-Written by Kirsten Austin
As a seasoned traveler, I really have learned to expect everything to possibly go wrong so I can be pleasantly surprised if it goes right. As far as security is concerned, I completely understand and agree that I will be searched, need to follow the rules and should remain as polite as possible.
The only gripe I have, is trying to follow the rules. It seems they change at every airport. For instance, when leaving Saint Louis with my mother a few years back for Vegas I was “scolded” by a female agent who mentioned I must push my container into the scanning machine. I apologized profusely and followed directions. My mom even said, “Wow, she really got with you!”
Only six months later I was leaving Atlanta, Georgia and got “scolded” when I pushed my container into the scanning machine. I apologized profusely and vowed never to do that again.
Only recently, I was told on the way out of my city that I could leave my shoes on but then on the way back, I was told by another agent that I must take my shoes off.
Now, that job probably is not a lot of fun every day, but getting scolded at the age of forty four really does not sit quite right with me as a traveler. I pay a considerable amount of money to fly for both business and pleasure but not to be reprimanded. Perhaps there are people that like being reprimanded and may even pay for it, but that’s not my cup of tea.
All I can say is thank goodness for the folks that not only are serious about their jobs (and security is serious,) but can at least use some common courtesy during the process.
Speaking of cup of tea, once I was bringing back a beautiful ceramic tea-pot that my friend made and was so nervous about breaking it. I gingerly hand carried it through security. I sweetly asked the agents to please be careful after explaining my best girlfriend created it. To my surprise, the agents not only said they would be careful but these two men broke out into a little happy song and dance (simultaneously), “I’m a little tea-pot short and stout….” I’d like to say a big thank you to those guys. At least you made the rules more fun.
