Secure?

Of course I needed a lock for my suitcase. A supermarket combination lock came cheap and easy. All done. But then came the advice. More experienced travelers said I needed RFID envelopes for my passport and cards. Apparently there’s monsters out in the big wide world who have the ability to skim your cards and identity as you are walking past them… scumbags. The RFID envelopes prevent such nonsense.

The person who told me this failed to mention that the same RFID envelope would set off the security alarm at Auckland airport. I’d taken my passport out to give to the security guy then walked into his xray booth. The flashing red lights and alarm most embarrassing!

At Los Angeles airport all passengers have to collect their luggage, even if it’s checked through. You then take it around the corner and drop it off to another area. I have no idea why, as there was no inspection while the bag was with me. My bag arrived intact, partly because that lock I’d bought at the supermarket was replaced at the last minute with a TSA lock. I’d never heard of such a lock. It has a special extra key hole so that customs the world over can break into your bag without you being present.

I kept the original lock as a spare for my day backpack. When resetting the combination, the lock slipped out of my hands, landing on the floor with an unknown number installed! 999, 998, 997… and so I went down the possibilities. On approximately the 250th attempt the lock miraculously opened.

Security at Heathrow and Auckland were quick, friendly and efficient. Los Angeles had masses of passengers to get through, with a never-ending snake presenting every language and culture imaginable. If the officer processing the line you get put into happens to need his tea break, you are not allowed to change lines. I missed my connecting flight.

Thankfully Virgin Atlantic were straightforward in rebooking me, along with many others, and we all arrived at Heathrow a couple of hours later than planned.

Heathrow biosecurity was astonishing. You choose whether to declare or go straight through, and nobody checks! Coming from a place like New Zealand I was paranoidly honest enough to go to the declaration section. The sole officer was surprised at my declaring two beef jerky sticks. She binned them, but said not to worry about small things like that. No other passenger from my flight, or any other, was checked or declared anything whilst I was there.

After the constant barrage of security checks at LA, entering the UK was a non-event, security-wise. At LA, every time I moved from one section to another, there were passport checks, and photos, and even fingerprinting àt one spot. Shoes off, patted down… I am clearly dodgy-looking! Interesting and almost fun, but a transgressor would sweat.

Finally through all airport queues and checks, I could at last walk to freedom. Being met by my cousin’s warm hug is the perfect start to my great OE; I have arrived, safe and secure! Let the adventure begin!