Felonious Monk
Member
Okay: My earlier thread talked about expectations and self-defense while traveling the Friendly Skies of these United States.
I caught a total of 6 hops, or legs of travel on airplanes.
The first 3 were under Yellow Alert.
The last 3 were under Orange Alert, after the President’s 48 hr. ultimatum.
Disclaimer: I am going to posit some possibilities that COULD have passed, but am NOT condoning or encouraging ANYONE to attempt these possibilities. Just taking it to the extreme for discussion’s sake.
Observations:
geekWithA.45—"Yah, the cane is dubious."
Total green light on the cane, all 6 flights, never a question. Always run through X-ray in one piece.
In fact, due to the design and composition of the cane which was an adjustable affair, easily separated into 2 weapons, mods could be made to make it even more of a Terrorist Defense weapon: some kind of weight (sand, lead, coins) could have been placed in the ends of the two pieces. Also, the “unfinished†ends (either the part that inserts into the bottom of the handle, the bottom of the handle itself, or both) could be filed to have a very sharp “lipâ€, but kept round without changing the look of the cane.
MiniMag 6 ½†flashlight: Got it in Lt. Blue, so it was as “non-tactical†as possible. Hooked onto keychain with a lot of keys.
Looked at longer than “total pass†one time, going through Orlando security on the way to Atlanta (Orange Alert Level). TSA rep might have held it an extra second, didn’t take it apart, didn’t turn it on to verify batteries.
Another note re: Orlando during Orange Alert: People who wore dress shoes were being asked to take them off and have them X-rayed; sneakers/athletic shoes were given a pass.
bad_dad_brad—you mentioned getting the 3rd degree a while back in Chicago; perhaps because you DIDN’T have a carry-on. Just a thought.
Ewok—I and others would LOVE to hear a report about your travel on El Al to Israel in April.
Lone Gunman—Only one flight involved “storing†my cane. It was a small plane, lightly booked, one attendant, late night flight. Probably a reasonable precaution on her part. I complied happily. ALL other flights, it was never mentioned and I had it with me the whole time.
Twoblink—you suggested a #2 pencil; right now, they’re still letting metal Parker pens and Fisher Space Pens through. Had both with me, stored in my carry-on, passed X-ray 6 times with no questions.
Oh! Another thing I had: the seat belt extender. Unlatched, that could make a pretty formidable bludgeon. Maybe 16†with a 5-6oz. Buckle on the end…
So, to summarize:
I was not hassled AT ALL, with 3 metal writing pens, 6 ½†MagLight *on a keychain*, an adjustable metal cane, the socks/coins for a blackjack, and the seatbelt extender given to me on every flight. I wore jeans or shorts and a golf shirt in every case, with white leather athletic shoes.
I own a Kydex knife, but chose not to try that. Entirely too “suspect†if caught. Good thing, since Delta now words their pre-flight info to include “knives of metal OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL are stricly prohibitedâ€.
Read into it what you will.
Let the critique commence.
I caught a total of 6 hops, or legs of travel on airplanes.
The first 3 were under Yellow Alert.
The last 3 were under Orange Alert, after the President’s 48 hr. ultimatum.
Disclaimer: I am going to posit some possibilities that COULD have passed, but am NOT condoning or encouraging ANYONE to attempt these possibilities. Just taking it to the extreme for discussion’s sake.
Observations:
geekWithA.45—"Yah, the cane is dubious."
Total green light on the cane, all 6 flights, never a question. Always run through X-ray in one piece.
In fact, due to the design and composition of the cane which was an adjustable affair, easily separated into 2 weapons, mods could be made to make it even more of a Terrorist Defense weapon: some kind of weight (sand, lead, coins) could have been placed in the ends of the two pieces. Also, the “unfinished†ends (either the part that inserts into the bottom of the handle, the bottom of the handle itself, or both) could be filed to have a very sharp “lipâ€, but kept round without changing the look of the cane.
MiniMag 6 ½†flashlight: Got it in Lt. Blue, so it was as “non-tactical†as possible. Hooked onto keychain with a lot of keys.
Looked at longer than “total pass†one time, going through Orlando security on the way to Atlanta (Orange Alert Level). TSA rep might have held it an extra second, didn’t take it apart, didn’t turn it on to verify batteries.
Another note re: Orlando during Orange Alert: People who wore dress shoes were being asked to take them off and have them X-rayed; sneakers/athletic shoes were given a pass.
bad_dad_brad—you mentioned getting the 3rd degree a while back in Chicago; perhaps because you DIDN’T have a carry-on. Just a thought.
Ewok—I and others would LOVE to hear a report about your travel on El Al to Israel in April.
Lone Gunman—Only one flight involved “storing†my cane. It was a small plane, lightly booked, one attendant, late night flight. Probably a reasonable precaution on her part. I complied happily. ALL other flights, it was never mentioned and I had it with me the whole time.
Twoblink—you suggested a #2 pencil; right now, they’re still letting metal Parker pens and Fisher Space Pens through. Had both with me, stored in my carry-on, passed X-ray 6 times with no questions.
Oh! Another thing I had: the seat belt extender. Unlatched, that could make a pretty formidable bludgeon. Maybe 16†with a 5-6oz. Buckle on the end…
So, to summarize:
I was not hassled AT ALL, with 3 metal writing pens, 6 ½†MagLight *on a keychain*, an adjustable metal cane, the socks/coins for a blackjack, and the seatbelt extender given to me on every flight. I wore jeans or shorts and a golf shirt in every case, with white leather athletic shoes.
I own a Kydex knife, but chose not to try that. Entirely too “suspect†if caught. Good thing, since Delta now words their pre-flight info to include “knives of metal OR ANY OTHER MATERIAL are stricly prohibitedâ€.
Read into it what you will.
Let the critique commence.
