Dublin airport security, when is a 1l resealable bag not a 1l resealable bag?

athtrasna · 13-03-2015 11:46AM #1

I've been a frequent traveller for over 20 years and have never had an issue with security. Because I travel so much I have a sturdy clear 1 litre resealable bag that I leave packed between trips as I have duplicate products.

This morning I met a complete jobsworth who insisted that it had to be one of their bags, that my bag that I frequently bring through Dublin and other airports was not acceptable. She also insisted that products like powder blusher are actually a paste?

I've checked their website and it says a 1 litre resealable bag. Fwiw, their bag is smaller though mine clearly says 1 litre so between that and her weird definition of liquid /paste I lost a few products. Boots was jammed with people who'd had similar experiences.

Do security have the right to insist you use one of their bags. I know some airports charge for bags at security

coylemj · 13-03-2015 12:15PM

It doesn't have to be 'one of their bags'. How does she expect travellers from the UK to deal with that stupid rule - ditch their own bag in the airport on the way home and transfer everything to a DAA bag?

I know it's not PC to say so but female security people in airports tend to be way more bolshie and bullying than their male colleagues.

@dublinairport is very active on Twitter - they're always retweeting compliments from travellers about their free wi-fi and the like, put up a tweet about your issue. Give the time and terminal number and hopefully they will have a word in her ear, especially mention that other people fell foul of her.

https://twitter.com/DublinAirport

keithclancy · 13-03-2015 01:53PM

What a bloody muppet.

I'd definitely get clarification on Social Media.

Louche Lad · 13-03-2015 02:35PM

keithclancy wrote: »

What a bloody muppet.

I'd definitely get clarification on Social Media.

I've just tweeted them. I'll see what happens.

travellingbid · 13-03-2015 02:45PM

I was travelling through Dublin in the past week or so and while I was waiting for security I was surfing the web on my phone (there's a sign that says there's wifi to surf while you wait). As I approached the top of queue I answered my phone and told the person I'd have to call them back. I was pulled aside by security who pointed to an overhead sign that said phones/ cameras couldn't be used that I had not seen and told me he "had a good mind to fine me for my behaviour". I said I'm sorry but I hadn't seen the sign. To say his tone was unprofessional is an understatement but it was his intimidating manner that I left me shook up tbh. I travel through airports a few times a month but this is the first time I've ever experienced anything like that.
I know he'd a job to do but he was undoubtedly the rudest and more agressive airport staff member I have ever encountered.

Arbiter of Good Taste · 13-03-2015 02:47PM

Had the exact same in Dublin airport a couple of years ago. I wonder if it was the same woman. A real muppet. Thankfully the gentleman in the queue behind me had just bought 2 of the bags (they only come in packs of 2) and he gave me one.

dudara · 13-03-2015 02:48PM

Very frequent flier here. I recently dealt with a very particular security guy in T2. Makes me wonder if they've all had some refresher course

keithclancy · 13-03-2015 03:15PM

dudara wrote: »

Very frequent flier here. I recently dealt with a very particular security guy in T2. Makes me wonder if they've all had some refresher course

I always hit those survey buttons after I pass through to reflect my experience.

I also had a similar experience in Dublin, I took my boots off and put them in the box as they always ask to take them off normally.

I got the "What do you think you are doing"

Me: "I thought I had to take my boots off"

Them: "You'll take them off only if I bloody tell you to take them off"

Me: "Ok ... will I put them back on ?"

Them: "Don't get smart"

Me: *silence*

Them "go on"

Never had problems in numerous other Airports, these days I fly from Cork to Amsterdam and rent a car / get the train to go to Dusseldorf just to avoid Dublin and the lack of public transport on this side of course

Louche Lad · 13-03-2015 03:21PM

keithclancy wrote: »

What a bloody muppet.

I'd definitely get clarification on Social Media.

Louche Lad wrote: »

I've just tweeted them. I'll see what happens.

Got a response from them: Hi there, you can use your own bag once it is resealable & is either 20cm x 20cm or 1 litre capacity.

https://twitter.com/DublinAirport/status/576379906831044608

travellingbid · 13-03-2015 03:23PM

keithclancy wrote: »

I always hit those survey buttons after I pass through to reflect my experience.

I also had a similar experience in Dublin, I took my boots off and put them in the box as they always ask to take them off normally.

I got the "What do you think you are doing"

Me: "I thought I had to take my boots off"

Them: "You'll take them off only if I bloody tell you to take them off"

Me: "Ok ... will I put them back on ?"

Them: "Don't get smart"

Me: *silence*

Them "go on"

Never had problems in numerous other Airports, these days I fly from Cork to Amsterdam and rent a car / get the train to go to Dusseldorf just to avoid Dublin and the lack of public transport on this side of course

I was in Terminal 1 - couldn't see those survey stands after security. Terminal is untidy looking with all the work going on at the moment.

Yamanoto · 13-03-2015 04:14PM

I'm already organised by the time I hit security screening - with wallet & phone in my bag, belt off & laptop & liquids packed in such a way that they're easily removed etc.

I would have thought those manning security would develop an eye to distinguish between those who are prone to faff about & those who seek to transit screening as efficiently as possible & perhaps then direct their attention towards the ponderous accordingly. Admittedly it must be a mind-numbingly tedious job & maybe there's just no way of doing it without treating all and sundry like we're a bunch of unruly kids out on a bloody field trip.

jjbrien · 13-03-2015 04:15PM

Had an issue a while back with a security woman at T1 Dublin Airport. I had scanned my boarding card fine on the scanner to let you into security. My wife couldn't get hers to work I tried to help my wife and this woman butted in and told me to stop helping her. i was like what and she didn't even bother trying to help my wife. Luckily she got though after several attempts. If she had helped her or allowed me to help then the line would have moved faster. Must be the same woman she must love making people miserable.

brevity · 13-03-2015 04:20PM

There are one or two fairly thorny people at cork airport as well.

I don't see why they feel the need to shout or be aggressive towards you. It can be a stressful enough experience without being embarrassed by people on power trips.

Bob24 · 13-03-2015 04:28PM

I guess someone needed to release their anger and feel powerful. I usually bring my own bag and was never bothered in any country.

Asking people to only use the airport bags is counter productive (everyone has to pack their things at the last minute, making the queue slower) and not very eco-friendly. As mentioned above some people are charging for bags, ie encouraging people to use their own.

jjbrien · 13-03-2015 04:39PM

Bob24 wrote: »

I guess someone needed to release their anger and feel powerful. I usually bring my own bag and was never bothered in any country.

Asking people to only use the airport bags is counter productive (everyone has to pack their things at the last minute, making the queue slower) and not very eco-friendly. As mentioned above some people are charging for bags, ie encouraging people to use their own.

And not everyone carry's cash when they are in a foreign country i think them things want a coin to buy a bag

eezipc · 13-03-2015 04:46PM

jjbrien wrote: »

Had an issue a while back with a security woman at T1 Dublin Airport. I had scanned my boarding card fine on the scanner to let you into security. My wife couldn't get hers to work I tried to help my wife and this woman butted in and told me to stop helping her. i was like what and she didn't even bother trying to help my wife. Luckily she got though after several attempts. If she had helped her or allowed me to help then the line would have moved faster. Must be the same woman she must love making people miserable.

Same happened to me as well. Those scanners can be a bit temperamental at times. My wife's code was not scanning properly and I reached my arm over to help and the security shouted at me from the booth to back away.
It's stupid things like this, which have put me off flying from Dublin.

athtrasna · 14-03-2015 12:41AM

travellingbid wrote: »

I was in Terminal 1 - couldn't see those survey stands after security. Terminal is untidy looking with all the work going on at the moment.

Oh I actively sought it out, it's half way between security and the loop, so I could hit the red angry face!

Looking back I'm annoyed that I didn't ask for a supervisor or her name but in the heat of the moment I was so flabbergasted I didn't. I tweeted Dublin airport and was sent an email address to contact. Will do that when I get back after the weekend

Sheldons Brain · 14-03-2015 01:39AM

I don't know if the airport has any control over its security staff. Maybe 10 or 12 years ago I queried the fact that the guy checking boarding passes was smoking, in sight of all of the other staff at security. He said it was his birthday.

anne burnell · 14-03-2015 08:53PM

have noticed this a few times with the clear bags, they have emptied my bag of liquids and put it ito one of theirs at security, dont know why as mine was the right size.....

MarkAnthony · 14-03-2015 08:55PM

keithclancy wrote: »

I always hit those survey buttons after I pass through to reflect my experience.

I also had a similar experience in Dublin, I took my boots off and put them in the box as they always ask to take them off normally.

I got the "What do you think you are doing"

Me: "I thought I had to take my boots off"

Them: "You'll take them off only if I bloody tell you to take them off"

Me: "Ok ... will I put them back on ?"

Them: "Don't get smart"

Me: *silence*

Them "go on"

Never had problems in numerous other Airports, these days I fly from Cork to Amsterdam and rent a car / get the train to go to Dusseldorf just to avoid Dublin and the lack of public transport on this side of course

Jesus...

Did you not ask to make a complaint?

I know they're up early but that's bag out of order.

keithclancy · 14-03-2015 09:55PM

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Jesus...

Did you not ask to make a complaint?

I know they're up early but that's bag out of order.

And risk missing my flight ... no way.

MarkAnthony · 14-03-2015 10:29PM

keithclancy wrote: »

And risk missing my flight ... no way.

Hmmm maybe cutting it so fine had something to do with it - I've never had any problems in Dublin with staff but I wouldn't be taking that now.

Bob24 · 15-03-2015 08:21AM

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Hmmm maybe cutting it so fine had something to do with it - I've never had any problems in Dublin with staff but I wouldn't be taking that now.

As he said ... Complaint would have lead to nothing except possibly missing his flight.

The security guy would have said the passenger didn't understand/follow my instructions and I just made it more clear to them, he then got angry about the situation. No recording of the actual conversation -> case closed.

endofrainbow · 15-03-2015 12:54PM

I think I had a run-in with the same *lady* . I have a transparent wash-bag, zipped and the correct dimensions which I have used in numerous international airports for at least 5 years without problems. Last trip thought T1, I was told to empty the contents into one of their bags because *the bag doesn't meet our security standards*.

I did as requested but just put everything back into the washbag once I got through the xray machine. Just someone on a power trip....

MarkAnthony · 15-03-2015 12:54PM

Bob24 wrote: »

As he said ... Complaint would have lead to nothing except possibly missing his flight.

The security guy would have said the passenger didn't understand/follow my instructions and I just made it more clear to them, he then got angry about the situation. No recording of the actual conversation -> case closed.

We'll never know really - I'm not sure why a recording has to be made for someone to objectively listen to both sides and make a decision, that's been happening for longer than recording has been available. What you're suggesting would mean that every incident of poor service would need a recording, they simply don't.

I'm not sure why it would take more than 5 minutes to speak to a supervisor and explain the situation. Let them deal with it after that, a simple mention is usually enough to make people realise they've been a little rude to someone, maybe pushed it too far.

If you're not leaving yourself 5 - 10 minutes before the gate closes, generally, you're running late and again generally, you're going to put out that vibe.

If everyone takes it and simply presses the unhappy face nothing is going to change. You don't need to launch the Spanish inquisition, just say on the way out "I was in lane 4 the guard was quite rude and said X". You might be dismissed, 4 people might be dismissed but after enough people have said this guy/gal is being rude it'll get dealt with.

cadete · 15-03-2015 01:05PM

I travel alot aswell and use dublin very frequently over the past 10 years and in fairness I would say its much more pleasant than alot of airports, I never have had any negative situations there, places like Dubai, abu dhabi, and Frankfurt I would say the security staff are much ruder and certainly not pleasant to deal with to put it nicely,
I would like to think the instances in dublin were just staff having a bad day?

Korat · 15-03-2015 01:16PM

There's an easy way to avoid this problem. Check your bag. Problem solved.

Bob24 · 15-03-2015 01:27PM

Korat wrote: »

There's an easy way to avoid this problem. Check your bag. Problem solved.

I doubt many frequent travellers would go for that option if they are going on a short enough trip. More chances of your belongings getting lost/damaged and more time waisted waiting at the luggage collection belts.

zagmund · 15-03-2015 06:17PM

And who in their right mind is going to jeopardise a holiday/several hundred or thousand Euro/a business trip to go and make that complaint *before* they are off the ground?

Maybe it's silly/crazy/stupid, but I think that security theatre has got to the stage that most people are going to put the head down, accept that the power trippers are in control for 5-10 minutes, get through it and then forget about it.

The people who *should* be worrying about it are the airport authorities - they are the ones who actually have something to lose, although the chances are slight.

Dublin airport is going to win out for me 99.5% of the time just because of proximity, but I have flown from other airports when the price/timing is right. If obnoxious service starts to enter the equation for enough people when deciding then some airports might begin to rue allowing their service folk to over-act.

Dublin airport has already lost ground in my books because of the stupid long walk/enforced retail experience in T1 after you clear the security. I went through a few weeks back and I can't remember how many shops I *had to* pass before I got even vaguely near a gate.

z

MarkAnthony wrote: »

We'll never know really - I'm not sure why a recording has to be made for someone to objectively listen to both sides and make a decision, that's been happening for longer than recording has been available. What you're suggesting would mean that every incident of poor service would need a recording, they simply don't.

I'm not sure why it would take more than 5 minutes to speak to a supervisor and explain the situation. Let them deal with it after that, a simple mention is usually enough to make people realise they've been a little rude to someone, maybe pushed it too far.

If you're not leaving yourself 5 - 10 minutes before the gate closes, generally, you're running late and again generally, you're going to put out that vibe.

If everyone takes it and simply presses the unhappy face nothing is going to change. You don't need to launch the Spanish inquisition, just say on the way out "I was in lane 4 the guard was quite rude and said X". You might be dismissed, 4 people might be dismissed but after enough people have said this guy/gal is being rude it'll get dealt with.

rubberdiddies · 15-03-2015 06:27PM

Never had a problem in Dublin airport but if I had that issue I would ask to speak to her manager.

Don't forget you're a paying customer of DAA's.

If this was a regular problem then the only way for it to be dealt with is if complaints are made

To the person who mentioned that they were threatened with a fine....did that happen? That's got to be completely unenforceable right?

Louche Lad · 15-03-2015 06:28PM

zagmund wrote: »

And who in their right mind is going to jeopardise a holiday/several hundred or thousand Euro/a business trip to go and make that complaint *before* they are off the ground?

Maybe it's silly/crazy/stupid, but I think that security theatre has got to the stage that most people are going to put the head down, accept that the power trippers are in control for 5-10 minutes, get through it and then forget about it.

The people who *should* be worrying about it are the airport authorities - they are the ones who actually have something to lose, although the chances are slight.

Dublin airport is going to win out for me 99.5% of the time just because of proximity, but I have flown from other airports when the price/timing is right. If obnoxious service starts to enter the equation for enough people when deciding then some airports might begin to rue allowing their service folk to over-act.

Dublin airport has already lost ground in my books because of the stupid long walk/enforced retail experience in T1 after you clear the security. I went through a few weeks back and I can't remember how many shops I *had to* pass before I got even vaguely near a gate.

z

Yes, these power trippers are a reason why I often go by boat/train if I'm going to Britain. (Not the only reason, I should add — luggage allowance is another.) And like you say, the huge long walks through the airport.

Dublin airport security, when is a 1l resealable bag not a 1l resealable bag?

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