Originally Posted by
ManInExitRow
The infamous and random “stupid secondary” at the UKs worst airport can be averted by dumping everything that isn’t clothing into a separate and well spaced tray. EVERYTHING.
Yes, you’ll get shouted at. Yes, it’s a pain in the årse but the stupid secondary can hold you up for a half hour, enough to miss your flight.
Slightly OT, and not to excuse the practice at MAN, I encountered a truly stupid secondary at FRA recently.
My hand luggage was flagged because there was something that looked like a weapon.
A weapon?! Impossible.
Yes, a star-shaped thingy.
I immediately realised what it was - a Christmas star from the Dior boutique!
Tried explaining, they wouldn't listen. I offered to take it out for them to inspect, they wouldn't allow me to touch my bag. (Apparently that's the protocol).
My bag was swabbed and it produced a positive result "don't worry, if you have moisturiser or hand sanitizer, this can leave traces in your bag, it happens all the time". I was made to wait as they called the POLICE.
All the while, the clock was ticking... I could see passengers on my CX flight to HKG starting to board.
THREE police persons arrived about 10 minutes later (strength in numbers, in case I'm a terrorist!) comprising of one burly man carrying a machine gun and two women with tasers... they rolled their eyes and exuded some incredulous chuckle as they watched me unwrap a nicely packed Dior handbag... and bring out a lovely Christmas ornament.
(Unlike MAN, there was no barking whatsover. The German personnel were all very understated.)