Airport security confiscates flier's car key as 'prohibited item'

[Flight_Watch]

This is going a bit far:

Airport security confiscates flier's car key as 'prohibited item': A passenger at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) had his Audi car key confiscated by airport security screeners, who insisted the key was a "prohibited item." The trouble seems to have started because of passenger Nathan Rau's standard-issue car key for his Audi, writes Joe Sharkey, business travel columnist for The New York Times (free registration). The new Audi keys actually hold the ignition key inside a fashionable holder that's designed to minimize damage to the carrier's pockets. When ready to start the car, the driver pushes a button on the 2-inch holder and the key slides out. Of course, to the screeners at DFW, Rau's key seemed awfully similar to a switchblade. They ran it through the x-ray machine three times, before Rau says he was told: ""Well, sir, that's a switchblade style, and that's a prohibited item. We're going to have to confiscate that." In addition to the $300 Rau says he had to spend to get a duplicate key from his car dealership, the incident raises a key complaint of frequent travelers: security procedures that seem to vary widely from airport to airport. Rau says he hadn't previously had problems with the key at other airports. Posted 7:15 a.m. ET

[JaceTheAce]

I would sue the TSA for the $300, then more for legal fees. That is insane!

[mtsu_av8er]

We're safer now!

[UNDAV8R]

Boy, I feel safer knowing that drivers of imports aren't allowed to bring their keys with them!
Are the morons who work for the TSA allowed to make any decisions themselves, or is everything drawn up "black and white" for them? I would think that anyone with an elementary education could reason that a car key is not a dangerous item, and that probably every other passenger on that flight had their keys with them!

[NDviaEP]

NO WAY! I'm gonna have to watch myself next time I fly... I have basically the same key... I'd be pissed

[NDviaEP]

The key is like inverted too, so it doesn't even have a sharp edge on it... I could do more damage hitting people over the head with a camcorder or something... (not to be giving people an ideas)

[Flight_Watch]

Ya I agree. The Audi/VW keys are even more dull than a standard key. But the fact that it flips out like a knife is what they were concerned about.

Where is the standardization in security? Hundreds of people each day must fly with the same style key in the U.S.. Why isn't there a manager who could address the situation before confiscating it?

[MrSandman]

Several automakers to my knowledge use keys like that.

It's all for show anyway.

[JEP]

Just to play devils' advocate here, many have complained about the TSA (myself included) and how some may not be so smart. So what do we do......

We give them hard and fast rules. Switchblade, switchblade like = No go, prohibited item.

Then they confiscate an item and we end up beating them down again.

Now don't get your panties in a bunch. This was indeed an uncalled for situation. It was a car key for @#$%^^ sake. I would think a supervisor would or could have easily avoided the situation. Unless of course it was a Sup. that confiscated the item.

Again, the hard and fast rules....

[NDviaEP]

It's not even a blade though... traditional keys would aghh nevermind... I undertand your point though JEP

[Bandit_Driver]

You want even more of joke. The TSA in HPN are complete idiots. Everynight the airplanes are pulled off the gates are parked across the airport at the local FBO. Then in the morning TSA makes the flight crews go through security and then be driven to the FBO to get the plane. Keep in mind the crew goes from the secured side back to the unsecured FBO. Remind me again why I needed to go through security. Why can't I just go directly to the airplane like I do at every other outstation. How is this any safer...

Also had TSA tell me that I need a ticket to go through security even though I am 121 pilot with ID and jumpseating. It only took a CSR from the airline and supervisor to convince the TSA moron he was wrong.

[Minnesota_Flyer]

That is so far over the top stupid I don't even know what to say. Volkswagen uses the same exact key, as well as other makes. There must be thousands of people going through security every day with that same key. And while their panties are in a bunch over a car key, the idiots are missing about half or more of the test guns and bombs used to test security.


Now I have to go punch something.

MF

[mpenguin1]

Before you go crazy, the key is a rather unusual design, I am driving a Volvo Rental car in London and the first time I saw this key, I was a little surprised.

The key pops out the same way a switchblade knife does, it has that quick action to it. The key in fact does not look like a normal key, and when the key is exposed, it is locked in place and could be used as a device to puncture something.

When the key is exposed it is almost 3 inches in length, which I believe could be against the TSA rules.

The TSA will have to adapt to this, as once again, the key is a rather unique design & not that common....

[cmsuav8r]

[ QUOTE ]
Before you go crazy, the key is a rather unusual design, I am driving a Volvo Rental car in London and the first time I saw this key, I was a little surprised.

The key pops out the same way a switchblade knife does, it has that quick action to it. The key in fact does not look like a normal key, and when the key is exposed, it is locked in place and could be used as a device to puncture something.

When the key is exposed it is almost 3 inches in length, which I believe could be against the TSA rules.

The TSA will have to adapt to this, as once again, the key is a rather unique design & not that common....

[/ QUOTE ]

And a regular car key couldn't be used to punture something? I've seen this style of key first hand and regular car keys are for more dangerous than that type is. I am reminded of that everytime I sit on my very pointed, very ordinary key.

[mpenguin1]

Yes, your "ordinary" car keys can poke a nice hole in your pants pocket.

The new style keys, along with the foundation, has the look of a very effective weapon.

As far as first hand, I have the keys in my hand right now and you are dead wrong that the older keys are more of a threat than the newer one.

[NJA_Capt]

[ QUOTE ]
When the key is exposed it is almost 3 inches in length, which I believe could be against the TSA rules.

The TSA will have to adapt to this, as once again, the key is a rather unique design & not that common....

[/ QUOTE ]
I am VERY familiar with this type of key and it has been used by AUDI for many years.....it is VERY common. I agree that TSA is out of hand and nowhere near standardized. These keys do not worry me near as much as the 12" knitting needles that are ALLOWED items. I was sitting in the gate area of a major airport one day and there sits two ladies with (4) 12" daggers (knitting needles)!!!!

Thank goodness they confiscated those toenail clippers

[Minnesota_Flyer]

[ QUOTE ]
Before you go crazy, the key is a rather unusual design, I am driving a Volvo Rental car in London and the first time I saw this key, I was a little surprised.

The key pops out the same way a switchblade knife does, it has that quick action to it. The key in fact does not look like a normal key, and when the key is exposed, it is locked in place and could be used as a device to puncture something.

When the key is exposed it is almost 3 inches in length, which I believe could be against the TSA rules.

The TSA will have to adapt to this, as once again, the key is a rather unique design & not that common....

[/ QUOTE ]Really? Thanks for the description, but I have one in my pocket. It isn't that unusual, seeing as how its been used by Audi, Volkswagen, (and apparently Volvo) for several years. As I said, I would be very surprised if thousands of keys just like it don't go through security every day. As far as dangerous -- my Ford Ranger key is longer and far sharper than the Audi/Volkswagen key, which is squared-off at the end. And let's not lose track of common sense -- IT'S A CAR KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If this kind of nonsense doesn't allow you to see the folly in turning your freedom over to underpaid, undertrained, undereducated knuckle-draggers, then I'm afraid you may be beyond saving.

MF

[VampyreGTX]

I also disagree, I've worked at a car delaeship for two months and drove a handful of VW's and audi's with the key, it is MUCH safer than old keys. When I worked in highschool, a supervisor of mine had a key impaled THROUGH his hand (compeltely through, about half the key was sticking out the back of the hand, the other half out the palm.) He bumped into a coworker and when they colided, their hands hit at a perfect angle and mmy coworkes keys, which he was carrying, impaled my sups' hand. You could NOT do that with this type of key that they talk about here.

[mpenguin1]

Well, I agree with you about those knitting needles, guess why they were allowed on the aircraft, because numerous people complained to allow them back on the aircraft....

[mpenguin1]

The keys that we are talking about are much safer for me & I like them, but, I would have better luck using these keys as a weapon than the keys to my Toyota.

[NDviaEP]

Pretty sure if I was gonna get a weapon on board, I wouldn't spend at least 20,000 to get switch blade key... and if i did, it would have to be sanded to a point first... and pretty sure I'd be okay with it if they were taking those away... as previously stated... these keys are rectangular... as in no sharp edges... the old Audi key (96' era) had a decent sized grip, and would be a much better weapon...

[mpenguin1]

[ QUOTE ]

The TSA will have to adapt to this, as once again, the key is a rather unique design & not that common....

[/ QUOTE ]

I went back up to my first post that I wrote, just to make sure that I was not going crazy.

[dakovich]

maybe the TSA guy is a retired UAW worker who needed extra cash so TSA picked him up part-time. and now he's just trying to get everyone to buy American by making anyone with a European car key step out of line at airport security and embarass them by declaring any and all German car keys as deadly weapons. it could happen