Originally Posted by Punki
I have traveled over a half a million miles, and hundreds of flights, since 911 and thought I had seen it all, but on our last trip to ORD, I was totally surprised when I was told that I must remove all of my jewelry.
Since I always wear exactly the same jewelry, day-to-day, and have never set off an alarm, I just refused to do so. There is no way on the face of this earth that I am going to let my jewelry out of my sight, even to go through security. What was she thinking?
In Dec 03 I had a similar experience at OKC. I was completely surprised when the TSA agent insisted that I remove my jewelry. I was also very annoyed by the request, but although I resisted briefly, I just didn't have the energy to argue.
I thought about this quite a bit afterwards but I still don't understand it. I had been wearing my *travel* jewelry -- which consists of a silver pendant, my wedding ring on my left hand, an industry award ring (similar to a class ring) on my right hand, and a modestly ornate wetern-style silver watch band. I have worn these same pieces through security at dozens of other airports all over the world at least a bazillion times. I have never set off any alarms, anywhere, with my jewelry. And I had never before been asked to remove it.
About 6 weeks later I flew out of OKC again, but this time I was prepared to hold my ground. When the TSA strongly suggested that I remove my jewelry, I declined. I was warned that I would receive secondary if I set off any alarms and I told them I realized this was a possibility. I stepped through the machine and NOTHING happened. No alarms. No secondary. Just like I expected. I grinned at the agent who then told me I was lucky because I had just barely made it through without beeping. Whatever.
I never cause trouble for the TSA. I take off my shoes and my jackets and I put my cell phone wherever they want it. But this was the last straw for me. I just don't believe that removing my jewelry makes me or anyone else safer and I run the risk of having it lost or stolen. If my jewelry doesn't worry anyone in TLV or FRA or LHR or anywhere else in the world, why does it concern the TSA in OKC?