Originally Posted by PTravel (Post 8748389)

Going through the LAX elite line, yesterday, "barker" was saying to take out all "large" electronics -- laptops, cameras, CD players, etc.

My two carry-ons were crammed with electronics -- my laptop, two digital still cameras, a digital camcorder, and all manner of support electronics, as well as an MD recorder, my Blackberry, three cellphones and, of course, my Bose NC phones and an iPod. I wasn't about to empty my "large" electronics in the bins, particularly my cameras which get held up to my face (think about it -- shoes walk on the ground, shoes go in the bin, what was on the ground gets transferred to the bin, etc.)

I took out the laptop and left everything else in the bags. One bag got pulled for secondary. The screener was polite, as was I. I asked him to change his gloves, which he did. He did a short inspection, ran a couple of swabs and wished me a nice day, which I returned.

Because this was the elite line, I don't know what was happening with the Kettles and the Gomers.

Originally Posted by birdstrike (Post 8748284)

Any interaction with a security force can only have a neutral or negative outcome for the civilians immediately involved.

I believe that was the genesis of the "snake" comment. The TSA, by its own admission, is an unpredictable element in travel.

By design, I cannot tell from trip to trip what I will encounter at an airport checkpoint.

I carry more than $15K in photo gear, computer equipment, and assorted weird electronics on almost every trip.

Keeping track of this as it goes out of my sight, knowing that there are criminal pax and (far fewer) criminal screeners who would love to dip into the toys-on-parade does generate a bit of stress.

The "barkers", first time travelers, and unfortunately all-too-often incompetent screeners just add to the unpredictability of the checkpoint.

So, I like snakes. I have no fear of snakes. Even poisonous snakes are cool. However I know that every encounter with one can only have a neutral or negative outcome.

Originally Posted by KleineFrau (Post 8748972)

Darnit. My flight out of LAX on the 26th will be just lovely, then. That day, will have all camera gear (considerable), plus two laptops and an iPod. The laptops I always expect, but the camera gear, I guess, is getting a secondary. No chance I am letting a brand new digital SLR and all associated lenses, lights and other gear roll around in that dirty bin. Ew.

Originally Posted by bzbdewd (Post 8749904)

The problem with having your camera gear go through a secondary is that they will insist on unpacking the bag themselves and may not be gentle about how they handle things. When we had this happen the TSO handled our camera gear and external hard drives like old shoes - just dumping them into the bins. We got a 'do you want to fly today' when bzbdavid freaked out about it and tried to unpack it himself.

Just wondering - if something like this happens and they break something what then?? Are you just SOL or does the TSA have to pay for it??

Originally Posted by essxjay (Post 8748774)

You must've been napping .... he's not taken the bar exam just yet. Go back to sleep. ;)

Originally Posted by iluv2fly (Post 8752278)

Just went through screening at LAS. No nonsense. But the lines!!! Took forever and they were snaking around the terminal again! Allow enough time for your flight. Many people missed theirs at UA today. :td: :(

Originally Posted by iluv2fly (Post 8752278)

Just went through screening at LAS. No nonsense. But the lines!!! Took forever and they were snaking around the terminal again! Allow enough time for your flight. Many people missed theirs at UA today. :td: :(

Originally Posted by BLI-Flyer (Post 8749577)

I went through ABQ yesterday afternoon and there was no additional screening of electronics.

Originally Posted by whirledtraveler (Post 8745512)

That was a interesting way of bowing out of an argument. ;)

Seriously, you feel that checking IDs does makes us safer somehow? Would you care to explain how an ID check keeps someone from committing terror on an airplane? Do they just sit on the airplane and go "Wow, they checked my id.. maybe I shouldn't do something terrible!!"

Like I said, it's not a respectable job. Anyone with self-respect would quit due to the utter senselessness of it.

Go ahead and defend it. We're all ears.