www.CostaRicaTicas.com

" They will have to pry the liquids from my cold dead hands"

kenj8

Gentlemen:
I had the unfortunate timing and expirience to have to fly this past Thursday afternoon, yes the day of the new rules going into effect. I can say at least for Thursday it was a disaster beyond words.

Checking in was no different in fact it was less crowded at check in then normal. On the flip side the wait at every Miami Concourse to get to security looked like a E-Ride at Disney world on a holiday weekend. Lines snaked down back around and back again, and after questioning some personal it was indicitive of at least 2 hours to get through security.

I had upgraded to Business Class and one thing in MIA is that regardless of what concourse your flying out of once you are through security you can move effortlessly through the various concourses to any gate. I remember from a previous trip that A concourse has a special line for Business class passengers & it is the only concourse with one. Even though I was in D, I walked to A and yes was able to breeze to the front of the security line ahead of many pissed off passengers. (Sorry).

Then the fun started. Of course they were not interested in my two laptops, Yes I do work here, my multitude of electronic items or anything else, all they went after were my toilitries.

So what did they confiscate.

Chap Stick No I'm not kidding,

Tooth Paste Gel, Forgot it was in there.

Blistex. Himmm, My Hair Spray, NO jokes I know I don't have much hair, but i wasn't on the banned list so I tried it.

My Deoderaant it was a speed stick, Is that liquid now? Seemed solid to me... perhaps they thought I was hiding Plastik for my underarms.

They tried to confiscate my prescription nose spray, but actually had to spray to nostrils to show I wasn't going to explode on the spot.

Also tried to take a prescreption antibiotic creme but it was in the box with the prescreption name etc, so I batttled through that.

Bottom line CHECK EVERYTHING of prepare to be held up and have everything confiscated.

Also: Flights were delayed endlessly because nobody could get through security, and they had to wait for checked in passengers, before they could leave, which left the incoming planes on the Tarmac waiting to get to the gates which of course delayed everything else.

Bottom line I read today in the South FLA paper online things were back to normal. I will give a SJO follow up report when I return.

Be patient check everything as the 10 minutes waiting for luggage in SJO is bay far less of a pain in the ass then going out and buying all new toilitries upon arrival.

Pura Vida..
PS the gulch is slower then Normal but by all means not dead & remember its August... Pura Vida off to find the kittens.

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"Success isn't having $$ it is knowing how to Spend It"

Flying from " The Frozen Tundra " does have its' benefits. Haven't flown yet, but I am guessing that total time from the curb, to the boarding gate will have risen from 10 minutes to 12 or 13. "Pura Queso"

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My life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming...." MAN....WHAT A RIDE!!!!"

I'll be traveling again in October, and not particularly looking forward to dealing with the new security measures. I hate checking my luggage, especially when traveling internationally. I like to keep all my possessions in close proximity, and fear the airline losing all my things.

I decided last night that I would put all my clothing in a carryon as usual, but fill a small backpack with all of my toiletries and check that through to my final destination. If it makes it, great, if it doesn't, toiletries can be replaced relatively easily...my clothing and personal effects can't be.

ICE

These were my exact thoughts. It's kind of nice basically having a second home in CR. I really don't even have to pack the backpack. I too fear luggage loss. It has happened domestically many times.

My last few trips I've taken the stand of making life a bit simpler. No more laptops, no more cameras, no more portable CD players, no more cute little gifts, etc..etc.... Just me and my very limited amount of clothes. Truth to tell, I wouldn't even have to bring those. Just use what I have left down in CR.

dapanz1