Originally Posted by Bart

Well, I didn't want to come across as boasting. I did, in fact, talk to a supervisor. I explained that it was medicine for an infant, that I could clearly see the baby was sick, and that I thought we should let it go. He told me that the rules were very strict and that it could not be permitted. I then confronted him with, "is this really what we want to do? Are we to become bullies and goons? It's your barbeque, boss, cook it the way you want, and I'll still support you. But look at what we're doing here."

He could have written me up for insubordination and being disrespectful.

On a positive note, yesterday, a young mom checked with me while I was working baggage about taking juice, still in its original manufacturer container, as part of a emergency kit for her diabetic son. Usually, I tell them that this is a matter for her to discuss with the supervisor once she arrives at the checkpoint. Instead, I told her to meet me at the checkpoint entrance, and in the meantime I left the pod to discuss this with the supervisor...the same supervisor I mentioned above. The guidance had changed several times since that first encounter, and I knew what the new guidance was (I report to work early, on my own time, just to review the new guidance and prepare a brief to the crew on any changes) and wanted to make sure he knew the guidance. We were on the same sheet of music and agreed that the juice, as part of an emergency kit, was permitted. I met the lady at the entrance, gave her my name and the supervisor's name and bid her a nice day.

I'm not trying to portray myself as a saint. I'm far from it, the sins of my past will always be with me. Perhaps this is what drives me to be confrontational with my own bosses when I believe we're about to do something stupid, or perhaps it's because of my military background where I'm accustomed to telling it straight, in colorful terms, and expect it to be received as straight talk without the sugar-coating. The supervisor in question is an old intelligence operator, Air Force as opposed to Army, so I think he took my questions as intended: a straight-forward discussion among professionals. Day one we were in disagreement; day two we're on the same sheet.

It works that way.

Originally Posted by Lehava

You can go to any medical supply store (and most large pharmacies) and buy yourself some of those paper booties, use for security and throw away, simple and not overly expensive.

Originally Posted by JakiChan

We had to wear those paper booties *over* shoes at a Level 3 datacenter I worked in. My employer and Level 3 fought over who would pay the medical bills when they caused me to slip and fall.

I would think that if I were to fall while trying to take off my shoes at a checkpoint then the airport would be up for a lawsuit. Which could work.

We have to realize that the only ones the TSA will listen to are the airlines and maybe the airport operators. I'm afraid we're going to have to bring our legal actions against them.

Originally Posted by doober

Write to your carrier of choice and advise them that you are going to curtail your travel unless these restrictions are rescinded, including shoe removal.

Originally Posted by Bart

Also, how much more money are you willing to pay to supply these booties in terms of hidden security costs?

I, too, am a taxpayer and don't want to pay any more than I have to. How about you?

Originally Posted by Fly AA J all the way

Bart- What is considered medication? I've been wondering this because I always travel with a special anti-perspirant only available in liquid form, or else the faucets are going 24/7. While I only use it nightly, having it get lost in luggage would mean that, come morning, the problem starts all over again. Do I have documentation from my doctor? No, this is OTC, though the only place I've found selling it is in the UK, and getting a replacement takes about 2-3 weeks. It's a 30ml spray bottle, with a little pump at the top. How would one explain this at security, and would the screeners consider it part of my meds?

Originally Posted by Lehava

You can go to any medical supply store (and most large pharmacies) and buy yourself some of those paper booties, use for security and throw away, simple and not overly expensive.

Originally Posted by Kremmen

(And, yes, I'd rather catch something I can just buy a remedy for than the flu.)



I like taking showers myself, but the availability of those in airline lounges in the USA is very poor compared to what I'm used to in Australia. I usually try to fly in/out of SFO to shower in the UA Arrivals lounge (not for Y pax tho) incoming and the SQ SKL outgoing.

However, my main point is that compared to not being able to carry innocuous personal items on board a plane, not being able to carry deodorant, not being able to carry a drink, not being able to carry toothpaste on a 24-hour+ trip (yuk!!!), not being able to carry a screwdriver, etc, taking my shoes off for 20 secs is way down the list of things which I believe are worth worrying about.

Originally Posted by peachfront

The remedy for plantar warts, caused by a contagious virus, is surgery. Athlete's foot fungus may last or recur for years, even decades. Maybe you can just buy a remedy for it. Maybe you will buy many remedies, over many years, and never be free of it again. I would consider that a considerable inconvenience.

Originally Posted by Kremmen

There is one massive problem with this "discretion" issue. The USA appears to demand that all other countries flights to the USA conform to TSA edicts. With the TSA changing its mind every day and giving discretion, that's just way too hard. Security in other countries will simply take the hardest, most unreasonable line so as to guarantee comformance with the TSA. The TSA edict against small tools is still in place here, even months after the TSA revoked it.

(That whole issue is a complete mess and totally illogical. The authorities have stated that there is no evidence at all of Australia being involved in any of the latest scare. There is no reason why we shouldn't carry liquids on board trans-pacific flights to the US and then repack them into checked luggage for domestic US connections. Instead, we are being forced to carry no liquids on planes to the USA, because the USA somehow believes it should have jurisdiction over other countries and our governments are too gutless to tell them where to shove it. ... or, more importantly, have the same FUD agenda.)