A screwdriver too far?

[simongr]

Just sat in the SYD QP having tea waiting for my flight to ADL and am still bemused by my security check this morning. My laptop bag got stopped and I was asked if I had small screwdrivers in there - which I did, a small phillips head and a small flat head. the phillips head was larger than the flat head. I was then informed that I am only allowed one screwdriver for my glasses - the goon grabbed the larger phillips head and said I could only have the small flat head for glasses. I actually wanted the larger phillips head which is more useful for tweaking things on the computer if necessary but he refused saying I could only have the small flat head - or I could check m y bag if I wanted....

Hs this screwdriver rule been around for as long as the scissors ban? Are they expecting me to take the coughpit door off its hinges?

AH well at least there was no liquids ban...

 

[drron]

Well I am sitting here in the BNE international QP having just had a run in with a dragon lady in security.Took our vegemite because the labels say 115 grams and they say that 1 gram=1ml.The bottle was smaller than another legal bottle we had but no way was she going to budge.In fact made us put the moist towlettes in the ziplock and put it back through the X-ray.All I could do was to lament the poor educational standards of this nation-this dragon obviously didnt pass science.Oh well at least the TSA are going tom appear the most reasonable fellows on earth after this.
I just wish for some consistency.We have taken the same size vegemite through security on the previous 2 occasions since this ban came into being.

 

[Dave Noble]

Well I am sitting here in the BNE international QP having just had a run in with a dragon lady in security.Took our vegemite because the labels say 115 grams and they say that 1 gram=1ml.The bottle was smaller than another legal bottle we had but no way was she going to budge.In fact made us put the moist towlettes in the ziplock and put it back through the X-ray.All I could do was to lament the poor educational standards of this nation-this dragon obviously didnt pass science.

Before questioning the education level of the member of the security, perhaps you might like to undertake some education about the permitted allowances

Checking the allowances on the DOTARs site , the security person was correct in that the limit is 100 grammes

Each container of liquids, aerosols or gels in your carry-on baggage must be 100 millilitres/grams or less. All the containers must be sealed in a transparent, one-litre plastic bag. You are only allowed one plastic bag. Any transparent resealable bag of one litre capacity or less is allowed. Please note, these bags must be independently resealable. Bags sealed with items such as sticky tape, rubber bands or ribbons will not be accepted. For more information on clear resealable bags please see the frequently asked questions section of this website.

Dave

 

[Flying Fox]

I thought that bringing Vegemite to the US was banned due to their FDA saying it had levels of something that were above US standards.

Maybe I wrong.

 

[Dave Noble]

Just sat in the SYD QP having tea waiting for my flight to ADL and am still bemused by my security check this morning. My laptop bag got stopped and I was asked if I had small screwdrivers in there - which I did, a small phillips head and a small flat head. the phillips head was larger than the flat head. I was then informed that I am only allowed one screwdriver for my glasses - the goon grabbed the larger phillips head and said I could only have the small flat head for glasses. I actually wanted the larger phillips head which is more useful for tweaking things on the computer if necessary but he refused saying I could only have the small flat head - or I could check m y bag if I wanted....

Hs this screwdriver rule been around for as long as the scissors ban? Are they expecting me to take the coughpit door off its hinges?
.

The screwdriver rule has been around for a long while. from the Qantas site

Governments have directed that for security reasons, all knives, sharp objects or cutting implements of any kind and any length, whether of metal or other material, and some sporting goods, must be packed in your checked baggage. They cannot be carried in your cabin baggage or on your person.

Sharp objects or cutting implements include but are not limited to: any knife, including paper knives, carpet knives, box cutters, letter openers, scissors of any kind, tradesman's tools, screwdrivers, corkscrews, darts and knitting needles.

Dave

 

[SFSC]

I might have a problem someday.

The lid on the battery compartment on my ancient laptop is secured with two phillips screws. I have heard tales of security wanting to see the battery withdrawn but have never experienced it myself in my limited travels.

I always put the screwdriver in my checked bag. Wonder if I can count on security having one, possibly confiscated from another passenger, that they could lend me if needed.

 

[Dave Noble]

I might have a problem someday.

The lid on the battery compartment on my ancient laptop is secured with two phillips screws. I have heard tales of security wanting to see the battery withdrawn but have never experienced it myself in my limited travels.

I always put the screwdriver in my checked bag. Wonder if I can count on security having one, possibly confiscated from another passenger, that they could lend me if needed.

Australia does not have the requirment to remove the batteries from laptops and , iirc, that the places such as USA which did have the requirement have removed it

Dave

 

[dajop]

...
Quote:
Originally Posted by New Aviation Security Measures for Carry-on Baggage at International Airports

Each container of liquids, aerosols or gels in your carry-on baggage must be 100 millilitres/grams or le

Aah the question is, is vegemite a liquid, aerosol or gel?

As for drron's OP, I think it is a fair cop, can't expect the average person to be trained in the density of vegemite, or any substance for that matter and do the conversion. That's why such limits apply. At least it was over 100g, in US last year I had to throw away my shaving gel (70g) because it did not have the measure in mls or ozs (they didn't have the conversion, and I couldn't even convince based on the converstions on other containers). It was Texas though (up until then in states such as Missouri, Illinois, New Jersey it had been OK ....)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Are they expecting me to take the coughpit door off its hinges?

...

No,

But a screwdriver can be used quite effectively to stab people as a weapon....so weapon wise can be view similar to a knife.



Was there not a Qantas flight attendant who gained a bravery award for stopping a passenger with a wooden stabbing implement of some kind (Tassie flight????) not long back.

 

[straitman]

No,

But a screwdriver can be used quite effectively to stab people as a weapon....so weapon wise can be view similar toa knife.



Was there not a Qantas flight attendant who gained a bravery award for stopping a passenger witha wooden stabbing implementy of some kind (Tassie flight????) not long back.

Correct yet they still, on occasions, offer ice creams on wooden sticks.

... and metal forks for that matter

 

[JohnK]

Recently SYD airport security confiscated a can opener and a corkscrew from my carry on luggage as I just missed the deadline to check bags. He returned the can opener but kept the corkscrew mentioning to me that it had a small knife that folds inside. The bag then had to be put back through security screening.

The interesting thing was that I also had a small pair of scissors and a pair of nail clippers, which also has a small knife that folds inside, that went undetected both times through x-ray. :shock:

 

[simongr]

No,

But a screwdriver can be used quite effectively to stab people as a weapon....so weapon wise can be view similar toa knife.

Was there not a Qantas flight attendant who gained a bravery award for stopping a passenger witha wooden stabbing implementy of some kind (Tassie flight????) not long back.

Mea culpa - I know that I was in breach of the rules - my issue was more between the allowance of one screwdriver and not my screwdriver of choice.

This was the screwdriver in question:

Link here if img tag does not work

I was also carrying three of these which I could get a much greater level of force with:

Link to pic here if img tags do not work

The pencil Cross Medalist could cause lead poisoning as well (if there truly was lead still in pencils).

 

[serfty]

It's more that something is being seen to be done - even if only loosely based on logic/reality.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well I once caused a security scare about being dedected with a potential weapon on going through security in Perth Domestic....



As my bag went through X-Ray....I was left waiting as the people viwing my bag stopped it....and then started giving me stern looks.


A few seconds latera burly security guard came and stood beside me...as I was taking aside and asked if they could look in my bag.

Very bemused I said yes.....only too them immediately go to the front pocket to produce several "ninja" throwing discs..

You know like the ones you used to watch the samuris through in TV shows and movies.


For a second I though...cough!!!! Where did they come from...... .before remembering that the offending weapons were in fact cleverly cut and printed business cards for a Japanense Comdeiain that I had hire about a year prior.


They looked just like the real thing...but were cardboard....with his details on one side!!!!!

The security staff gace mea few more stern looks before configating them......

They had been in my bag for a year and had gone through Sydney and Melbourne airport Security manya time....so either the Perth machine was more sensitive....or the staff their more diligent!!



Now that one was funny.

Another time my wife and I went through security in Jerusalem to see the "wailing wall" first and.

Not so funny then when on my wife's handbag going through the machine that three sets of Uzi machine guns were quickly raised and pointed at us.....particularly as in that part of the world you know that guards DO regularly fire. now that was unnerving!!!

My wife's bag contained not just one pair of scissors...but THREE including a large dressmaking pair!!!!!!!!

Why she fealt the need to walk around with these I will never know....but on the same trip at coughket Airport on once again setting off the scanner the scissors were confisgated and sent seperately into the hold never to be seen again...

 

[Dave Noble]

Mea culpa - I know that I was in breach of the rules - my issue was more between the allowance of one screwdriver and not my screwdriver of choice.

You answered this in your 1st post. The security officer ( is there any call to call the person doing the security a goon ) said that a small one for the spectacles was permitted. I doubt that you had large phillips screws in the spectacles.

If you wanted a screwdriver for tweaking a computer then check in and collect luggage with the screwdriver at destination

Dave

 

[dragonman]

You answered this in your 1st post. The security officer ( is there any call to call the person doing the security a goon ) said that a small one for the spectacles was permitted. I doubt that you had large phillips screws in the spectacles.

If you wanted a screwdriver for tweaking a computer then check in and collect luggage with the screwdriver at destination

Dave

Used to carry a small phillips for glasses - removed from my luggage at Sydney domestic last year by security. I did not know they made provision for glasses at all.

 

[NM]

I thought that bringing Vegemite to the US was banned due to their FDA saying it had levels of something that were above US standards.

Maybe I wrong.

That was revoked very quickly after first being "imposed". It was based on the fact that Vegemite contains Folate and the addition of Folate to food is controlled in the USA. When Kraft showed that the Folate in Vegemite was naturally occurring and not "added", the USA Food and Drug Authority told their staff at LAX that they should not prevent the importation of Vegemite into the USA.

 

[codash1099]

Aah the question is, is vegemite a liquid, aerosol or gel?

By any reasonable definition, Vegemite is a paste. However some would consider it to be dangerous

 

[codash1099]

Correct yet they still, on occasions, offer ice creams on wooden sticks.

... and metal forks for that matter

Bill, surely you weren't expecting something logical?

 

[bambbbam2]

I thought that bringing Vegemite to the US was banned due to their FDA saying it had levels of something that were above US standards.

Maybe I wrong.

Have a read:
Urban Legends Reference Pages: Vegemite Ban