How to cut processing time at POE

[mmb 0]

I discovered the other night how to process so fast my feet barely touched the ground.

A friend back in Britain gave me a last minute gift for my fiance, a walking stick with a fancy brass handle. (Richard walks with a cane)

Well I had no room in my luggage for it and figured the only way to bring it was to add it to my carry on stuff.

At Heathrow, the staff at checkin insisted on pre-boarding me and even carried my oversised cabin bag for me. I didn't like to say that I didn't need the walking stick as I thought that maybe they wouldn't let me on the plane so I just did as they told me.

I got off at Philadelphia, politely refused the offer of a wheelchair to get me to immigration abd happily dragged by own bag on it's wheels.

As I neared the immigration lines a large gruff voiced man was loudly telling people "get in line, any line but 54"

He looked at me and walked over to me, smiled and directed me to line 54 the handicapped line with nobody waiting.

I wanted to tell him I wasn't handicapped but he was being so sweet to me and I worried if I told him I wasn't disabled he might then be suspicious of people who are really disabled. I've had a disability in the past and know how much it helps just to get a little preference now and again and also know how difficult it can be when you need that extra help but don't look like you have anything wrong .

I was in Secondary processing 2 minutes later and at the luggage belt before my stuff even made the carousel.

Now I feel so guilty, all that just because I wanted to bring an extra item in the cabin.

[tweety 1]

not really a recommendation of how to do it I guess, but hey, congrats on making it through so fast and welcome to America!

In a way it's even scary to think that they wouldn't check on your condition before boarding. With all the added security one would think they'd suspiciously look at a walking stick being a weapon more than any other thing. I once had to leave some tweezers and a pen behind, because they thought they were too pointy lol

Edited March 8, 2007 by tweety

[Fandango 1,439]

Hey mmb, so did ya give a lil limp in your step or did you wind up just carrying it?

Me, I'd have prolly started limping just out of not knowing what else to do, lol

[Otto 83]

Knowing me... I'd be walking with it..no limp, but give me a walking stick/cane or umbrella with a handle and suddenly I become Fred Astaire or Charley Chaplin.. lol.. I just can't 'just carry' things like that.

Although pointy objects carried under your arm do help deter people who just can't get out of your 'space' in lines..