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Traveler forced to pop the question in airport security line
If you need further evidence that airport security is getting out of control, it now seems that you cannot even get ring boxes past screeners these days.The Associated Press reports that a Canadian man who planned on proposing to his girlfriend on a Caribbean cruise had to make a quick change when an airport security worker in Prince George, British Columbia found his engagement ring in his carry-on.
Aaron Tkachuk was carrying a white gold, diamond and ruby ring in a small box hidden in the toe of a sock. That looked a little fishy on X-ray, so security wanted a closer look. Not satisfied that the velvet box was harmless, the agent opened it, outing Tkachuk's intentions right there in front of his 24-year-old high school sweatheart.
What did Tkachuk do? He popped the question right there on the spot, and his girlfriend, Jennifer Rubadeau, said yes. Security clapped.
Seems like we've had a few incidences lately about airport security officers making stupid judgment calls. But hey, at least Tkachuk and his fiancé now have a unique engagement story to tell. Let's face it, proposing on a Caribbean cruise is so cliché.
Filed under: Talking Travel, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Larry Mar 8th 2008 6:08PM
Sounds a little like my story, I went Deer Hunting in Michigan and got lucky, processed deer for the butcher shop and got blood all over my boots. Being handicapped from Vietnam, when they told me to take off my boots, I said that I need help. The security man took off my boots, everthing was scaned and I was allowed to go forward to my gate.
The security man said to me, "Is this blood on your boots", yes. So being helpful I asked for the supervisor why wasn't I stopped because I had blood all over my boots and the agent asked me if it was blood. I told him yes. The supervisor said why are you telling me this story, I thought all the blood on the hands would have at least been followed. He said, go ahead, we don't care about the blood, we have to check that nobody is hiding anything in the shoes.
Without missing a beat, the supervisor said, move to your assigned gate, or you will get arrested for holding up security, they have a job to do. I went and grabed a seat, an older women said, they let you on the plane with blood on your boots. Yes, but don't ask where it came from, they are doing their job and I don't want to get in trouble. We had eye contact as we both laughed out loud, we realized that if we are too happy, the happy police will get us. Are mutual smiles said it all.
Life is a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury signifing nothing...
Craig Mar 8th 2008 3:51PM
I just put it in my pocket when passing through security in 2005 and didn't have a problem. Either rings are too small to be picked up by that detector or I should've gotten my wife a bigger one ;) Not that I think the security folks were justified in this case, but he could've made it less conspicuous by putting it in an outer pocket (and hiding it later when his gf was not looking).
For the record we were going to Paris -- maybe cliché, but certainly not as cheesy as a cruise ship.
Larry Mar 8th 2008 8:15PM
Thanks for giving me a chance to talk about security. The security guy couldn't speak english because he must use his language in our english speaking citizens. Next time, I have a dream, please talk in english, my ears were left on the battlefield in vietnam.
Can you say, hi, in english?
Sarah Mar 9th 2008 11:18AM
What a stupid thing for this man to do. Everyone takes off their shoes now when they go through security. All he had to do was put it in a carry on bag and she would have been fine. Stupid Stupid Stupid.
Dorothy Mar 9th 2008 1:12PM
I had been traveling several times since 9/11, from San Diego (CA) to TX. Screened several times, same stuff in bags, always allowed thru. My last time I flew from San Diego to TX, the screeners wanted to confiscate my P38 can opener from when I was in the Army. I had kept that along w/a set of my "dog tags" on my keyring since being in the Army and had always been there since getting out. I was crushed. They finally decided my P38 was "okay" and so I didn't have to surrender it. However, they failed to find matches in my cosmetic carry on bag, I forgot I even had in there, yet, when I got to my destination, I found them, and thought how poorly they did to not find my matches, but found my P38 while screening my purse. By the way, the screeners in TX didn't find my matches either on the return from TX back to SD.
Sandra Mar 9th 2008 1:18PM
Yes, traveling in the U.S. is out of control. Honest people are the targets..we've started driving, but I am sure roadblocks are down the line.
Can you say "Berlin Wall"?
Janice Mar 9th 2008 1:27PM
I was on a flight from Tampa to Salt Lake City, when I got to Huston the alarms went off and the screener pulled me aside. I happen to wearing a bra with underwire and a halter top, they were checking and checking until I pulled my top off and bingo they found the source. I nearly missed my connecting flight.