On our recent trip, me and the Mrs. made it out of the US pretty quickly and without incident. Coming back in was a problem. We land at the Atlanta airport. And stand in line at Immigration. From that line, we are merely directed to another line (much like cattle) labeled US Residents. Mind you, there is a special (i.e., shorter and quicker) line for diplomats, VIPs, and disabled persons. Yeah, we’re equal.

Got through the line then off to Customs, where we declared nothing since we had less than $1,600 in purchases. At customs, if you happen to be walking through the gate and the green light turns red (supposedly at random) you are subjected to an unwarranted search and potential seizure. And if the Labrador gets excited while you’re walking through, you get to sit through an unwarranted search as well. The light stayed green for us so no search and the pup didn’t flinch.

From Customs, it was to the security line. I wondered why I was in the security line since I was not flying any where else. I just wanted to leave the airport. I go through the security checkpoint where I: Empty my pockets, place the contents in a tray, slide the tray and carry on through the cancer-causing device (even though I’m not flying anywhere at this point). I also have to take my shoes off (the buckles are metal) and send them through. I get to the other side, retrieve my shoes and begin to place them on my feet. Apparently, even though I took my shoes off at their request, the expect me to keep moving through the airport sans shoes. Not me, that floor is dirty. I stopped to put my shoes on. While doing so, some power-hungry, low-level federal-employee-with-something-to-prove told me that I had to keep moving. I informed her that I would resume moving when I got my shoes on and that if they didn’t want the area congested they should maybe reconsider this making people take off their shoes thing. She got huffy and again told me to move, I then very slowly and deliberately looked behind me to illustrate to the power-hungry, low-level federal-employee-with-something-to-prove that I was fully aware that absolutely nobody was behind me (because the cancer-causing machine appeared to be malfunctioning) and continued putting on my shoes. With my shoes on, we caught the train to the baggage return. Total time needlessly wasted at the airport: one hour and 30 minutes.

I understand the need for securing airports, but it could be done more efficiently and effectively. It could also be done much more conveniently and by friendly people and not power-hungry, low-level federal-employees-with-something-to-prove.

Posted in uncategorized on May 28th, 2003 by SayUncle | RSS 2.0 |