Any Card Will Do !

Very early this morning , I arrived at an airport in Spain to fly back home to England.

I stood a few yards in front of the metal detector, caught the security guy's eye and pointed to my left clavicle ( as we do ).

He approached me and asked to see my pacemaker card in what I assume was his best attempt at English.

Being sleep-deprived , my brain wasn't really in gear so I fumbled in my wallet and gave him a supermarket loyalty card ( for UK readers it was a Tesco card ) .Senor Spanish Security-guy stared at it for what felt like several minutes, nodded wisely and waved me through for a pat-down.

So next time I fly, I will do experiments with any rectangular piece of plastic I happen to be carrying , a Visa Card, an American Express card, a driving licence,my golf club membership card etc. I bet it won't make a scrap of difference !

Ian

8 Comments

lol

by Tracey_E - 2016-02-17 09:02:42

That's hilarious! I traveled to Spain the year I got my first pacer. I memorized how to say "I have a pacemaker" in Spanish before I left. Tengo marcapasos

Fun

by BillH - 2016-02-17 11:02:10

If you really want to have some fun try showing an ISIS membership card.

A Different Take

by Grateful Heart - 2016-02-18 01:02:15

I know this thread was meant to be humorous but I find the lack of security at airports etc., after all these years, appalling in all of our countries.

Too much carnage and too close to home for me.

Grateful Heart

ISIS will probably...

by donr - 2016-02-18 01:02:54

...get you waved right through if it's in the US, based on TSA's record of catching potential terrorists.

Try a Medicare card & you'll be strip searched.

Donr

I was being ...

by donr - 2016-02-18 03:02:42

...sarcastically serious.

Lack of the ability to profile by law enforcement is ridiculous & wastes money, time & effectiveness.

There is an old principle of quality control that says "100 % inspection is NOT 100% effective." I have witnessed a real life example of that maxim.

Also - it is a well known fact that humans are the weak link in any inspection system.

Both Ian's example & mine involved human judgment in an inspection process.

Donr

Security Sickness

by oldearthworm - 2016-02-18 04:02:24

This is another thing poorly done, and generally over-done .. There is also some to a lot of hidden security ..Devices, cameras that we do not need to know about , IMO ..We must have some faith in our fellow man.. On "supermarket loyalty" cards , I shop at ALDI , I dislike these cards , we have far too many as it is and why should WE have any loyalty to them ? Their only "loyalty" is to the almighty dollar , NOT to the people !

Don, I know...I get it

by Grateful Heart - 2016-02-18 04:02:34


It's the human judgement....or lack thereof with the security guard that I was commenting on too. But as we know, it's like that all over. Providing a false sense of security.

Grateful Heart

A step in the right direction ?

by IAN MC - 2016-02-18 08:02:46

Anyone who flies frequently will know that PM cards are hardly ever asked for , so the diligence of the security guard in Spain took me by surprise.

If all supermarket loyalty cards are now to be scrutinised then I am all for it ;-)

Ian

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