The Strange and Amusing in Airports Around the World

We were traveling to Paris using the Channel Tunnel boarding the Eurostar at St Pancras Station. Before boarding the train, we had to go through the usual security rigmarole. There were 7 of us. My parents, my wife, my two kids and my younger brother. Everyone passed through except my daughter who was 8 at that time. They detected gunpowder residue on her. All of us went through a specific gunpowder residue detector again and none was detected except on her. We were perplexed and the security were perplexed. They went through everything, our luggage, clothes, everything. But nothing was detected except on her. Where did she get it from? How did she get it on her? It remains a mystery.

I was on transit in Karachi, as we disembarked, we were given this tag. As we passed through security every personnel carried a hole puncher, they requested the tag, and a hole was punched. I then went to the shopping area and found a leather jacket I liked. In my excitement that I managed to shop while there I may have misplaced that tag, that no longer looked like a tag with all the holes punched. Big mistake. As we were boarding, we went through another squad of these security personnel, and they demanded for the tag. I couldn't find mine. I was frantic. They refused to allow me on board until they punched a hole on the tag. I stood aside and started to feel about everywhere for that &**^%$% tag. Passengers have already boarded, and I was about to be left behind. And lo and behold, I found it! Or what's left of it, so I handed to them pieces of this tag that could no longer be held together due to the number of holes, and they happily found a little scrap that they could still punch and returned it to me. Story doesn't end there. As we were about to board the plane, they requested for the whole tag again, and the I readily handed over the scraps that I had.

I was checking in, in Zurich. I had my hand luggage. In my hand luggage was my overcoat, my scarf, my laptop and a few other things. At the counter they insisted to weigh my bag. It was weighed and according to them it was heavy. They insisted I remove the items one after another until all I had left were just the bag. Only then they were satisfied while I held all my things. I received my boarding pass, and I was about to walk to the departure lounge, I promptly placed all the things I held back into my hand luggage and proceeded to past through security and boarded the plane without any issue. This continues to amuse me as I've never faced such trouble in any other airport.

I was in Bangkok, and I was on transit to return to Kuala Lumpur. I went to the transfer counter to get my boarding pass. Suddenly, I was told that their record states that I have already boarded and left on an earlier flight. So, they didn't have any space for me in Business Class. I was deeply annoyed, and they left it at that. No apology nothing and I was about to be abandoned in the airport. My request fell to deaf ears acting as if they didn't understand English. My lane leaves in 2 hours and it's quite a distant to walk to the departure gates. Earlier, I was already picturing enjoying my meals in the lounge while waiting for the plane. Time was running out. In desperation I walked to the counter and told them that, I don't care if you understand me or not, I am about to contact my Embassy to contact your Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and if I do not get to board right now, I will insist on making a police report to investigate all the personnel at the counter. A Manager promptly appeared and did some things and as if by magic suddenly my name reappears on their record and a boarding pass was issued. They seem to fear being investigated; I wonder why.

I boarded a plane in Amsterdam bound for St. Maarten's. All was well for a few hours when suddenly an announcement came from the Captain. "My apologies ladies and gentlemen but we have to return to Amsterdam. The toilets malfunctioned and we still have another 6 hours to go. So, it turned back, and we had to wait while they call for a plumber, I guess. Flight arrived late to St Maarten, and we missed the connecting flight to BVI. When we arrived and had to spend the night, immigrations asked, why are you here in St Maarten, I answered I didn't want to go to St Maarten, I wanted to go to BVI but we missed the connecting flight as the flight was delayed. So, what is there in St Maarten, I asked? Any good food? She chuckled and recommended a few restaurants there.

There's more, I will add later.