zcat18

I meant to post this when it happened a few weeks ago, but I became sidetracked.

I was returning home from a business trip to MCO, navigating the notoriously kettle-icious landside terminal and security. After clearing security and putting myself back together, I realized that I had made a gravely kettle-ish mistake: I had lost my watch in the shuffle.

I approached the TSA agent clearing bins at the end of the line that I had used, and he said that he would check each bin while I checked lost-and-found. Not finding the watch, I went back to TSA and asked the agent watching the metal detector if anybody had turned in the watch. With the bin guy and I still searching, this second agent sprang into action, going through the line and asking if anyone had found my watch.

Lo and behold, after about two minutes, the gentleman returned, watch in hand, saying that someone had given it to him after picking it up in the pre-screening bin area (why I left it there, I have no idea).

My apologies if this does not deserve its own thread or if I missed a compliation thread for stories like this, but at MCO of all places, these guys went above and beyond and deserve a shout-out.

FetePerfection

Lucky you ^

dan1431

I have found the TSA to be fairly good about lost and found, I am not sure where my head was but I did not take my Kindle from the bin upon its exit from the machine.

I realized the error of my ways soon afterwards and went back to screening area to reclaim my lost item. The TSA agent quickly went over to the bin stack and started to check the stack one by one till she came across my Kindle.

I was actually impressed and I am by no means a fan of the TSA.

First time that I ever filled out a positive comment card (and probably the only comment card that will be actually read by the TSA).

Dan

FriendlySkies

What a surprise. Every time I've gone through MCO, I've seen some of the worst clerks in the country. Don't even think of using a NEXUS card down there.

zcat18

Interesting. Perhaps they're used to kids losing/leaving items, so lost and found is the one process they've mastered. Good to hear that they're doing something consistently right, at least.

WChou

Glad you got your watch back.

However, let's take a look at the larger problem. Pre Nude-O-Scope, I never had to remove my watch from my wrist, wallet from my pocket, or belt from my pants. Now everyone had to divest of everything from their body. Being the scanners are not able to distinguish between something benign or a real threat, everything comes off. Of course this assumes the clerk watching the scans are awake enough to even see an item. In addition, at non WBI airports, everyone is being conditioned to give up their property whether it sets off the WTMD or not. The mad scramble to find a lost watch, wallet, or belt should not happen in the first place as they should never have to leave your body.

YCTTSFM

^^^

zcat18

Fair enough. I don't have a strong opinion for or against the nude-o-scope (or any current security measures--it's simply not an issue I feel strongly about), though I can tell you that in this particular case, I was not scoped but instead simply went through the traditional metal detector. Metal detectors are now on a setting that is designed to detect coins and other minutiae, so it is quicker for everyone to simply de-metal before going through the machine than it would be to wand everyone with change in his/her pocket or a watch on his wrist. I fault myself for absent-mindedly placing my watch on the table and forgetting to put it into a bin. In turn, my error probably cost others time, since TSA staff became occupied with the task of finding my watch instead of doing whatever it is TSA agents normally do. As a fairly frequent flyer, I should know better.

billycorgan

Where does MCO have AIT machines? Are there any checkpoints that are WTMD only? I am flying out of there next month and I would appreciate the info.

Pesky Monkey

We'd all be more than happy to de-metal. With the nude-o-scope you have to de-pill, de-boarding pass, de-pencil, de-wallet, de-dignity, de-kleenex. Hence, I hope you'll see why the nude-o-scope is a time waster from the get go.

zcat18

Haha--well, I'm not convinced that it is or isn't a time waster or that it is or isn't necessary (I'm not privileged with the information that the federal government and intelligence agencies have, and it's not an issue that I am particularly passionate about one way or the other), but I like the way you make your point. ^

dan1431

Honestly I am really not sure the AIT is worth anything other than making Chertoff a wealthy man.

Having said that, I cannot do anything about them and thus have basically resided myself to their existence for sometime.

Dan

Sohan

I accidentally left my Kindle at MCO 2 weeks ago and I finally got through to the lost and found today.

The friendly agent (from Delta) on the phone said I needed a US credit card to pay fedex to ship the Kindle to myself, but wasn't sure if my UK card would work. She said she would phone me shortly and let me know.

When she called me back, she let me know that they cannot accept it and that she would be shipping it to me out of pocket! Was very thankful and surprised!

tkey75

I came to post a thread with this exact title. Yesterday coming home from work I saw the NoS line while getting my ID checked at the B side and figured all lanes are so equipped. Actually, most people were avoiding that lane. While waiting, they opened up another WTMD lane and I was through security completely grope and hassle free in under three minutes. My only problem was what to do with all the extra time I had in the 'secure' side

As an aside, I spent it watching as I missed my UG by one. First I've missed all year - and in MCO, no less! I had no idea there were so many biz pax from there on a random Thurs morning.

nachtnebel

This is too funny. A great experience and it is attributed to the expanded use of WTMD instead of NoS and getting through grope free!! This is great stuff, thanks.