Orange wrote:
They do x-ray suitcases, some at least. About 6-7 years ago, I checked in and was waiting for my flight (in the food court probably) when I heard my name over the PA, so I reported to the gate. 2 armed security guards led me deep into the belly of the airport, the basement where they process all the bags. 2 elevator rides, and passing by all these conveyor belts. Cool stuff. They had my suitcase in the middle of this huge room all by itself with suitcases everywhere but nothing within 5 feet of mine.
They asked me to open it and there were about 5 guards surrounding me, standing like 10-15 feet away watching my every move. I probably would've gotten shot if I sneezed (or farted). I opened the suitcase and pulled out a metal poker chip case (which I brought in for a CRT poker tourney we held). I set it on the floor and it was silence, I heard the cockroaches. Very tense. Then they asked me to open it. I didn't look up but I'm pretty sure they had their hands on the guns. When I opened it and showed them it was poker chips, there was a noticeable sigh of relief and light laughter broke out.
I think they thought that it was a bomb.
And I thought I had issues.
I got the same tour you did, but mine was actually a tour, and not a gun-toting, escorted walk. Did you see the baggage conveyors sitting on cardboard boxes, threatening to collapse at any minute? I was thinking about those while waiting for may bag last trip.
