Good grief! I was criticising the policies not the people who enforce them. Most were knee jerk reactions with no real basis in fact to score political points. Some of the regulations are just crazy.
Sorry but at no point did I criticise anyone for doing their job.
Stand down. You're paranoid.
Of course you are entitled to your opinion, but before i can accept your opinion i would be grateful if you could give us some idea of what qualifications, experience and knowledge you have to base those opinions?
Not being factious, it's just that working around this industry for so many years i've heard many opinions given, but none of yet have had any real work foundation on which to base them.
Does chill out mate mean dont complain, dont raise your head above the parapet, just be quiet and do as youre told and dont question anything?
Mmmmmmm.
For what it is worth Dave i think you should be commended on your planning and having forethought enough to contact the airline before your departure
I also think your determination in the face of what seems to be very poor KLM customer service is fantastic.
So credit where it is due.
I do think that you're judgement on KLM's security responses is wrong though.
First off they are not the right authority to contact, secondly lighters are a bit of a schroeder's cat scenario.
Imagine you've been travelling for 24 hrs without much sleep in cramped tin cans of various guises. You boarded in America, disembarked in Heathrow for a change to get to Leeds. You have 40 minutes to get your next plane as your inbound was late landing. Your bags have already been through security yet you have to do it all over again. And that bottle of water you got given on the BA plane which you put in one of the many pockets in your bag and in your tired state forgot about flags up the bag to be searched...
Any sympathy?
The bottle was given to me on a plane by the same airline I was flying with and I'd already been cleared through US customs. I made the flight by 1 min. My luggage had been pulled off. The security duty manager really enjoyed my tired confused state as I panicked that I would miss my flight home.
Sorry you have to endure doing the job you're paid for but treat people like customers and be helpful and understanding.
I deal with difficult clients all the time but, as they're my customers I try and make things right.
I don't see how you being tired or in a rush is supposed to overrule security procedures
Why should your state of mind or lack of planning put every other passenger on that flight at risk?
Or are you suggesting that terrorists NEVER look stressed of flustered?
The security staff are not employed or paid by the airline, you are not their customers and they are not employed to be helpful.
They are employed and judged on how they adhere to the CAA regulations.
This is 100% to keep you as a passenger safe.
I did not say i work on the security check points, so i don't have to "endure" anything.
Knowing and spending time with the security staff that do though they have my utmost sympathy and understanding, it's a job that offers low pay, long and unsociable hours and although the vast vast majority of passengers are responsible intelligent people, there is also more than a fair share of stupid ignorant passengers that feel that because they are obviously not a terrorist or because they are in a rush the rules do not apply to them.
I have flown a LOT with my work and i have NEVER had a problem at a security check point.
It's not really rocket science the list of prohibited items is clearly stated on the check in desk, usually with clear pictures.
There are then many many posters throughout the airport clearly showing prohibited items.
Then there are larger even clearer posters at the start of the security check point.
Even after ALL that passengers are asked at the start of the security checkpoint queue if they have any of the prohibited items on them.
For future reference there are 2 separate security areas at a airport
Land side and air side
Any food or beverage that has made it through to air side has passed several security check points and checks.
Any food or beverage air side has not
If you take an item from air side to land side it will need to go through the entire security procedure again.
As land side items are easily mixed with non checked items how can it not?
So you must have passed at least a half a dozen posters telling you your water was not permitted.
You must have been asked at least once if you have any liquids in your hand luggage to which you must have lied (otherwise why would your luggage have been pulled), yet you still feign outrage that the clearly stated rules apply to you.
Do you see what i mean about "special" passengers?
Do you not think Mr ISIS or Mr Alan qaeda is able to feign outrage or ignorance if it gets him to his goal?
The security staff are trained to not only ignore your outrage and stress, they are trained to pick up on it.
For non regular fliers i can sympathise and understand that it all might be a bit bewildering.
The best bet it to err on the side of caution, pack a SAE with you snd leave plenty of time in case you need to post your lighter, pen knife back to yourself.
As a regular flier though your best bet is to not take anything in your hand luggage that's sharp, flammable or has liquid.
3 things that'll make flying a LOT easier.
