as most Asia to US flights.
This incident is why I travel with my own bottle for water. Restaurants will fill it for you and if there is an issue just dump the water and board the plane. Once on board ask the FA for some water.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goalie
Ok-I understand it's different countries and different rules but I'm totally confused on this one....
Why was a bottle of water purchased airside confiscated/taken away/surrendered?
Because there is no way of telling the difference between airside water and landside water at many airports outside the US where there is no H2Ophobia.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Caradoc
Quote:
Originally Posted by goalie
Ok-I understand it's different countries and different rules but I'm totally confused on this one....
Quote:
So I went through my usual practice of going through security and then buying a bottle of water air-side for my long-ish flight from PTY to EWR.
Why was a bottle of water purchased airside confiscated/taken away/surrendered?
Stupidity and/or revenue driver.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tentseller
Quote:
Originally Posted by goalie
Ok-I understand it's different countries and different rules but I'm totally confused on this one....
Quote:
So I went through my usual practice of going through security and then buying a bottle of water air-side for my long-ish flight from PTY to EWR.
Why was a bottle of water purchased airside confiscated/taken away/surrendered?
Because there is no way of telling the difference between airside water and landside water at many airports outside the US where there is no H2Ophobia.
So what if I show my receipt which shows I bought it airside? It's not that difficult to figure out it, right?
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Over-entitled 1k wondering how COdbaUA likes Flyertalk being its beta tester?
Because there is no way of telling the difference between airside water and landside water at many airports outside the US where there is no H2Ophobia.
Location: Finally back in Boston after escaping from New York
Posts: 11,354
Quote:
Originally Posted by goalie
So what if I show the geniuses my receipt that shows I bought it airside )or will they all have a collective stroke trying to figure it out?)
Now look who's being naive. Some of us are just more in tune with the terrorist threats that face this great nation of ours. You see, what's to stop a terrorist from scouting the airport to determine what type of water they sell and then buying a bottle of it on the outside? Then, the terrorist could fill the bottle with the mystery explosive while also buying a bottle at the airport for the receipt. Throw out the water and bring your magical mystery bottle onboard, showing the receipt as proof that you bought it at the airport.
It's only through the courage and intellect of our airport security that we are able to stop terrorists.
