Strange Experience This Morning in PHL

[FlightChic]

I went to my gate this morning around 7:25, checked in for my flight home, sat down in BFE because there were no seats near the podium, took out my book and started reading while I waited to board. I was non-reving but I was in uniform. So, as I am reading a lady comes up to me and informs me that there is a suspicious-looking container on the floor. I look up and what appears to be a green, travel coffee mug with a lid is on the floor. I just look at her like "So what?" and then she says she doesn't know who it belongs to and it looks really suspicious. So I stand up and step closer to it and the thing had a freakin' wire sticking out of the top of it. I had to do a double take to make sure I was looking at it correctly and it was definitely a wire. Only one other person was sitting where we were so I asked him if it was his and he said no. So I went and told the agent about it so he could call TSA and I told him where it was and who pointed it out to me. Then I went across the hallway to get a sip of water from the water fountain and stopped to talked to someone I know. Then I turned around to see if it was still there and it was gone, but there were a lot of pax who were suddenly sitting in that area. I wasn't even gone for long. I don't see how security could have gotten there that quickly and gotten it without me noticing since I was in the general area the whole time. I don't know if that was someone's idea of a sick joke or what but it was very disturbing.

 

[USstew23]

That is strange. But even stranger why were you drinking from the water fountain in the PHL airport???

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

I don't want to sound too silly, because that could have been a tragedy waiting to happen, but maybe that group wanted your seat. You did mention that there was a sudden increase in the passengers sitting in that area.

 

[FlightChic]

I don't want to sound too silly, because that could have been a tragedy waiting to happen, but maybe that group wanted your seat. You did mention that there was a sudden increase in the passengers sitting in that area.

I thought the same thing at first, but there were only 3 people sitting in two whole rows of seats far from the gate. The lady who told me about the mug, a gentlemen sitting at the end, and me. I had a a whole, long row to myself. Nobody else was in sight because they were all wondering around the airport trying to find the gate since it wasn't posted on the screen or they were crowding the podium while waiting to board. There were tons of seats where we were from my row until the end of the terminal. And, all the people who were sitting there all of a sudden didn't appear to be one big group. The people were all spead out and were sitting there silently like they were alone. I was also seated far from the gate away from the passengers. There were seats closer, I just don't like to sit around pax because then they ask me tons of questions all the time and I just want to be left alone.

 

[goonman]

I thought the same thing at first, but there were only 3 people sitting in two whole rows of seats far from the gate. The lady who told me about the mug, a gentlemen sitting at the end, and me. I had a a whole, long row to myself. Nobody else was in sight because they were all wondering around the airport trying to find the gate since it wasn't posted on the screen or they were crowding the podium while waiting to board. There were tons of seats where we were from my row until the end of the terminal. And, all the people who were sitting there all of a sudden didn't appear to be one big group. The people were all spead out and were sitting there silently like they were alone. I was also seated far from the gate away from the passengers. There were seats closer, I just don't like to sit around pax because then they ask me tons of questions all the time and I just want to be left alone.

I work at PHL \.Ive been there for 23 years. There is no water fountain....If that was the case I would get a drink and not buy a soda.

 

[dexter]

Goonman is wrong, there are water fountains mid concourse B and C concourse between the men and ladies rooms. Water tastes polluted too-so it is a good thing Goonie buys soda.

 

[US1YFARE]

I just look at her like "So what?" and then she says she doesn't know who it belongs to and it looks really suspicious.

No matter how stupid it may seem, I think it is great that people take the time to be aware of what is going around them and report what is suspicious. Going back about 20 years, I was in London in line and there was a shopping bag left unattended and I asked who owned it and a woman came over saying it was hers and thanked me for asking because you could never be too careful. I realized that she was referring to the IRA bombings and that they lived with them so long, that reporting suspicious behavior was a part of their life. I don't think that is a bad thing to adopt.

 

[YVINTERN]

what's odd is...PHL operations ran just fine this week Sorry to hijack the thread haha

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

No matter how stupid it may seem, I think it is great that people take the time to be aware of what is going around them and report what is suspicious. Going back about 20 years, I was in London in line and there was a shopping bag left unattended and I asked who owned it and a woman came over saying it was hers and thanked me for asking because you could never be too careful. I realized that she was referring to the IRA bombings and that they lived with them so long, that reporting suspicious behavior was a part of their life. I don't think that is a bad thing to adopt.

Agreed. To add to your post, I've noticed passengers in PIT getting lax with minding their bags while going to restrooms and eateries in the airport. Whereas it's good to see passengers becoming relaxed with air travel six years later, following the rules set forth by the TSA should be automatic. Maybe it's a lack of education concerning travel ettiquette, for lack of a better word.

It also seems silly that we as a nation could probably use a master class in how to travel, but maybe it's not a bad idea at this point.

 

[FlightChic]

Agreed. To add to your post, I've noticed passengers in PIT getting lax with minding their bags while going to restrooms and eateries in the airport. Whereas it's good to see passengers becoming relaxed with air travel six years later, following the rules set forth by the TSA should be automatic. Maybe it's a lack of education concerning travel ettiquette, for lack of a better word.

It also seems silly that we as a nation could probably use a master class in how to travel, but maybe it's not a bad idea at this point.

I think everyone should have to be educated before they fly. No matter how many times they make an announcement telling pax to keep a close eye on their bags and to not leave them unattended, people still do it. I'll never forget my first flying experience as a kid. My dad was pointing his finger in my face and telling me sternly "Don't you EVER let that bag out of your site, no matter what! Someone could put a bomb or drugs in it!" He was trying to instill the fear in me so I would listen. It worked! In any case, people (whether pax or airline workers) should not be lax because there are people who are testing us to see how we will react to things. I had someone on a flight before who was acting strange and trying to ask us security-related questions and tried to get to the forward lav twice even though we kept telling him no he had to go to the bag and other crazy things.

 

[FWAAA]

I think people need to relax a little bit. People really need to get a grip. Constant paranoia about unattended items in the sterile area of airports is unhealthy.

Sure, the TSA doesn't (and can't) catch everything. But are you paranoid about every bag in the overhead bins on your airplane? How 'bout the ones under the seats in front of each pax? Are you paranoid about every checked bag down below? No? Why not? They're as likely to contain a bomb as any unattended bag or other item in the sterile area of the airport.

Vigilance about unattended items elsewhere makes sense. Like at the ticket counters or baggage claim, where items haven't been screened at all. Irrational paranoia about some items in the sterile area (like unattended bags at the gate) while ignoring all the other items (like every bag on the airplane) is completely ridiculous.

 

[sharktooth]

I think people need to relax a little bit. People really need to get a grip. Constant paranoia about unattended items in the sterile area of airports is unhealthy.

Sure, the TSA doesn't (and can't) catch everything. But are you paranoid about every bag in the overhead bins on your airplane? How 'bout the ones under the seats in front of each pax? Are you paranoid about every checked bag down below? No? Why not? They're as likely to contain a bomb as any unattended bag or other item in the sterile area of the airport.

Vigilance about unattended items elsewhere makes sense. Like at the ticket counters or baggage claim, where items haven't been screened at all. Irrational paranoia about some items in the sterile area (like unattended bags at the gate) while ignoring all the other items (like every bag on the airplane) is completely ridiculous.

Thank you.

I wonder if the (apparently) rampant paranoia indicates that most Americans have little to no confidence in the great federal security scam theatre. With up to 70% contraband detection error rates it could be successfully argued that the only reason no "event" has occurred has been because there is no need. After all, with the two biggest terrorists in the world, why expend any resources at all when bin Ladens "enemies", Cheney and Bush, are doing such a great job for you?

 

[FlightChic]

I think people need to relax a little bit. People really need to get a grip. Constant paranoia about unattended items in the sterile area of airports is unhealthy.

I can't speak for other airports but we have alot of thieves in the PHL airport so it's good to be vigilent adn to keep a close eye on your bags. Notice I said to be vigilent, not paranoid. I know people who have gotten their bags stolen or things from their bags stolen in sterile areas, even areas that are employee access only. Have you ever had people steal from your bags in the crew room or the crew bag room? Have you ever had a cleaner come on the airplane and steal your laptop computer or a pax walk off the plane with your bag while you were helping an old lady in a wheelchair? Trust me, it happens more than you know. Theft is more likely to take place than the alternative but if someone reports something to me or is uneasy then I will try to report it or take care of it so they will feel better. e.g. I had a paranoid lady on my flight on 9/11 last year who saw a gentlemen with fingernail clippers in his hands. She thought he was going to gauge her eyes out or something so I whispered for him to put them away. I felt really stupid but I sortive explained to him the situation. I would rather people be paranoid than completely oblivious to what is going on.

 

[N965VJ]

<SNIP> So I went and told the agent about it so he could call TSA and I told him where it was and who pointed it out to me.

Did one of the Trained Shoe Analysts ever show up?

 

[SpinDoc]

Agreed. To add to your post, I've noticed passengers in PIT getting lax with minding their bags while going to restrooms and eateries in the airport. Whereas it's good to see passengers becoming relaxed with air travel six years later, following the rules set forth by the TSA should be automatic. Maybe it's a lack of education concerning travel ettiquette, for lack of a better word.

It also seems silly that we as a nation could probably use a master class in how to travel, but maybe it's not a bad idea at this point.

I gotta chime in on this thread. Is it really all that important to keep up with unattended bags in the sterile area of the airport anymore? Think about it, EVERYTHING that is taken into the sterile area is x-rayed by the TSA, so it is highly unlikely that anyone could cause major mayhem beyond the security checkpoint. Of course, being vigilant is always a good thing, but unattended bags inside the checkpoint should not be a concern at this point.