Going through security in the Orlando airport and running late as usual, I placed a satchel containing reading material into a plastic tray for x-ray scanning; the top of the satchel was below the top of the tray. On top of the satchel I placed my eyeglasses, watch and car keys. I cleared the body scanner, then went to collect my scanned belongings. Suddenly the person behind me said that he saw some of my belongings drop from the conveyor belt as it exits the scanner onto the floor. I then noticed that my eyeglasses, watch and car keys were missing from the tray!
I hunted for the items on the floor underneath the scanner but had difficulty finding them as I didn’t have my glasses on. A security guy helped me look for half a minute then said I could look for the items myself. I finally found my glasses, put them on, located my keys, but couldn’t find my watch. Eventually I found my watch, undamaged, lodged in the roller conveyor. Ever since I’ve placed my personal items in a separate tray.
Tagged as:
airport,
scanner,
security
With the closing of yet another year, it’s that time to look back at the flying hell events that took place in 2008.
Increased costs for services increased passenger frustrations. Packed overhead bins, due in part to charges for checked luggage, added to the despair. The TSA came under fire, including from a woman upset about having to remove her nipple rings. Body image scanners added to passenger insults. Delays and cancellations led to unruliness and rioting in Argentina, China, and the U.S.
Stories about pilots and attendants were featured in the news (including one about a pilot and attendant caught romping nude together in the woods), but they were exceeded by stories about uncouth, odd and violent passengers. As to be expected, celebs got into trouble; notables included Naomi Campbell and Jerry Lewis. Animals added to the mayhem, including mice, rats, cats, cheetahs, dogs, snakes, ticks, skunks and even catfish.
The Flights From Hell website itself made the news.
The chaotic flying climate resulted in a number of story submissions to Flights From Hell, the weirdest one dealing with a dog that was breast fed by a passenger!
Tagged as:
animals,
cat,
delay & cancellation,
dog,
flight attendant,
pilot,
scanner,
security,
violence
