PhasmatisNox's leet skills hold up a plane for an hour

[MercenaryForHire]

Made battery setup to keep my laptop going on cross-country flights
Flew across country with it once, TSA inspected
Flew back, TSA freaked out when the plane stopped
Bomb dogs and technicians come
Plane held up an hour
TSA people hadn't harassed anyone recently, they were PMSing
146 travellers inconvenienced because the TSA can't standardize
1 traveller made his connecting flight thanks to PhasmatisNox's Leet SkillZ

- M4H

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: kranky
It's a shame, but the reality of today's situation is that anything suspicious is going to be investigated like crazy. Nobody wants to be the person who lets something go and it turns out to be a bad decision.

I know you tried to make sure it wasn't going to be a problem, but the guy on the phone who tells you it's OK isn't the same person who is going to be standing there when you bring it to the airport.

Last trip I made I was told that I'm on a watch list because my name is similar (not identical) to someone they are looking for. So for the next who knows how many months I can't do online check-in, self-service check-in or check baggage at curbside.

You're kidding?!

LOL

 

[Eli]

To me it sounds like they made a big fuss out of nothing, but still had to "show you" by telling you that your battery was illegal.

 

[tami]

that sucks. and to think -- my friend traveled from canada to the US a week after sept 11 with a large pocketknife in the bottom of his carry-on luggage. he didn't even get questioned. in fact, he was surprised to find it in his luggage thereafter and was shocked that he didn't get caught. i believe he filed a complaint with the TSA for not doing a thorough inspection.

people can be so paranoid

 

[mitmot]

RACISTS! haha, look at the ruckus you caused

 

[lightweight]

Interesting story. I don't think cliff notes were necessary. If people are unable to read a short story like that, then it's their loss. I figure though after an hour of inspecting your battery and all the commotion associated with it (with the other passengers), the guy probably just was being stubborn. He figured that since he already put that much time into it, he had to do *something*. Kudos on the battery arrangement though.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Kensai
:laugh:

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: kranky
It's a shame, but the reality of today's situation is that anything suspicious is going to be investigated like crazy. Nobody wants to be the person who lets something go and it turns out to be a bad decision.

I know you tried to make sure it wasn't going to be a problem, but the guy on the phone who tells you it's OK isn't the same person who is going to be standing there when you bring it to the airport.

Last trip I made I was told that I'm on a watch list because my name is similar (not identical) to someone they are looking for. So for the next who knows how many months I can't do online check-in, self-service check-in or check baggage at curbside.

You're kidding?!

LOL

Nope, that's what I was told, but I don't think the clerk at the counter was supposed to tell me. Couple weeks ago I tried doing online check-in and got a message that "your request cannot be processed at this time". Then when I got to the airport and tried to check my baggage at curbside, the skycap typed on the terminal for a bit, then said I had to go inside to the counter. He was nice enough to take me in and escort me to the front of the line, though. I think when the clerk at the counter saw that I had been a frequent flyer with them for 15 years, my ID was good, and I was taking the same flights I have taken many times, she took pity on me and told me what the problem was.

 

[no0b]

Most MD-80's have cigarette lighter power outlets so you can plug your power in. I'm pretty sure I've seen that wet cell batteries are not allowed on flights so I dont suggest you bring it anymore.

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
He's just pissed because the Airlines made him pay for 2 seats!

hahaha...fatty

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
The guy asked for my last name, I tell him, and he laughs. I give him my seat number and short description of the battery. He hurries down the jetway.

Shortly thereafter, a police officer askes me how my mother is doing and pulls me aside for a chat, where she asks me for some ID.

i don't get this part....did these police officers already know you?

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
The guy asked for my last name, I tell him, and he laughs. I give him my seat number and short description of the battery. He hurries down the jetway.

Shortly thereafter, a police officer askes me how my mother is doing and pulls me aside for a chat, where she asks me for some ID.

i don't get this part....did these police officers already know you?

They put on that act so you are more willing/comfortable answering questions.

 

[knyghtbyte]

Originally posted by: faboloso112

Originally posted by: Sheepathon
Do you think there was an element of racial profiling?

lol c'mon sheepathon thats like asking do you think the KKK have some sort of a vandetta against blacks?

edit: btw i know the OP is a white guy by his name(ned funnel). but there IS racial profiling at the airport. there has not been a single time i haven't been pulled over and so has everyone who looked 'middle-eastern' (even if those people are indian or pakistani or anything else for that matter).

well, given the current climate of bombs/disasters being set off by people of those kind of origins (or similar) can you really blame the authorities? in London in the 80's plenty of white people were pulled aside and spoken to because of the IRA bombs going off, even if they didnt have an irish accent or particularly irish name.......it kinda makes sense to go with the more obvious threat doesnt it? however they also check out the less obvious as well just to be safe, people just dont always realise it because they are too bothered shouting their heads off that they are the only ones being targeted due to their race....

i find it (in a sad way) amusing that the government for that guy (sorry, brain dead now, cant remember his actual nationality) in London who got shot dead in the head after the recent bombings were going to take action against our police for it. Until the news emerged that not only did he run away when they wanted to ask him questions, but it was proven he was here illegally!.....From what i last heard there wont be any action brought against the police now....they did the right thing, they suspected someone of being up to no good, he legged it, they shot him, altho i dont normally agree with shooting to kill, i'd rather someone living here illegally died than a few dozen or more honest citizens from the bomb on his back (for all they knew he may have had one)!

I'm as proud of my country as any US citizen is of theirs (or any other country for that matter), so if it means some people have to put up with a little suspicion for a while then they should live with it, if they are honest why should they worry??? The world we live in now demands this kind of thing to happen, or we can disolve in to anarchy and people can just wander around hurting who they like just because they themselves think its justified.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

My mother and father were flying one time and my father had a small pair of scissors in his shaving kit. He has had his baggage lost enough times over the years that he packs essentials like his shaving kit in his carry-on bag. They took the scissors out, and he had to either mail them somewhere or toss them. He wound up mailing them to me, so I was able to give them back to him.

After all that hassle, they get off the plane, my mother digs through her purse, and finds not only a pair of scissors but also a paring knife if I remember right.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: no0b
Most MD-80's have cigarette lighter power outlets so you can plug your power in. I'm pretty sure I've seen that wet cell batteries are not allowed on flights so I dont suggest you bring it anymore.

That's just the thing, it wasn't a wet-cell.

You should've taken the battery and held it upside down over the lead-guys head and said, "SEE?"

lol

 

[rh71]

bah laptop entertainment on a plane... I've considered it a few times but what a big PITA it is... and to think my little treo's battery can afford me like 5 hours of movies on one charge... the display size isn't even a big deal after about 10 minutes of staring at it.

 

[Saint Nick]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
LOL.

 

[theknight571]

Originally posted by: Sheepathon
Do you think there was an element of racial profiling?

I've been to Phoenix several times this year. Security there is a pain in the butt...but I don't complain too much since I'd rather be safe then sorry. It's the only airport I've been to that forces you to take off your shoes to avoid a "hand" search. Everywhere else I've been will let you wear your shoes and only "hand" search if you set the detector off.

I noticed there is one security lane that has that "explosive dection" device (the one the puff's air on you), and I've never seen any whites, blacks, or hispanics, in that line.

IMO...I believe there is some profiling going on....but I don't know to what extent.

No...this doesn't really relate to the OP story....just thought I'd share my observations sine the question came up and I've been to that airport several times recently.

- TK

 

[Mark R]

Lead acid batteries often cause problems with airlines.

Essentially, lead-acid or sealed lead-acid are prohibited unless they use a gel electrolyte. Basically, if your battery does not state that it is FAA approved for aircraft travel, you shouldn't take it.

Similarly, home made devices are likely to attract suspicion in the current climate. You should makes sure that if you do bring a home made device it can easily be taken apart into its component pieces and that you have documentation certifying that the battery is aircraft safe.

 

[bandana163]

Originally posted by: Sheepathon
Do you think there was an element of racial profiling?

He's not a penguin.

 

[GoingUp]

i thought it was because you looked like a terrorist

 

[jspeicher]

you should be happy i was not on that flight, i would have likely clubbed you.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: cjgallen
IF this is true:

1. Get a better laptop.
2. You KNEW it was gonna cause problems, "I was pulled aside as expected," so why'd you even bring it? Read a book or something!
3. No normal person jury rigs an external battery to a laptop, I'd be suspicious as well.

Fvcking terrorist

QFT, I would just buy a new battery.

 

[jalaram]

There is just too much inconsistency. I'm also on some kind of list because TSA always inspects my checked in bags. Unfortunately, my wife is now checked all the time as well. She wasn't checked at all until she married me and, of course, she blames me. I have a feeling it's because I carry tech items with me all the time.

I haven't been rejected for curbside check-in AFAIK, but I will keep it mind thanks to the above posts.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: cjgallen
IF this is true:

1. Get a better laptop.
2. You KNEW it was gonna cause problems, "I was pulled aside as expected," so why'd you even bring it? Read a book or something!
3. No normal person jury rigs an external battery to a laptop, I'd be suspicious as well.

Fvcking terrorist

QFT, I would just buy a new battery.

I have a sony vaio laptop with dual batteries that are realatively new and I can't even watch a 1:20 movie with out the system dying AND i'm in power save mode.... It's unfortunate manufacturers of laptops don't just release new batteries for their older models when the technology comes out...