Psychotomy

So, we went through a lot of security garbaggio recently in our trip to India. And there were a few “WTF?” moments involved.

First off, we got to National (DCA), checked in, checked the luggage, and then went to security. Went through. Kiir got through. Dad got through. I got through, with DK on my back. My mom got flagged for beeping in the metal detector.

Then she got wanded and security went through the two bags she had. Her purse and a yellow plastic bag from some store or other she’d grabbed for a few items. Like DK’s coat, i think, was in there. After all this, they let her through and it was determined that the rivets on her jean pockets went bing. Which is strange, since mine didn’t and my metal belt buckle went through without a hitch …

while we were waiting for boarding, my mom reaches into her yellow translucent plastic bag and pulls out DK’s sippy. half full of water. THEN it hits us all that “wait, wha? How did THAT get through security without a blink or a question???”

When we landed in India, my relatives weren’t inside to meet us. We landed an hour early, so you know, maybe they just hadn’t gotten there yet. But my dad went looking around, and went outside and found them waiting outside the aiport. Because apparently they weren’t allowed into the arrivals area to meet arriving passengers. On the outside of security, customs, immigration, etc, everything.

On the way home from India, at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), my relatives were going to wait outside, but my parents were going to come in with us at least as far as check-in. Obviuosly they’d never get through security without tickets, but you know. An extra hour with us before we came home and they’re there another three weeks.

Except, apparently, you can’t get in to TICKETING without proof that you have a flight. Good damned thing we had the e-ticket confirmation papers :o So we said goodbye at the door (while my dad was arguing with the cops with semi-automatic rifles) and went in just the three of us. Checked our bags, and then got handed the customs emmigration papers for leaving India. Which included wanting the address and phone # where we stayed. Well, hell. That was on our luggage tags, which we just checked. My dad had all that information on the way in. Oh! I’ll go check.

Yep, they’re still standing outside with the rest of the family. Presumably waiting for the taxi to make it back to pick them up from wherever the taxi waiting lot is. (they hired it for the round trip). Great. I went and grabbed the boarding passes and passports for me and DK and went to the exit, figuring I’ll go get the info, then come back in. No exit at this exit. Use one of the others. OK. Go to the entrance we used and tried to exit. Nice cop with the semi-automatic rifle informed me, in bad english, that once you’re inside there’s no LEAVING the airport. Except on a plane, presumably. Or a body bag. But certainly not by walking out the front door again.

WTF? How is this “security”???

*sigh*

Posted in: general by attriel /