Departing from CDG yesterday.

i am going through the very long and slow line to airport security.
At CDG it involves the usual hassle, take out computer, take off belt, take off jacket, long discussions with security personnel about this and that.
All very tense and hectic.
I finally get to the xray machines--and go through the motions of remove jacket/sling the plastic containers, push bags, haul this and that, and then waiting as the security person in front of x-ray machine proceeded to take a small used tissue from his back pocket and blow his nose violently four times into the shredded tissue, each time expelling material from his nostrils.Right in front of me.
He replaced the used tissue into his pocket, and then held out the same hand he had just used for blowing his nose, and said, "Passport".
Thinking of swine flue, germs, colds, and whatever was in in the tissue, I stood there for a second, wondering whether to ask him to sanitize his hands before he grabbed my passport...and stood there kind of stupefied (I had already been grossed out as he blew his nose right in front of me)...
He said disdainfully, OK, if you don't want to hand me your passport you can stand over there, indicating that I would be to the side of the line.
I of course quickly handed over the passport, thinking that, a, he hated his job and all it entailed, and b, had great disdain for flyers. Ugh.
Flying/security if bad enough without this.
Earlier, from SFO to CDG, once more going through security (so called) at SFO, as all the convicts..err... PAX were going through the motions of undressing, hauling the plastic containers, following the line, going into zen mode to deal with it, then a young 'security' person came marching through the throng holding aloft a plastic container of peanut butter (did not catch the brand or whether it was creamy or chunky (ha).."Anyone who has peanut butter in their luggage, take it out now, we just confiscated this peanut butter from a passenger" he said with a flourish and show of power.
I am not making this up. So...someone can what, smear an FA with peanut butter and hold up a plane? Has no-one in Paris heard that there is maybe a swine flu pandemic? Or discussed some kind of health considerations.
Yikes...this is nuts (peanuts).

Please follow in our Travel Safety/Security forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Ewww boogers........

Mmmm..peanut butter. That tasty, yet deadly foe of aviation security!

Yeah, we know, they're an embarassment to professional clowns everywhere. But, the TSA has access to SSI that terrorists typically attack in mutliples simultaneously, so obviously if one has tried a peanut butter gambit, there's most likely more peanut butter pirates in line behind the original. And when sternly warned like this by someone with a very official looking tin badge, they're certain to slink back to their domestic terror cells, to try again on another day.
(Thoughts of peanut butter stashed in shoes, or even worse, in snow globes abound.)

Sadly, allergies to nuts are an issue. But, then again the airlines serve them as snacks during flights.. Am I nuts to think that peanuts are being smeared, and peanut butter held hostage to a SSI standard?

I had a TSO open my shaving kit once, sneeze into his hands, and proceed to reach for my Sonicare. I grabbed my bag from him while he got all huffy and said I couldn't do that. Became totally indignant when I asked him to change his gloves before I would give him my articles to handle.

Short story, supervisor was involved and I hope he lost his job (although you can evidently bring a gun to work and not get fired if you are a TSO so I'm sure he is still at OAK...).

Allergies to perfumes are an issue too - they shouldn't be banned from airplanes as it's not reasonable to ever think that an airplane with recirculated air is safe for people who have "reactions" to peanuts or perfume.

Very rude that the passport control agent did not at least use his shirt to wipe off his hands!

In the midst of the swine flu ordeal (beginning of May), my husband and I were returning from vacation, flying out of DFW. As we were getting in line for to go through security (US Airways terminal), we were waved over to enter a lane with only few people in it. I was putting my belongings on the belt before my husband because he has to unload his laptop and it takes him longer. As I get to the WTMD, the TSO is on the other side gagging and waving her arms. My belongings are already out of the x-ray at this point. She waves me through as she spraying air freshner. I'm thinking, "...?" I go to collect my belonging and see something "brown" in a few spots on my purse. Then the smell hits me. It's fecal matter! My husband is right behind me. His lap top comes out of the x-ray "unclean". He tells them to stop the belt; there's a problem. It took them a minute or two. I'm asking how this is happening. They're pointing to a passenger who just is departing in front of me. The TSOs did wipe our belongings with alcohol, but I have to wonder--why the heck didn't they close that lane in the first place? The TSO manning the WTMD could smell the problem, so I would think the other TSOs (there were 3) near the x-ray could smell the problem? We were totally grossed out by the experience. Wiped our belonging and hands off immediately with anti-bacterial soap.

I don't know if the poor guy had an uncontrollable accident as he was entering the area or what. I'm assuming that the poo was on his shoes, and got onto the belt and other parts of the x-ray machine when they sent his shoes through. Proves to me that the security area is a filthy place. No one should be taking their shoes off let alone be walking through there with bare feet.

I agree that perfumes can be an allergy issue as well- I have traveled with a friend several times with severe allergies to perfumes, mold and mildew and other airborne particles, and he even brings special detergents, soaps and other items to share with his friends to reduce his discomfort.

OMG that story gave me the best idea. Wonder where I can get some fake poo.

Yes, it did leave me not only grossed out--but also wondering if the guy even realized that blowing your nose in front of others (not even turning to one side) is bad manners and unhealthy--and with posters all around the CDG airport about 'la grippe porcine' --aka swine flu--he had to be aware of that issue as well.

Well, speaking of health/cleanliness and TSA...in Calgary recently I had a TSA person going through my toiletries, including toothbrushes with 'used' gloves on...pretty gross.
Perhaps now that I think of it...it is prudent to travel with a new toothbrush that is still in its protective packaging.

Not sure what to do next time an agent blows his nose, loudly, four times in my face then reaches for my passport...ugh...we are prisoners of these people. Hideous. if I thought there was any logic to it, I would not mind submitting.

Make them change their gloves, in front of you. I do it every time they want to rifle through my underwear and shaving kit...any time they want to examine anything of mine. It is within our rights. Some TSAs comply willingly, some get attitude, BUT THEY STILL HAVE TO DO IT.

Just ask them to change their gloves -clearly, the result of NOT doing so is quite a steep price to pay in addition to what we already pay to fly. I really don't want an ecoli infection or Swine flu or scabies or whatever to "enhance" my trip.

NOTE TO Trollkiller:

I know where you can get some REAL poo, but FAKE poo? Is that the same as SHAM poo? Not permitted by TSA...