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Airline experiences, the good, the bad, the ugly! Airline experiences, the good, the bad, the ugly!
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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Old 18 Oct 2006
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Airline experiences, the good, the bad, the ugly!
On arrival in Los Angeles Airport recently I was pulled to one side after my tank bag had been xrayed and asked to show them what the 6 large discs were. After explaining the obvious, that the magnets held the tank bag on the bike and stopped it being a chest emblem, I was informed that I must cut it open and prove that they were magnets. My response was the same as any biker, over my dead body will you cut it open, then I quickly thought about the stupid statement I had just made. After further discussion I asked to speak to the section supervisor who I hoped would be more reasonable. He promptly told me to leave and get out of his hair.
I still have my tank bag in one piece and on the return journey through the same check point nobody mentioned a thing.
I hope this thread brings to light some of the more unusual experiences.
Hassle free travel to all!
Glen
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Old 26 Jan 2011
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UK based 'Easyjet'.......................A council estate with wings !

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Old 26 Jan 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by palace15 View Post
UK based 'Easyjet'.......................A council estate with wings !

An amusing definition with a ring of truth! I've had to give up on them for time critical transport. Last summer they dumped my son in Toulouse for four days as they didn't have enough staff to fly the planes. Ryan Air are more reliable but you have to be able to dodge the surcharges.

Going back to the original post, it's now just about impossible to take anything out of the ordinary on a regular flight. About 25yrs ago a friend of mine went through a period of regular transatlantic travel for work - between NY and London, and took advantage of the opportunity to bring back some bike parts from the US. At customs he was asked to open one bag that looked on X ray like two long thin metal cylinders with mechanical parts at one end. They were happy to see that his set of front forks were not a couple of machine guns. Chatting to the official he was told "that's nothing, we had a guy come through two weeks ago with a motorcycle engine in his hand luggage". To which the reply was "Yes, that was me"!

I wouldn't think it would be quite so laid back now.
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