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Airport security checkpoints are a shit-show

Graeme Ing
5 min readMay 20, 2024

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Paul Hennessy / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)

I’m certain almost everyone has horror stories of getting through airport security. And TSA is for sure, the worst airport security I’ve encountered flying various places around the world.

The training must be appalling because, what ought to be easily codified SOPs (standard operating practices) appear to be applied at random. On a recent multi-legged journey, some TSA members demanded bags go in the trays, others said no, put them directly on the conveyor. Some said belts off, others that belts are ok. Laptops in bags or out? Admittedly, this last one depends upon the recency of their scanning machines. Newer machines no longer require all electronic equipment to be placed in its own tray. Some said I could wear my panama hat through, others that it must go through the conveyer scanner.

So if one day a woman tried to smuggle explosives in her bra, does that mean all women need to flash their tits at airport security now?

Which brings us to that idiotic removal of shoes. No other country does this unless it is to board a US-bound flight. One terrorist, one time, had something suspicious in his shoes and now billions of travellers a year need to take off and put back on their footwear. That is a ridiculous risk assessment. So if one day a woman tried to smuggle explosives in her bra, does that mean all women need to…

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Graeme Ing
Graeme Ing

Written by Graeme Ing

Chiefly, I write about fascinating things from history. Professional author of fantasy/sci-fi, world traveller, geek and videographer

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