Back in I had flown to FLL (Ft Lauderdale Int'l Airport) to take a cruise with my wife. We stopped and got a bite to eat before the flight, and had realized I left my wallet at the snack shop outside the gate where our flight was.
Then all of sudden here comes this dopey NTSB security guard as I approach the gate to get my wallet, "sir, you need to produce a photo ID before entering." I told him SEVEN times over that I left my wallet and ID in the snack shop. This quack did NOT believe me. I practically had to start screaming at the top of my lungs to get him to realize how important this was if in the event my wallet got stolen.
He then flagged down a airport security guard. This guard asked me a few questions confirming my identity, went away for about 10 minutes, came back, and looked at this monkey-faced guard and said to him, with booming authority, "let him through. Now. We checked him out and he's clean." Old monkey-face then said "but, but..." to the guard and this burly guard raised him voice and said "who's YOUR supervisor?"... And only then was I able to pass through... I got my wallet and ID (luckily nothing was stolen)... And the guard's name. His supervisor did get a letter of thanks for his cooperation. Luckily for monkey-face, I did not miss my cruise but I suffered significant embarrassment, as my wife thought I was lost since I was gone for more than 45 minutes.
This whole "Patriot Act" thing may be part of the way to reduce terror, but what do they think by stopping people (innocent people) and asking them a thousand questions? I felt violated and humiliated. It just wasn't right. I am sick of all these stupid measures for airport security. Who takes off their shoes? I think airport security is just a wee bit paranoid... But if that is what it takes, I will never fly again.
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