André Baron wrote:
>
> After the newton was xRayed they made me turn
> it on (Hmm whats that, a circuit board, oh better look at that) but I
> guess they make all electronic gear be turned on, there was a guy beside
> me who had a PB G3 that also had to be started up, what a pain on
> something like that (Once they see the startup screen OK it's good,
> grumble grumble grumble, now I have to wait for the stupid thing to
> finish booting up so I can shut it down again, that's why my notebook
> will only be in sleep mode when I travel). After that they only wanted
> to hand scan me a couple of times. But I certianly found there was a
> higher security precense then other times.
Reminds me of the time I was flying from Sydney International to
Auckland NZ a couple of years ago.
The guy in front of me in the baggage inspection cue had one of the old
portable computers, you know the ones that only run from a power point,
and don't have batteries... Well the security guard hand inspects the
guys luggage. When he gets to the computer he says "Sir, can you power
it up for me please." The guys says that he is unable to because it
only runs from power na doesn't have any batteries. The guard says to
the guy "There is a power point here, please plug it in and power it up
sir." Again the guy says he can not. But this point the security guard
is backing away, clearly getting quite agitated, and reaching for his
gun, again asking the guy to power the computer up, and once again is
met with the same response.
By this stage, the whole baggage check hall has come to a complete
standstill to see what all the commotion is all about. At which point
also, the security guards supervisor walks up and whispers something to
the guard, who right away holsters his gun.... turns bright red, and
left the hall, and the passenger was clear to proceed.
You see, what the guard failed to remember was the fact that the airport
terminal has been in a total blackout of for the past three hours due to
construction work, and everyone had to be manually hand checked..... and
of course... this poor passenger indeed, could not plug in and power up
his portable computer!
I bet the guard never lives that one down, and hopefully the passenger
bought a newer laptop..... with a battery pack.... duty-free while he
was away! :0)
Cheers
Scott
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