Arthur has never flown AirTran before and I don’t know why he did this time, but there ya go. He was using Travelocity and that’s what happened. Next time maybe he’ll just go to Southwest’s website.
The man is used to flying, accustomed to the ins and outs of lost luggage and running through concourses when the gates change. But he’s also used to e-tickets, which AirTran apparently didn’t offer.
Arthur went through the first checkpoint with no problem, but was detained immediately afterward and put in a small cell for the ‘works’. He’s had the full check before, in Los Angeles. But this was so thorough he thought he was going to have to totally strip. All his stuff; Palm, laptop, wallet, scads of accessories like his Bose headphones… everything was taken from him and spread out and scanned, the electronics booted up and programs initiated to make sure they were ‘real’. Everything was taken out of his wallet and spread out, wands waved over it time and time again. They took everything out of his suitcase and questioned each little bit.
It took 3 people 30 minutes to do this to him and his belongings.
When he asked why this had happened they asked ‘did you pay in cash?’ Which is no, of course; he used an American Express Gold card.
WELL, for some reason the AIRLINE REQUESTED this search be done; it was on the ticket.
AirTran can kiss both our lily white asses. I don’t care if they’re cheaper by hundreds of dollars, we will never use them again.
They totally messed his ’system’ up; he’s no idea if he still has everything or not, but he has to go catch the blighted plane.
Grrrrr…..
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He just called from his Atlanta layover, on the way to his connecting flight… the flight itself was fine. Still not flying with them again.
Must have looked completely inocent. Wouldn’t want to check someone that looks like trouble.
But he could have been part of a telecommunications takeover plot! They knew this and they wisely put their best people on the job.
I’ve actually had a couple interesting security checks while needing assistance. I was actually wheeled to security because I could barely stand (forget walking) and my ample ass was lifted out of the chair for a search. Oh, the fun we had. I made them work extra hard that day.
Wow, that’s too bad. We’ve flow Air Tran twice, and didn’t have any problems at all. That was a few years ago, tho. LOL
CPO: Yeah, then they could sue for [gasp] profiling!
Laura: I’ll tell him that others have had good experiences with the airline but I don’t think that will sway him…
Joanie: Funny you say that! He keeps his tool belt in his checked suitcase and when they went through it they said stuff like ‘this is a crimper’ and looked at him funny. He said ‘yeah, it’s a crimper; I’ve only been a telephone man for 40 years’.
I hope you made them pay, and pay well, for disturbing you. Hehehehhh….
Rat Bastards.
next time, he should wear a turban so they leave him alone.
Bummer…
But just think about it like this… It is for our security. I have had the “full search” (no, not full cavity lol) twice in the past couple years. I really don’t mind it unless I’m running late, I just think of it as that’s the price we pay to fly securely…
I wouldn’t mind a 30 minute search to save a couple hundred either lol!!
Airtran is on my NO list. Has been for a while now. Me? United, Southwest or Delta. I figure ONE of those have got to be going where I want to be when I want to be there. If not? I need to rearrange my schedule. I’m kinda loyal that way…….
I looked it up for him this morning… southwest has nonstops going between here and there every day. Heh.
He knows now…
Oh, that’s a plugin I just installed… don’t be afraid, Gwen….
OY! Thats enough to put a crimp in anyones day!