Watches through airport security
Discussion
A colleague’s husband had his Breitling lifted from premium security in Gatwick. Police didn’t do anything despite him reporting it at the time, so I’m cautious now.
I always put everything either into my bag or my jacket when passing through security, as it makes things quicker in terms of getting out of security.
I always put everything either into my bag or my jacket when passing through security, as it makes things quicker in terms of getting out of security.
I just put it in my bag.
For those whose say that there are cameras everywhere and all that: It takes a second for someone to put his hand in your try while you are still scanning your shoes, then you are looking for that watch/phone for a few minutes blaming your bad memory, and finally missing your flight if you want to get involved with the police and checking the footage (if you are allowed to, which I doubt it).
For those whose say that there are cameras everywhere and all that: It takes a second for someone to put his hand in your try while you are still scanning your shoes, then you are looking for that watch/phone for a few minutes blaming your bad memory, and finally missing your flight if you want to get involved with the police and checking the footage (if you are allowed to, which I doubt it).
I always wear my watch through airport security and never really had a problem. My other half did however have an incident at LHR T5 which makes me think that the security scanner process is a concern with watches and other valuable items. She had put her backpack and items in the tray on the belt and was ready to join the queue to go through the metal detector arch when the LHR security officer told her to take her watch off. This she did just putting her (or rather my Rolex Kermit) in the tray. She then went through the scanner and had to have a secondary search. Arriving at the tray collection point, she just spotted another passenger picking up the Rolex from her tray with her belongings in it, when challenged he apologised and said he thought it was his. She now makes sure that her watch is always well inside her handbag or backpack before going through security.
My uncle's passport was stolen whilst going through hand luggage scan at Gatwick, he'd put it in the tray on the conveyor belt. As he queued to retrieve the tray his belongings were there but no passport. As he was airside and through security, he had to be escorted out of the area whilst the rest of his family went on holiday to Portugal! He learnt his lesson the hard way and will now not be putting any valuables in the tray!
Given the amount of camera's in operation, I would have thought the person could be caught - however they weren't interested.
Given the amount of camera's in operation, I would have thought the person could be caught - however they weren't interested.
Tekno said:
My uncle's passport was stolen whilst going through hand luggage scan at Gatwick, he'd put it in the tray on the conveyor belt. As he queued to retrieve the tray his belongings were there but no passport. As he was airside and through security, he had to be escorted out of the area whilst the rest of his family went on holiday to Portugal! He learnt his lesson the hard way and will now not be putting any valuables in the tray!
Given the amount of camera's in operation, I would have thought the person could be caught - however they weren't interested.
And given the background security and police checks done on you before being issued an airside security pass........you like to think this shouldn't even happen....... let alone not even investigating it..... Given the amount of camera's in operation, I would have thought the person could be caught - however they weren't interested.
Without fail, put wallet and watch in hand baggage and zipped up. Many times the baggage tray has emerged through the xray and reached the collection point before I've got there due to a hold up in the body scanner. A loose watch/wallet/passport sitting in the tray can be too much of a temptation for some.
Always keep my passport in my shirt pocket and wallet in trousers whilst on board, 'cos in the event of an emergency evacuation, theoretically one must leave hand baggage on board and if embarking or in the middle of a multi city trip, the loss of a passport (possibly with costly visas in it) would be a complete bummer. Maybe over thinking too much, but that's me.
Always keep my passport in my shirt pocket and wallet in trousers whilst on board, 'cos in the event of an emergency evacuation, theoretically one must leave hand baggage on board and if embarking or in the middle of a multi city trip, the loss of a passport (possibly with costly visas in it) would be a complete bummer. Maybe over thinking too much, but that's me.
lostkiwi said:
It's safe in the scanner. All you need do is hang onto the tray till you're ready to walkthrough then watch it as it goes in and emerges.
You must use some very serene, sparsely frequented & well-organised airports. Most of the time I find it’s akin to organised chaos in a cattle market.Despite best intentions, it’s difficult to ensure your tray passes through at the exact same time you walk through the scanner if either you or those in front are help-up, made to empty their pockets again, remove the belt they forgot, take-off shoes, selected for pat-down etc. Even if you do, the tray and/or bag can be whisked further away for a swab check or physical unpacking.
On a separate note, if something does go missing it’s a difficult situation to address – the thief will likely be out of the country to a hundred possible destinations within 90 minutes, and if you / your already stressed wife & kids also have a flight to catch in that time, it doesn’t leave an awful lot of spare time to take up your case with stretched & harassed airport staff who at the end of the day don’t tend to give a toss.
UnclePat said:
You must use some very serene, sparsely frequented & well-organised airports. Most of the time I find it’s akin to organised chaos in a cattle market.
He could be assuming anyone who can afford a high end watch is only going to go through the fast track security lane or similar, which is a little less chaotic.It is indeed actually sounding like quite a good place to pick up some valuables, as I'd imagine the interpretation that "there's loads of cameras and security around, it'll be fine" is probably relatively common, so people will be fairly relaxed about leaving expensive things in trays.
Pick a busy 'business' flight, just so that people are likely to be very used to flying and so more relaxed, pick a gaggle of hopefully well jewelled / equipped travellers to loiter near and then manage to get just in front of them in the queue etc.
Naturally you do need to actually book yourself a ticket and such so it's not exactly convenient, but if you can pick up a £30,000 watch on your way out and maybe a laptop on the way home, you're not doing too badly.
As has been alluded to, the likelihood of the security staff giving a s
t are absolutely minimal, especially if it's busy. Equally, someone about to get scanned starting to shout and point and try to get through in a rush is likely to draw far more attention / mistrust from security than the businessman who has already passed through picking up a laptop and watch etc. on the other side just like the thousands of others...
Pick a busy 'business' flight, just so that people are likely to be very used to flying and so more relaxed, pick a gaggle of hopefully well jewelled / equipped travellers to loiter near and then manage to get just in front of them in the queue etc.
Naturally you do need to actually book yourself a ticket and such so it's not exactly convenient, but if you can pick up a £30,000 watch on your way out and maybe a laptop on the way home, you're not doing too badly.
As has been alluded to, the likelihood of the security staff giving a s
t are absolutely minimal, especially if it's busy. Equally, someone about to get scanned starting to shout and point and try to get through in a rush is likely to draw far more attention / mistrust from security than the businessman who has already passed through picking up a laptop and watch etc. on the other side just like the thousands of others...
Sounds like I opened a can of worms, but perhaps not such a weird thread as some pointed out early doors.
I definitely need to forward plan now and make sure its tucked away in the bag somewhere safe. The preference would be to leave it on, but as I have mentioned I've been asked to remove it many a time.
I definitely need to forward plan now and make sure its tucked away in the bag somewhere safe. The preference would be to leave it on, but as I have mentioned I've been asked to remove it many a time.
lostkiwi said:
It's safe in the scanner. All you need do is hang onto the tray till you're ready to walkthrough then watch it as it goes in and emerges.
I've had harassment in the security area, like for example I had a lot in my pockets, and when I took out only some things first time, the guy pointed to my pocket, before I'd even had a chance to put the first batch in the tray, never mind put my hand in my pocket again to get the rest. I tried to reason with him, as in telling him that I knew everything had to come out of my pockets and it would, but he just wasn't interested in being at all human.
A friend of mine had his Rolex stolen from the tray. I used to put my watches in the tray, but after being held up in a queue, panic set in when I lost sight of the tray for at least a minute or two. Busy places and no doubt tempted hands lurking. I wear my watch now, not had an issue with security.
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