I flew out of CDG to ORD on October 7 and this was my experience, as posted on another thread. I've tried to keep the swearing to a minimum:

I went through HNL security on Sept 22 with all kinds of contraband in my purse & carry on, including: mascara, mouthwash, snake bile (Chinese medicine), hand sanitizer spray, air freshener, and a couple of other things like lip gloss and eye cream.

On my way from ORD to CDG On September 29, they said we can now have liquids but just put them in a ziplock. Well, I have no ziplock as I am traveling. So I took out the mouthwash--the most obvious liquid thing--and put it atop all my things. The TSA guy at ORD gave me a lecture on how I need to have it in a ziplock bag. I said, "That's the only thing I have. why do I need a bag for it if I'm putting it out for you?" He went on and on about how to get a ziplock bag, so I told him to just take it. I still passed through security with my mascara, snake bile, hand sanitizer spray, air freshener, etc. Whut???

Fast forward to October 7. I leave CDG for ORD. They make me take out my ziplock bags at check in, and they staple the tops of the bags (I guess to ensure that I don't bust them out during the plane ride to do something devious?). I had to HOLD the &*%$ bags the whole time from check in through security. And, they tell everyone we can only have ONE carry on, so everyone in line is scrambling to stuff their purses in their other bag!

Then we go through security. In addition to regular screening, the security agents hold up my ziplocks and examine the contents from the outside while trying to figure out what they are. From there, I can stuff them back into my bags. I still get through without bagging my mascara, snake bile, hand sanitizer spray, and air freshener.

I get to the gate. Before we can board the plane itself, we go through one more screening. This time, we are separated into lines of men and women. The men's line zips through. The women's line is long because the gal insists on opening every carry on and examining every single *&%$#!! item, and then every woman has to struggle to repack her carry on because this girl has just messed everything up. Security brings in one more woman, who helps speed up the line a little as she does not scrutinize every single item.

When I get to the front, I pray for the fast woman, but instead get the fastidious girl. She goes through almost everything, finds my mascara, shakes her finger at me, and confiscates it. From there she let me go. I still have my unpackaged snake bile, hand sanitizer spray, and air freshener that she seems to have missed. I wanted to say, "Did taking my mascara make you feel good?" But bit down hard on my tongue not to say anything.

Sure, this thing is for show. But are they really accomplishing anything? I'm getting through with my unpackaged, unchecked snake bile (who the heck is going to translate that prescription?) and air freshener while they rifle through my bag to confiscate my dangerous mascara.

The above post was written the day I got back from Paris, so I was a little bitter....I've gotten over it, though. Lori gives some very good advice!

And then this today, what 70 airport security people at CDG were relieved of their duties today because they are Muslim?????

Yes, Momma di L, they were relieved of their duties, they were Muslims, and they were Muslims relieved of their duties at airports within France BECAUSE THEY WERE FOUND TO HAVE CONNECTIONS TO CRIMINAL ELEMENTS, SOME OF WHICH WERE TERRORIST GROUPS. In fact, one of the workers who lost his security clearance was found to be a friend of the above-mentioned Richard Reid, aka "the shoe bomber."

www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/31/news/airport.php


Please, if you're going to cite to a story, at least put in the key point.