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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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CapnSamwise
Joined: 11 Jan 2010
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 Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:45 pm Post subject: Dealing with the TSA. |
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So, I know three people from the TSA. Universally they're about as intelligent as your average boot, and tend to decorate their houses with shit they've stolen from passengers.
Is there any way I can avoid having some High School mongoloid drop-out stealing my good pants? Barring that, what can I do to increase my chances of the TSA reimbursing me for the [Mod Edit] they've pilfered?
I was thinking of taking photographs of everything I've packed, and including some sort of manifesto with my luggage, would that help? I am not checking anything terribly expensive, just my professional wardrobe and probably a toothbrush. I've got enough space in my carry-on for my laptop, external HD, and any expensive electronics I'd be bringing.
However, I happen to be on the poor side of town, so being short three pairs of pants would seriously *beep* me over. Not only would I be unable to find anything local (as I am a hair mountain) but shipping it from home would be a considerable burden on myself and my family.
Plus, I'd be teaching in jeans and bermuda shorts until they arrived, and I am just too classy for that. Professionalism, you know how it is. |
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ChilgokBlackHole
Joined: 21 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Dealing with the TSA. |
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| CapnSamwise wrote: |
| Is there any way I can avoid having some High School mongoloid drop-out stealing my good pants? Barring that, what can I do to increase my chances of the TSA reimbursing me for the shit they've pilfered? |
The TSA does not handle your luggage unless:
1) It does not pass Level 1 screening in the automated system.
2) A malfunction in the automated system has occurred.
Other than that, as a rule, the TSA does not handle passenger luggage. In many places, they are specifically barred from transporting a package more than three feet. This is due to union regulations.
When a passenger bag is opened, it is 100% reconciled. This is per US Government Specification. Reconciliation is performed under cameras.
Might I suggest you put that broad brush away for a while and get educated before you make a fool out of yourself insulting people. |
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CapnSamwise
Joined: 11 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Yes because everyone always follows regulations, absolutely, and I didn't lose three pairs of pants and a set of hiking boots the last time my bag was tagged for additional searching.
Yes very helpful thank you. |
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tired of LA
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Why do you assume it's TSA? The baggage handlers for the airlines spend more time with your luggage than TSA. You can always wait and watch TSA screen your bags and they even ask you to wait if you lock your bags, so they don't have to break the locks. |
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warren pease
Joined: 12 May 2008
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| Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 12:50 am Post subject: |
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| CapnSamwise wrote: |
Yes because everyone always follows regulations, absolutely, and I didn't lose three pairs of pants and a set of hiking boots the last time my bag was tagged for additional searching.
Yes very helpful thank you. |
Well, if you didn't lost three pairs of pants and a set of hiking boots why are you so angry? |
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balzor
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| CapnSamwise wrote: |
Yes because everyone always follows regulations, absolutely, and I didn't lose three pairs of pants and a set of hiking boots the last time my bag was tagged for additional searching.
Yes very helpful thank you. |
ever wonder how many pairs of hands touch your bag by time it gets back to you? |
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Bloopity Bloop
Joined: 26 Apr 2009
Location: Seoul yo
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| Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm kind of glad it happened to you and not someone else. Talk about just desserts. |
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hagwonnewbie
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Asia
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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There are a lot of things that TSA employees auction off on ebay. They openly say it in the ads that these things were confiscated.
Things like Zippo lighter, swiss army knives, etc |
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hagwonnewbie
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
Location: Asia
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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There are a lot of things that TSA employees auction off on ebay. They openly say it in the ads that these things were confiscated.
Things like Zippo lighter, swiss army knives, etc |
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ChilgokBlackHole
Joined: 21 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| CapnSamwise wrote: |
Yes because everyone always follows regulations, absolutely, and I didn't lose three pairs of pants and a set of hiking boots the last time my bag was tagged for additional searching.
Yes very helpful thank you. |
Sigh.
Here we go again...
"Hi! My name is Samson Ite, but you can call me Sam! I'm an average piece of customer baggage that travels through a major international airport sortation system."
<Sam, how do you get from the ticket counter to the aircraft?>
"That's a great question! People think that there are all these people manhandling your suitcases. Well, maybe they did when your great grandpa flew with the Wright Brothers, but that's just not true anymore!..."
"Here, let's go to the ticket counter and you can put me on the scale. 50 pounds! Looks like I lost some weight! That's great. Oh, you've got your ticket. Now the nice lady is wrapping a sticker around my handle, and making sure that all my straps and zippers are secured. Oops! She tipped me over, but that's okay! She needs to drag me across the rollerbed to the infeed conveyor."
"Uh-oh, I'm going into a cave...it's dark in there! And what are those red lights? They're going to kill me...AAAAhhh...wait, that's an overhead ATR that's scanning my sticker. Oh no, there's a long hill down, here we go!!!"
"Wow, look at all these machines. That one coming up that looks like a sideways letter Z is a high-speed diverter. The baggage handling system is a giant robot, and it knows where I am at all times. Hello, diverter!"
"Hi, I am TC1-7-DIV, at your service! Please let me know how I can help you today!"
"My name is Sam, I'm an uncleared passenger bag. I have not been marked out-of-gauge, and my PAX is not a selectee. I have not been lost in tracking before, I am destined for the LAX City Pier. Can you help me find my way, Mr. Diverter?"
"Sure I can, Sam! Since you are uncleared, you need to go through a scanning machine before I can send you to the pier. Here, let me switch. I have a transition time of less than 500ms. Don't worry, we'll get you there! By the way, when you meet the other machines, just tell them you are tracked package #65."
"Wow thanks...whoaaaa!!! This must be the infeed queue for the automated inline explosives detection devices. Look at all these suitcases! They're just like me, with different shapes, styles, and colors! It's my turn for an X-ray, just like the Doctor's office, here I go!!"
"Look, I'm on TV! Even in here! Hey, who's that?"
"I'm an Examiner, I'll be scanning you today. If an operator sees something inside you that he doesn't recognize, he will select you for additional screening. Can you tell me about yourself?"
"My name is Sam, but I guess you can call me #65."
"Fair enough, Sam, but I'm afraid you're on candid camera now. The operator doesn't recognize something in you, and a human is going to have to inspect you. Say hi to the TSA!!"
"Uh-oh... The TSA! That sounds scary. Here they are! One of them is pulling me off onto a screening table. He's opening me up. What's that thing he's using? Is he cleaning me? No, the cloth is dry. Oh, it's a wipe! He's going to put it into that chromatograph over there! Wow, I was scared, but he's zipping me up. I guess there's not much harm you can do when your entire workspace is on camera 24x7! Green light for me, time go to!"
"Oh, here's a ramp rat to take me off the carousel. He's scanning my sticker too. Be careful. OUCH, you minimum wage ground monkey! That crap hurts! Oh, here's the belt loader, I'm going into the belly of the plane."
"Gee, it's dark in here. Cold, too! Oh, I see a light. It's another belt loader! I'm being loaded back onto the same cart. No, this is different.. This place has sunshine. And what's that smell...this is Los Angeles!!! Swimming pools and movie stars... And here's my transport conveyor where it's a straight shot to the carousel. There's my PAX! I gotta go, hope you enjoyed following me on my trip through the airport! Bye!" |
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warren pease
Joined: 12 May 2008
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:07 am Post subject: |
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| the previous post made me very happy. I laughed. I laughed out loud. |
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ChilgokBlackHole
Joined: 21 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| balzor wrote: |
| ever wonder how many pairs of hands touch your bag by time it gets back to you? |
Usually three.
1. The ticket agent that puts your bag on the belt.
2. The ramp rat that loads the bags from the pier onto the cart.
3. The ramp rat that loads the bags from the cart to the plane.
Three.
Oh, on the way back:
4. The ramp rat that loads the bags from the plane to the cart.
5. The ramp rat that loads the bags from the cart onto the infeed conveyor. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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I have never had anything go missing on direct flights to Korea from Canada or Korea to Canada.
I thought I was safe going to the US, but last year they pulled a bottle of expensive lotion out of my bag. I'm not sure if it is because of the liquid and they wanted to be safe or some douche thought they could save a few bucks by taking some good lotion.
IMO if they pull something out of your luggage they should be required to leave a special tag on it with a number or something you can look up online that tells why the item was pulled. At least this way you know not to pack expensive lotion...or whatever the item might be.
I am always paranoid when flying because those minimum wage bag handlers can easily steal something in between the terminal and putting it on the plane.
Actually, the more I think of it, the more I get angry that a couple bad apples ruin air travel for everyone.
They limit what I can carry onto my carry-on: no liquids under 100ml or something insignificant like that. For guys who shave using cream and razors, this means no shaving cream on the carry-on. Since the can is compressed air, no go on the checked in baggage. It might blow up. I don't want that stuff all over my clothes if it does blow.
No water and planes are naturally dry and dehydrating.
Also they limit the weight of what you can carry too.
I would rather they did profiling at the airports like in Israel and let the good citizens do what we've done for 40 years of air travel. |
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ChilgokBlackHole
Joined: 21 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| Mr. Pink wrote: |
| I thought I was safe going to the US, but last year they pulled a bottle of expensive lotion out of my bag. I'm not sure if it is because of the liquid and they wanted to be safe or some douche thought they could save a few bucks by taking some good lotion. |
It probably spiked on the spectrometer, so according to SOP, it can't fly, but there's a little leeway between "If your luggage can't fly, neither can you." What likely happened was that it spiked, then they smelled it and knew it was lotion, but they didn't have any choice but to bin it.
They could have pulled you off the plane for it, but it sounds like someone in the boom boom room was showing some common sense and showing you some common courtesy. |
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curiousaboutkorea
Joined: 21 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| They need to learn how to repack bags. If something is taped in bubble wrap, and they untape it and examine it, they need to re-tape the bubble wrap on it. If there's containers of liquids in a closed zip-lock bag, and they open the bag, they need to zip it up a again. Just saying... |
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