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Old 06-30-2010, 02:08 PM
 
Location: New York
2,251 posts, read 4,915,577 times
Reputation: 1617

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Went back to Austin after almost 20yrs - the weekend was great....

First time flying Southwest Airlines, very happy with the flight and service. 4hrs going there and 5hrs coming back. Previously used Priceline for my Air travel and Hotel accommodations, their posted travel times ranged from 6 to 10hrs. Booked myself saving time and about $400.

Friday morning my son and I arrived, went shopping at a couple of malls. Prices were a little cheaper. For him picked up a new XBox-360 about $40 less then prices we have seen in New York. That night ate at the Saltlick restaurant out in Round Rock, left there stuffed, it was very good!

Saturday morning drove around Austin and out to lake Travis, very impress how clean the highways are. The gas was $00.40 cheaper per gallon than Long Island. Everywhere we stopped the people were friendly and went out of their way to help us.

Saturday night went to my reunion, while my 14yr old son went out with his two older sisters. They took him to the Austin's Park For $20 for unlimited rides and games it was worth it.

Sunday morning drove down to the Guadeloupe river south of San Marcos. Met up with Live Love Paddle - Website = index for a guided kayak trip with my kids. With one guide in front and the other in the back, they guided us safely down the river. There were two places we had to get out and carry the kayaks around where to water was too ruff. What a day in the sun, it was great. I didn't put suntan lotion on my legs and they are burned cherry red.....

Monday at the airport was really the only down thing about the trip. The security went a little overboard with my son. They allowed my blackberry, laptop, my son's cell phone, and XBox through the Xray machine.

My Son had a metal belt that they would not allow him to board the plane with. I started challenging them, and five officers came over. They were asking me why I was upset (who wouldn't if it involved their children). Then they started frisking me, and asking who/what/where about me. They had my son sit by himself for an hour, had to repack my carry on bag with my son's belt and wait to turn it at the ticket counter as baggage.


The situation could of been handled better when it involves children. Afterward's had to explain this to my son about why it is safe to fly in America - homeland defense working hard.

Over all this was a great weekend - looking forward to next time to visit Austin...

Previous post - //www.city-data.com/forum/austi...-children.html
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Old 06-30-2010, 02:16 PM
 
Location: Central Texas
13,714 posts, read 31,173,187 times
Reputation: 9270
Glad to hear you had a great weekend. Sorry about the airport experience. What was so special to TSA about that belt buckle?
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Old 06-30-2010, 02:57 PM
 
Location: Austin, Texas
544 posts, read 1,667,470 times
Reputation: 155
send your friends down n we'll treat them right too!
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Old 06-30-2010, 04:52 PM
 
10,130 posts, read 19,878,202 times
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Thanks for the trip report.

Usually the security at ABIA seems quite lax to me, but I definitely can see that there are probably way too many of them with not enough to do (the airport usually isn't that busy, and the security lines are short)... might explain the encounter you had. Still, sorry you and your son had to put up with that.
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Old 06-30-2010, 06:36 PM
 
Location: Austin
1,774 posts, read 3,794,362 times
Reputation: 800
Yeah, sounds like they could have handled it better. Also sorry about that.

Glad you all had a good weekend, though!
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Old 06-30-2010, 08:28 PM
 
Location: Jollyville, TX
5,867 posts, read 11,924,669 times
Reputation: 10917
Glad you enjoyed your trip overall. I hope your next trip is without incident (you may want to pack the metal belt).

My husband has a metal hip and so he has to get wanded every time we fly. He's been subjected to over zealous TSA guards at ABIA before. He tries to take it in stride since he knows they have a job to do and he understands why security is so important. I had to LOL at one of our last encounters though. This particular guard took great care in patting him down all over. When he was done he looked at me and said "I need a cigarette". He does not, nor has ever smoked. Chalk it up to the fact that ABIA is a relatively small airport and pretty low risk. I guess those guys need to feel important once and awhile.
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Old 07-02-2010, 12:25 PM
 
Location: New York
2,251 posts, read 4,915,577 times
Reputation: 1617
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moonlady View Post
.... over zealous TSA guards at ........
Over Zealous......that is a good way of describing the security at the Austin Airport.

My son's belt - was a thick black leather belt with a big metal "State of Texas" symbol for the buckle, and a few fake metal bullets around the belt. These so called bullets, were made out of aluminum, and if no way were the actual thing. They were forged in metal to look like a bullet. They were sewn in to be part on the belt.

When I started confronting the agent, then the supervisor came over - he started asking me questions like he was trying to engage me (pushing me). I immediately saw were that was going and shut up.

He went to his manager, then they took to Homeland defense agent. The best thing was putting it with the boarding luggage.

Advice for flying on any airline, don't have anything metal on you!!!.......
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Old 07-02-2010, 12:39 PM
 
10,130 posts, read 19,878,202 times
Reputation: 5815
Quote:
Originally Posted by Modification Specialist View Post
My son's belt - was a thick black leather belt with a big metal "State of Texas" symbol for the buckle, and a few fake metal bullets around the belt. These so called bullets, were made out of aluminum, and if no way were the actual thing. They were forged in metal to look like a bullet. They were sewn in to be part on the belt.
Ok, well, the metal bullets thing... my opinion changes a bit.

That was probably not such a good idea to wear aboard a plane, don't you think? Even if they are fake?

I'm fairly certain you could get hassled about that at any airport. I'm guessing your son didn't fly to Texas with that belt on...
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Old 07-02-2010, 01:07 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX!!!!
3,757 posts, read 9,059,327 times
Reputation: 1762
The only time I've been manually frisked was at ABIA. I was traveling with my son, then six, and he was so frightened that he ran into the area with me so they had to separate us and then frisk him. It was kind of crazy, but we still made our flight so I didn't really care. I am not sure what the problem was. I didn't set off the metal detector, they just pulled me to the side to frisk me. I don't look middle eastern, nor am I hot, shapely 22 year old, so I still cannot figure out the motive.
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