Rhode Island Airport Customer Service
I was really put through the ringer with airport security. I was informed while in line that I was pre-selected for a more in depth search. Which was fine, that's why you get to the airport early. Interesting to note, the gel deodorant that was not in my one quart plastic bag but tucked in my carry on bag was not confiscated even though the guy checking it saw it and handled it. My new slippers apparently had something suspect on them because they caused the machine to beep but after even more in depth inspection, I was allowed to keep them. This didn't bother me so much but I did get some odd hassling from the teenage security guy. When he pulled out my iPod he asked, "Is this an iPod mini?"
"No," I said. "It's just a regular sized iPod."
"How long have you had it?" he asked.
"About a year and a half." I replied.
"Well, you're gonna need a new one because the battery on this is going to stop working." he informed me.
"Why, because of the inspection today?" I asked somewhat alarmed.
"No, that's just what happens to iPod minis, their batteries quit working." he told me.
"Well, it's a good thing that's not an iPod mini and that I have a warranty."
He then pulled out my sudoku book and showed it to one of his coworkers. "Man, this sudoku is really popular."
To which his friend replied, "It's ridiculous. People."
Hello?? I'm sitting right here as your rummaging and judging my stuff. After I was cleared as safe to allow on the plane I went to the Dunkin' Donuts which I miss so much in Minnesota. I ordered some coffee and a vanilla creme donut and the lady at the counter told me that the don't have the vanilla or chocolate creme filled only the Boston creme filled. "That's disappointing." I said.
"That's your problem not mine." she informed me. "We're a small store."
I decided not to press my luck any further at the Rhode Island Airport and just pay for my coffee and wait for my plane.
"No," I said. "It's just a regular sized iPod."
"How long have you had it?" he asked.
"About a year and a half." I replied.
"Well, you're gonna need a new one because the battery on this is going to stop working." he informed me.
"Why, because of the inspection today?" I asked somewhat alarmed.
"No, that's just what happens to iPod minis, their batteries quit working." he told me.
"Well, it's a good thing that's not an iPod mini and that I have a warranty."
He then pulled out my sudoku book and showed it to one of his coworkers. "Man, this sudoku is really popular."
To which his friend replied, "It's ridiculous. People."
Hello?? I'm sitting right here as your rummaging and judging my stuff. After I was cleared as safe to allow on the plane I went to the Dunkin' Donuts which I miss so much in Minnesota. I ordered some coffee and a vanilla creme donut and the lady at the counter told me that the don't have the vanilla or chocolate creme filled only the Boston creme filled. "That's disappointing." I said.
"That's your problem not mine." she informed me. "We're a small store."
I decided not to press my luck any further at the Rhode Island Airport and just pay for my coffee and wait for my plane.
posted by birdchick at 10:39 PM
7 Comments:
Welcome to Rhode Island. Now go away and take your crazy vanilla demands and Sudoku with you!
Sigh. Traveling is so much fun!
Airport security is ridiculously rude. I had one tall guy purposefully hold my ticket out of my reach so that I couldn't grab it, after I was done walking through the x-ray machine. He was apparently smirking the whole time. JERK!
I was "randomly" tagged for a more indepth search, during which the guard took my ticket and put it in a drawer. Then a lady yelled, "where's your ticket? WHERE'S YOUR TICKET?" and I stammered out, "That man put it in that drawer!" I thought she was going to pull her gun on me or something!
And now imagine what it is like being a tourist who enters the US and barely speaks English. And additionally you are being photographed and have to leave your fingerprints (in Germany, fingerprints are only taken if you are being prosecuted because of a criminal offence, so this procedure at the US airports is very intimidating to Germans).
It is sad that quite a few friends back in Germany told me they very likely won't come and visit me here because they simply don't want to experience US customs...
Jochen--
Sind Sie Deutsch? I am studying abroad in Germany next year, and am terrified of what happens once I get off the plane. What is customs like there?
Yes, I am from Germany.
Well frankly I don't really know what will happen to you once you get off the plane because customs for me will be much easier than for you, I hardly need to show them my passport at all whenever I travel back to Germany from a foreign country.
I general, I would say that they are very concentrated on their job and accurate but not problematic at all and they should ALL speak Englih well enough so you can communicate easily. There is absolutely nothing to be worried about, let alone terrified.
No, seriously, no worries AT ALL.
I suppose you just show them your passport and that's it, maybe they have a question or two and if you are really unlucky, they might want to check some of your luggage.
Where are you studying? If you want to, we can communicate "in private", just contact me through my blog "bell tower birding" (I think I first have to activate this email-contact-function, so give me a day or so).
Cheers and maybe until soon...
Me again ...
You can contact me directly through my blogger profile now.
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