Well, I ran into a new wrinkle in my world of travel. I was leaving Toronto and was told that I had to check my briefcase because it was on wheels. The new rule is when you are entering any port coming into the United States, you MUST check any bag that has wheels. Oh, you can have a backpack, but nothing that is on wheels.
I asked the agent at the USAirway counter, “Why?” His response was, “It is a new GOVERNMENT rule in response to the most recent attempt to blow up the Northwest flight.”
My mind thought, “That didn’t have anything to do with luggage on wheels. He had a bomb hidden in his underwear!”
I get into customs and ask the Custom Officer, “What’s the deal with having to check my computer bag because it is on wheels?”
His response was, “It is a new rule instituted by the AIRLINES.”
Now, I’m thinking, “Someone doesn’t know what is going on here!”
I take my computer out of my bag, check it through and proceed through the x-ray part of security. Once inside there is another line where they go through anything you have. Now, I have just taken off everything and passed it through the x-ray machine. I wait in the line, get to this little man who tells me to take everything out of my pockets, which I do and THEN he tells me to put my hands down the inside front of my pants, then put them in my pockets. I look at him and I guess he could see the surprise on my face. So, he repeats the request.
Folks, I don’t put my hands down the inside front of my pants in private and sure don’t want to do it in public, BUT what are you going to do? If you don’t do it, you don’t get on the plane.
I am amazed how one person can cause the rest of the world to react. I am all for security and safety, but some of this doesn’t make sense. It’s like a few years ago when they took the metal knives off the airplanes, but left the medal forks! I thought, “Hey, I can do as much damage with this metal fork as I could with that knife.”
Know what? Travel used to be fun, but now it has become work!
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?
