Last Friday, UA185 PHL-SFO. Mrs and I in exit row on an A319.

When the doors were about to close, 3 late pax got on--man and two women. Probably 20-something. As they passed me, I heard a buzzing from the man's pack. Like a phone vibrating, but steady. Definitely not a phone. After he got seated (last row or pretty close to it), I got up and told the FA to check it out.

She did, and came back and told me "he(the pax) said it was hair clippers, and would turn them off". I asked her to get the Capt involved, and after two trips (by the FA) to the front, she told me that the purser and Capt and decided that if he got through security that was good enough.

We weren't happy, but decided not to take it further. It was on our minds for a while and I gotta say a little unnerving that UA was so casual about it.

That afternoon I was still thinking about it, so I called Cust Svc and whined at them. The rep. told me he would kick it upstairs and gave us each 9K miles (I didn't ask for anything).


Was I over-reacting? I didn't think so, but I wonder... Is it a good idea to assume that TSA makes no mistakes?

So after the guy told the FA what they were and turned it off you still had issues? Yes, I think you were overreacting...but hey, got you some free miles!

Yes, you were overreacting. I've had an electric razor accidentally get turned on in my luggage before. No big deal.
I'm actually surprised that you called Cust Svc. This seems a bit overkill for a buzzing noise. Do you call every time you hear some creaking from the airframe?

While it happened on UA... This might be better suited to TS&S:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...-security-222/

Now, to answer your question, seems they investigated, and were satisfied with the explination.

How much further would you suggest they take it? (and I am making a very broad jump here).... but an interrogation from a FAM? A strip search? Run them through the puffer?

FWIW, little_1780 has a few "buzzing" toys. Hope no one would take him to the jetway for a "seconday search".

Yes, I think you were over-reacting.

What exactly would it have taken to put your mind at rest?

The captain personally coming back and talking to the pax? What did you think the captain was going to do/say that the FA hadn't?

Did you want the FA/captain to demand to see the clippers? Search the pax bag?

Would you have felt safer if the pax with the clippers had been deplaned?

Would you have felt better if all pax had been removed, the airplane searched, and all pax rescreened?

I guess what I was after was to confirm that it was what the pax said it was. I'm thinking that it would have taken only a second and wouldn't have violated his privacy..

Wow. UA should NOT be giving out comp for this sort of thing.

Huge overreaction.

Next time deplane if it's going to cause you so much grief and stop inconveniencing the rest of the passengers.

You were over reacting. Happens all the time in checked luggage.

And you would have been satisfied with visual verification? After all, the clippers could have been modified. Perhaps that's why they were buzzing...

This is like the biggest overreaction I have ever seen. Paranoia to the extreme.

Two thumbs down for UA for even awarding you with miles.

I'm having trouble understanding why a buzzing in a backpack would be the least bit suspicious. The only possible explanation was some small appliance that wasn't turned off. I can't think of anything that could be a possible hazzard that would be continuously buzzing. Neither a weapon nor a bomb component would do that. I'd certainly have mentioned it so that the passenger didn't arrive with a dead battery, but a threat? I don't see it.

May I ask what you were concerned it was? The only things I can see on TSA's prohibited list that vibrate are drills.

Buzzing? Probably not much of a threat and agree with mentioning it to the passenger so he/she could turn it off. Now, if the backpack was smoking, I would get much more concerned.

Doesn't one have to smoke before the buzzing occurs?