One of the frustrating things about our travel is that, most of the time, we have to fly Philippine Airlines. Think Spirit for about how comfortable the experience is, and think Thanksgiving week for the glacial pace at which everything moves. We routinely stand idle at the check in counter for an amount of time far exceeding what would be expected for simply checking in for a flight.
One delay caused the person at the counter to tell H “you do not have authorization to board this flight,” after which she walked away to go consult with someone. Um, okay. Authorization was apparently granted, as H did board the flight, but we have no idea what that was about.
For one flight, while we waited to board, we were half listening to the television news reporting in something happening “in Atlanta…in Georgia…in the United States.” Hard to imagine that needs clarification, but I guess the “other Georgia” is geographically closer now!
Anyway, unlike with the phone apps for other airlines, we have to manually add our flights to our apps. Philippine Airlines does not automatically add them. Frustrating! When checking in for the flight, we were given this list of prohibited items.
Good thing we had already left our cock fighting knives and harpoon guns at home. That would have been embarrassing!
You’ll notice that one of the items not listed as prohibited was cuticle nippers. Unfortunately, the checkpoint staff confiscated H’s anyway and threw them away in a large metal bin with a lid and a lock. No option to mail them back to ourselves or have them held. Good thing they weren’t her grandmother’s heirloom diamond-encrusted nippers!
Each country has its own prohibited items. Here is the sign for what you can’t bring into Australia.
Love that they don’t want you to be sorry. Westerners seem to always be sorry for something. Feels like the equivalent of a firm but benevolent parent.
Some airports don’t have a way to inspect baggage, so the personnel just open your suitcases and go through your items by hand. Without gloves. This has not yet happened to H; let’s all breathe a collective sigh of relief for that, shall we?
On arrival in Manila one trip, H’s carry on was selected for extra screening. The security person kept asking what was in the bag. H had no idea what he was referring to. He then asked if H had “any solar equipment” to declare.
Solar equipment?????
Panels, we guess? (what other solar equipment is there?)
In a carry on?
“Um, no, no solar equipment.” “May I check?” “Sure, of course.”
He opened the suitcase and pointed to something. “What’s that, then?”
“My makeup mirror.”
He did not verify that the makeup mirror was actually a makeup mirror. Instead, he nodded, said “Mirror, mirror on the wall,” and pushed the carry on back to H.
All righty then!
But we’re calling foul, because once again, nowhere on the list of prohibited items is solar equipment mentioned.
Finally, for now, we’ll leave you with this.
Yes, he is shirtless and shoeless. Yes, this is inside the Manila airport.
Yes, this happens.