Walking to the airport and other bad ideas: an impulsive trip to Eilat with Arkia
May 14, 2015, 3:03 pm
#46
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
What a fun TR! And I loved the fact that you could just walk to and from the airport.
May 14, 2015, 6:55 pm
#48
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Toronto-YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, BA Executive- Blue, Lifemiles, AA Advantage, VIA Rail Preference, Iberia Plus
Posts: 565
Cool report but I'd flip if someone asked me that about my family.
The Bar Mitzhav question is interesting though.
I remember when I was in Mexico years ago (about 6-7 I think?) my little cousin asked me, if I knew the Mexican national anthem, which I didn't (still don't since I'm not Mexican) but I didn't get why she was asking me that.
I found out shortly after that the Mexican army does random spot checks on buses looking for illegals from Central America and they way they often "test" them is to ask them to sing the Mexican national anthem!
While the bus did get stopped a few times on the trip to Torreon, I was never questioned or anything.
Israel (in general) is on my travel list. One day I'll get there.
The Bar Mitzhav question is interesting though.
I remember when I was in Mexico years ago (about 6-7 I think?) my little cousin asked me, if I knew the Mexican national anthem, which I didn't (still don't since I'm not Mexican) but I didn't get why she was asking me that.
I found out shortly after that the Mexican army does random spot checks on buses looking for illegals from Central America and they way they often "test" them is to ask them to sing the Mexican national anthem!
While the bus did get stopped a few times on the trip to Torreon, I was never questioned or anything.
Israel (in general) is on my travel list. One day I'll get there.
May 17, 2015, 9:51 am
#49
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 294
I also don't enjoy the security at the smaller airports. In late 2012, I was flying from Haifa to Eilat for a long weekend to photograph a weightlifting competition for a friend's website. For some reason I was asked a lot of questions and then had to speak with a supervisor who asked even more questions.
Eventually I was let go and put my camera bag and other bag through the x-ray machine. The pregnant security woman requested to open my camera bag after the x-ray. I said sure. This didn't seem that strange because (a) she had seen my earlier interrogation and (b) there were 2 cameras, a few lenses, and some other accessories, so it made sense that they'd want to check that out carefully.
She opened the bag and started looking around. A few moments later, she started yelling something in Hebrew and screaming and I was just kind of standing there looking dumbfounded. Suddenly they were demanding everyone to evacuate immediately and the whole airport was running outside! After we got outside, they separated me from everyone else, and a guy with a rifle came to stand near me.
I was pretty shocked, put my hands up (you're supposed to do that in these situations, right?), and just stood there for a couple minutes. As they say, that escalated quickly.
Then the head of security came over and asked me about this item:
that was in my camera bag. It's used to clean a camera and apparently was created in a non-ideal shape and was also placed poorly in the bag by me. I (pretty) calmly explained what it was and just he and I entered the airport so I could show him and explain. He seemed to understand and then things calmed down.
People re-entered the airport and I was allowed to proceed. Afterwards the security woman who panicked and the head of security brought me water and snacks and apologized
Eventually I was let go and put my camera bag and other bag through the x-ray machine. The pregnant security woman requested to open my camera bag after the x-ray. I said sure. This didn't seem that strange because (a) she had seen my earlier interrogation and (b) there were 2 cameras, a few lenses, and some other accessories, so it made sense that they'd want to check that out carefully.
She opened the bag and started looking around. A few moments later, she started yelling something in Hebrew and screaming and I was just kind of standing there looking dumbfounded. Suddenly they were demanding everyone to evacuate immediately and the whole airport was running outside! After we got outside, they separated me from everyone else, and a guy with a rifle came to stand near me.
I was pretty shocked, put my hands up (you're supposed to do that in these situations, right?), and just stood there for a couple minutes. As they say, that escalated quickly.
Then the head of security came over and asked me about this item:
that was in my camera bag. It's used to clean a camera and apparently was created in a non-ideal shape and was also placed poorly in the bag by me. I (pretty) calmly explained what it was and just he and I entered the airport so I could show him and explain. He seemed to understand and then things calmed down.
People re-entered the airport and I was allowed to proceed. Afterwards the security woman who panicked and the head of security brought me water and snacks and apologized
May 17, 2015, 9:59 am
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
Cheesedawg,
WOW! I'm sorry that happened to you, but I'm glad that they were kind to you at the end (no surprise; they're usually very, very kind even when woefully misguided.)
This confirms my suspicions--and those of my friends--that the less more talented and savvy security people are at NATBAG (Ben Gurion Airport.) I've flown out of there so many times without incident.
I do hope your camera is clean now!
WOW! I'm sorry that happened to you, but I'm glad that they were kind to you at the end (no surprise; they're usually very, very kind even when woefully misguided.)
This confirms my suspicions--and those of my friends--that the less more talented and savvy security people are at NATBAG (Ben Gurion Airport.) I've flown out of there so many times without incident.
I do hope your camera is clean now!