Security Experience #1 of 3 Today

I am flying from Aberdeen, Scotland to Orlando, Florida today. Three flights and three passages through Security – in Aberdeen, London Heathrow and Newark.

This is the first in a diary of security experiences today to see what the similarities and differences are amongst security in different countries and different airports. Will it be the same, same? Or same but different?

We’ll see . . .

Aberdeen, Scotland 8:00am

Not much of a line for a popular flight time. Two of three lanes are open for security. Within just a few minutes, I’m unloading my two laptops into the bins.

All shoes are not required to come off. Sneakers are usually ok to leave on (how nice, since these take the longest to get laced back up!). But I’ve got buckles on my shoes, so off they come.

Laptops in the bins, liquids in a plastic bag.

Beep… Beep. My laptop tote gets pulled to the side. What triggered this?

They pull out my Kindle book reader and ask “Is this an electronic?” Yes, I guess it is, but it’s never had to been pulled out separately before. They also pull out my camera’s monopod. Wow, this has never been pulled out before either.

After another look by a second security person, I’m given back my items and I head to the gate.

So far, one thumbs up for not all shoes having to come up.

Thumbs down on the Kindle now being an electronic to run through separately.

Boarding my flight . . . heading to Heathrow where I expect security will be even tighter.