Security

I am extremely frustrated that so many services require a US phone number for two-factor authentication. A lot of platforms, including banks and services like PayPal, keep forcing additional verification steps even after I have already completed identity checks like facial...

Was leaving the park last night and saw something that stuck with me. A woman next to us suddenly realized she was pushing an empty stroller. You could see the panic hit instantly. I flagged down security and they escorted her away right away. They moved fast, which was...

Booked a place on Booking.com and a few hours later I got a WhatsApp message about my reservation. That immediately set off alarm bells since I never agreed to WhatsApp contact. A few days later, the same WhatsApp number sent me a link asking for personal data, including a...

From the TSA guy’s point of view, anyone approaching the exit door is a potential problem. That door is sacred territory. They’re trained to assume the worst first, ask questions later, and yelling is unfortunately part of that posture. Once you’re outside the sterile area,...

Staying at a hotel in Germany over New Year’s and something pretty alarming came up. We booked two rooms. Front desk said they couldn’t make extra key cards due to a system issue. A couple days later I realized our cards could open both of our rooms, which I assumed was because...

Probably a dumb question, but I’ve always wondered this when flying. If someone works at a Burger King inside an airport, do they have to go through TSA every day just to get to work? If so, why not work at a normal location and avoid all that hassle? Do airport food workers get...

Late last night I was on a completely full Southwest flight from LAX to Nashville and something unusual happened at the gate. There were a bunch of TSA agents checking IDs and boarding passes right there, even though we’d already gone through security. One couple got pulled...

Came back from an international trip and went through the Global Entry line like usual. The kiosk scanned my face, then told me there was a problem and to see an agent. Agent took my passport, scanned it, and told me I didn’t have Global Entry. That definitely got my attention...

Flew out of Vegas to Seattle today and realized about 10 minutes after takeoff that my iPad was missing. I’d just used it right before TSA to send an email, then put it back in my backpack before it went through extra screening. When I picked up my bag, it was zipped and...

After a 12-hour delay, I ended up getting randomly sent through the full-body scanner even though I have Clear and PreCheck. The scan flagged my groin area (probably because of jeans buttons or my paper boarding pass), so the agent said he’d have to pat me down “with the back of...

Flying from the US to Cancun for a few days and trying to save money by bringing some basic food for breakfasts and lunches. Nothing homemade, everything sealed. I’m planning to bring ramen packets, granola, protein powder in ziplocks, dried cranberries, a few sealed cans of...

Flying EDI to Tokyo via FRA and had the same confusion. Even though Edinburgh dropped the 100 ml rule, Frankfurt hasn’t. Most of the time you’ll go through security again when connecting from the UK, even if you stay airside. Passport control too since you’re heading out of the...

Got an email from Lufthansa confirming a flight I’m not even booked on this Friday. Opened the app and it actually shows the full upcoming trip including the other passenger’s name, email, phone number… everything. I can see all their details even though I have nothing to do...

Flying out of Charlotte with PreCheck yesterday and ran into a TSA agent who was just on a total power trip. She had the whole line backed up in a weird U-shape because she kept denying people entry to the scanner and was making PreCheck passengers take off shoes, belts, light...

I swear TSA rules feel totally different depending on where you are. DSM told me I didn’t need to take my iPad out. Then I fly through SFO and get scolded for not taking it out. MSP didn’t care about cough drops in my pocket, PHX patted me down and lectured me for it. It’s like...

Left the room for dinner for maybe an hour and a half, came back and the door was wide open. Our safe wouldn’t take the code we set, so we called security. Out of desperation I tried a few random codes and “11111” opened it… and all our cash was gone. About 300 USD and 2k+...

Flying with my son for his first deployment. His flight’s at 4:30am and mine’s later at 10am. I want to go through security with him, so I booked a refundable miles ticket on his airline for an 8:30am flight, just to get through TSA and stay with him until he leaves. Plan is to...

Seeing mixed reports about security wait times at IAH today, some say 180 minutes, others got through in 30. Thought this could be a useful thread to post real-time updates for anyone flying soon. I’m flying out tonight for work (carry-on only, no checked bags) and trying to...