Airport nightmare!!

[tommy91]

This morning I was catching a flight. Traffic made me very late I got to the airport 15 minutes before boarding closed. I was running through airport to get to security. As always there was large queue, persuaded the lady to put me to the front. My Bag didn't go through smoothly and had to wait to be checked which I was told would be 30 mins, again had to persuade another lady to check my bag now. So now i have one minute till boarding closes. I get through security run to the gate and look at my wrist.......NO ROLEX.....I left it at security I still can't believe I left it I was in such a rush. Anyway in my head it was a no brainer I don't care if I missed the flight I needed my watch. So I run again back to security went straight to head security guy and could hardly get my words out I was just in panic. Finally I say I've left my watch somehwere at security. Luckily he said it was found by someone who handed it in, he made me describe the watch and made a statement of how careful i should be especially with a watch like that. I don't know what came over me i am always so careful in my mind I was just thinking I have to catch this flight and everything else obviously went out the window. Now I have my watch and the flight is about to leave in under 10 minutes and boarding time has now closed. I still run again to the gate with no one there apart from one member of staff. in the end he let me on they had to reopen the doors all worked out ok in the end....was a very traumatic feeling suddenly looking down at my wrist and not seeing my watch.

[brannonj1]

You are one lucky guy!

[davecheng]

Wow, lucky!

My watch never leaves my wrist through security.

[mtgjr]

Why did you take your watch off to begin with?

[tommy91]

Originally Posted by mtgjr

Why did you take your watch off to begin with?

They always make me, I was in the U.K. and they insist it needs to come off. I usually have a travel case and put it in that and put it in my bag. As I was in such a rush I actually put it in the top pocket of my bag looking back I am not sure I zipped it up I don't know what happened to it to be honest i don't get how I could of left it. Security person just said someone had seen and handed it in I didn't really ask too many questions

[MonBK]

You are one lucky guy.

[AK797]

Damn, finally... that was not safe!

[cdmorenot]

Dodged a bullet there! My watch never, ever comes off. Even if they say take it off, I will ask for a supervisor.

[liu_watch]

You were lucky.

I had a similar experience, arrived at the gate (connecting flight delay) less than a minute after the gate closed, still could see people walking on the jetway from side window, but the lady said: once the gate closes it cannot be re-opened. Now I know this is not necessarily true!

I always put watch in a carryon bag before x ray...


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[alllexandru]

Happy Ending, take care next time ;)

[sco]

I bet you leave a little earlier for the airport next time... Glad you got the watch back. That was a very honest move that fellow passenger made.

[OmegaJJH]

Lucky bugger

[tommy91]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

Dodged a bullet there! My watch never, ever comes off. Even if they say take it off, I will ask for a supervisor.

I think next time now there is no way it is ever coming off even if I am 10 hours early. As they insist i usually just take it off, i wasn't aware you could actually wear it? It's a lesson learnt for sure

[Mick P]

Chaps

Security differs in various countries.

I fly to Spain and back 4 times a year.

In the UK I have to take my watch, belt and shoes off.

In Spain the shoes and the watch can stay on but the belt comes off.

Regards

Mick

[m j b]

I left my watch in the little basket once, but when I went back (I realized it within a minute) it was still sitting there on the conveyor.

The security at Heathrow was pretty strong, I was impressed. Since my earlier instance, I always wear the watch going through US security, but in the U.K. I had to take it off. Plus my shoes showed positive for explosives, so I got a really good scrutiny from the Brits. This was this past summer: they were probably still angry about that Brexit thing and decided to take it out on the poor tourist. :)

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

Dodged a bullet there! My watch never, ever comes off. Even if they say take it off, I will ask for a supervisor.

The US is much more tolerant than many other countries. You will lose the argument in many countries. You may lose a chunk of change for arguing with the police, or spend a few hours explaining why you're so special.

[Pharaoh_83]

OMG; i began panicking just reading your ordeal.

glad it all worked out

[cdmorenot]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

The US is much more tolerant than many other countries. You will lose the argument in many countries. You may lose a chunk of change for arguing with the police, or spend a few hours explaining why you're so special.

Yikes. The "American" privilege.

Shows how bad ignorance can get when you don't leave The States often.

You're right Abdullah

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[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by davecheng

Wow, lucky!

My watch never leaves my wrist through security.

[Maybelline]

I was once so sleep deprived and running so late I left my whole bag back at security. It felt like I ran back a mile at full speed to go back and get it.

Glad you got your watch back.

[Headshrinker]

Wow! That was a close one.

[the_natural]

Yikes, hope you didn't pick up too many gray hairs from that experience. All's well that ends well though.

Question (for those in the US): I don't fly a lot, and haven't flow since I got my Exp1 in October, but does the TSA usually make you take off your watch? Domestic only, all flights, it just depends on the agent, etc?

[Zambian4ever]

My advice is buy a lottery ticket... you are lucky today!

Glad it worked out albeit quite stressful I am sure. We have all had similar moments; joys of travel!


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[Chadridv]

whoa! Glad you got it back.

[Daryl]

Wow

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[Rolex addict]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Chaps

Security differs in various countries.

I fly to Spain and back 4 times a year.

In the UK I have to take my watch, belt and shoes off.

In Spain the shoes and the watch can stay on but the belt comes off.

Regards

Mick

Yes it does. In Brazil, I got on a plane with a different name on the ticket..twice. They didn't even look at it. I just had my passport and ticket in hand and they waved me through. This was a little over a year ago. You'd think security would have been tighter in preparation for the Olympics.

[mjclark32]

Lucky!
In the US, my watch never comes off my wrist

[JnmEaton]

Did anyone else start reading FASTER as the story went on? I did. Traumatic. Glad it worked out!

[Juantxo]

Pheww...!!! Close one. I'm glad you got your watch back.

Leaves me thinking about security, though. Who knows what else could have been left behind by someone else.

I would have left behind the belt buckle with no regrets, though.

[VinnieVegas]

I'm glad it worked out!