Rich Lucibella
Staff
Well this is an ongoing battle, suggestive of trends thruout our society. After a couple of years of carrying my 3.6" folding Sebenza knife on board domestic aircraft without problem, the battle is now on. This started some 3 weeks ago when I left from Palm Beach for Phoenix. The clerk at PBI security opened the Sebenza and declared it too long. I explained that it wasn't and, when he refused to listen, I asked for a supervisor.
She, having taken the same intelligence test for the job as he, walked over and agreed that it was too long and would have to go thru baggage claim. I refused an asked for a rep from Delta or a Sky Marshall. I demanded to see the regs. The Super placed the blade across her palm and said "Too long". I put it across my palm and said "Just right". She actually stated, "It's my palm that counts". At first I was refused the regs as they are "confidential". Finally, the sheet was produced. It states a prohibition of knives "over 4" or 'menacing' in appearance". She claimed not to have a ruler. Zip goes my bag and out comes a ruler from my planner.
At this point dipstick #1 changes his mind. The Sebenza is now "menacing". The Sebenza is a single edged, nonserrated knife... http://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenza.html I almost lost it, but persisted in politely demanding a SkyMarshall or Delta rep. I asked what kind of a pocket knife would be acceptable, if this wasn't. I asked this several times. Each time I was treated like the Invisible Man as they waited for reinforcements.
Finally the Delta rep comes down and notes that I have 3 minutes to make the plane. She takes the knife and runs with it open to the gate where it is boxed and sent down to the ramp. Needless to say, at the other end, Delta was presented with my baggage claim check and couldn't find the box. $425 claim has been filed.
Round II:
Yesterday I board the same flight on the same day with the same model knife. Guess who's there? You got it. Dipstick #1. Only this time, to my relief, there's a cop there.
"Knife's too long."
"No it's not. Measure it"
"I't's too long. Take it to baggage claim."
At this point, I ask the officer to step in. He snarls at me "Take it upstairs"
"But..."
"I said take it upstairs."
I smile and say, "I guess one of us has forgotten what Country we live in."
I didn't wait around for his reaction.
Up to the ticket counter. Minor tirade about minimum wage morons deciding they still wanted to do things as they were done in Haiti. Angry looks from the other ticket agents. I can't understand why, as I was only stating facts. Back down thru security. Dipstick #1 present, sans police escort. After being wanded, sniffed and glared at, I stated rather calmly, "Let me know when you become an American citizen. I'll celebrate your education."
At this point, another uniformed lady takes great offense and starts yelling at me, in Spanish accent, to "Just keep walking". I do so (backward), while explaining that they should each desire to become American citizens...no-one corrected my perception.
This war ain't over, though I doubt that the head of PBI security is gonna be much more libertarian than his gobots!
Rich
(FWIW, I feel the need to defend my politically incorrect statements with the following facts. The executors of my will are a two longtime friends. A black lady and my former partner...a Cuban immigrant. I'm first generation Italian immigrant. I hate myself for succumbing to the temptation to provide this explanation.)
[This message has been edited by Rich Lucibella (edited September 20, 1999).]
She, having taken the same intelligence test for the job as he, walked over and agreed that it was too long and would have to go thru baggage claim. I refused an asked for a rep from Delta or a Sky Marshall. I demanded to see the regs. The Super placed the blade across her palm and said "Too long". I put it across my palm and said "Just right". She actually stated, "It's my palm that counts". At first I was refused the regs as they are "confidential". Finally, the sheet was produced. It states a prohibition of knives "over 4" or 'menacing' in appearance". She claimed not to have a ruler. Zip goes my bag and out comes a ruler from my planner.
At this point dipstick #1 changes his mind. The Sebenza is now "menacing". The Sebenza is a single edged, nonserrated knife... http://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenza.html I almost lost it, but persisted in politely demanding a SkyMarshall or Delta rep. I asked what kind of a pocket knife would be acceptable, if this wasn't. I asked this several times. Each time I was treated like the Invisible Man as they waited for reinforcements.
Finally the Delta rep comes down and notes that I have 3 minutes to make the plane. She takes the knife and runs with it open to the gate where it is boxed and sent down to the ramp. Needless to say, at the other end, Delta was presented with my baggage claim check and couldn't find the box. $425 claim has been filed.
Round II:
Yesterday I board the same flight on the same day with the same model knife. Guess who's there? You got it. Dipstick #1. Only this time, to my relief, there's a cop there.
"Knife's too long."
"No it's not. Measure it"
"I't's too long. Take it to baggage claim."
At this point, I ask the officer to step in. He snarls at me "Take it upstairs"
"But..."
"I said take it upstairs."
I smile and say, "I guess one of us has forgotten what Country we live in."
I didn't wait around for his reaction.
Up to the ticket counter. Minor tirade about minimum wage morons deciding they still wanted to do things as they were done in Haiti. Angry looks from the other ticket agents. I can't understand why, as I was only stating facts. Back down thru security. Dipstick #1 present, sans police escort. After being wanded, sniffed and glared at, I stated rather calmly, "Let me know when you become an American citizen. I'll celebrate your education."
At this point, another uniformed lady takes great offense and starts yelling at me, in Spanish accent, to "Just keep walking". I do so (backward), while explaining that they should each desire to become American citizens...no-one corrected my perception.
This war ain't over, though I doubt that the head of PBI security is gonna be much more libertarian than his gobots!
Rich
(FWIW, I feel the need to defend my politically incorrect statements with the following facts. The executors of my will are a two longtime friends. A black lady and my former partner...a Cuban immigrant. I'm first generation Italian immigrant. I hate myself for succumbing to the temptation to provide this explanation.)
[This message has been edited by Rich Lucibella (edited September 20, 1999).]