Memorable Travel Moments

[Namaste Jesus]

My most memorable travel moment happened several years ago on a return trip from Fiji. The wife and I had just arrived at Los Angeles International. We went through immigration and customs without a hitch, but when we attempted to check-in at the domestic terminal, things quickly went awry.

So we check-in at the ticket counter, then make our way to security. We place our carry-on bag up on the conveyor to be scanned and proceed through the metal detector. No problems, no beeps. However, when our carry-on appeared on the x-ray monitor, the screener completely panics! Next thing you know, we're surrounded by TSA agents, many of whom with hand on weapon!

My immediate thought was, one of the kids in Fiji must have slipped something in our bag, but no. What had happened was, the wife purchased a Fiji Fruit Cake before we left and brought it with her in our carry-on. Well that's not a big deal in and of itself, it had already been declared and approved. Problem was, the x-ray scanner was unable to penetrate it! They thought it was a bomb!

Well, when they found out what it was, one by one these normally staunch TSA guys start cracking up! They eventually apologized, shaking their heads and sent us on our way.

How about you guys, got any funny or unusual travel stories?

 

[Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine]

When I was returning from San Francisco (back in 2010,) I was in a security line to go through the metal detectors. In front of me was a couple who were going through a detector to my right and there was a line behind me that you couldn't see the end.

I had to dispose of some travel-size toiletries due to the fact that I didn't have a proper bag to carry them, but I wasn't the problem.

You see, the male idjit tried to bring a Swiss army knife in his carryon, throwing a tantrum that a bratty two-year-old kid could've taken notes. I believe he was taken into the security office, but several fellow passengers missed their connections, including an elderly man from India who wanted to get to his granddaughter's side for the birth of his first great-grandchild!

As pretty much everyone here knows, metal knives of all types are strictly forbidden in carryon luggage since 2001 (for obvious reasons!) If you can't take a trial size bottle of shampoo or a thing of nail clippers, you d@mn well know you can't take a Swiss Army knife! Oh, and I didn't get home until six in the morning (faceplanted in my bed without taking anything off.)

I think that I posted about this before, but I could be mistaken...

Phyllis Sidhe_Uine