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June 23, 2017

A Guitar, An ID, A Cigar Case and Bracelets

18 Comments/ 1868/ 0

What do a guitar, an ID, a cigar case and bracelets have in common?

Take a guess.

Come on.

You know you can figure this one out.

Give up?

All are items that were left at security in the Cleveland airport this past Sunday.

As Chris and I were traveling home from our wonderful two weeks in Ohio ( a combination business and vacation trip) we spent some time sitting in a small restaurant near our departure gate  as we waited for our flight to Atlanta.  What we heard were continual announcements about items being left at security.

Now I can understand leaving your ID and maybe your bracelets if you put them in one of those little round bins when you went through the scanning machine.

But a guitar?  Seriously?  That seems like something you would remember having.

A cigar case would be another thing that I would imagine would be an item that would be remembered.

But apparently not.

Tons of items are left at security checkpoints every year.  Those tons add up.

At the Sacramento International Airport items are kept 30 days and then are donated to charity.  TSA keeps items valued at more than $500 for 2 years but after that they are also donated to charity.  Laptops, phones, clothing, jewelry —it all gets left behind and according to this article  only 15-20% of items ever find their way back to their owners.

And what about all of the change that you are required to remove from your pockets before going through the body scanner?  According to this  recent article on the CNBC website folks left behind nearly $1 million in coins.  That’s right. During fiscal year 2016, the Transportation Security Administration reported that passengers left behind more than $867, 812.39 in coins and currency in those cute little plastic bowls found at security checkpoints.

What happens to that money?  According the article cited above TSA had really not determined how to spend the money collected in 2016.  Hmmm.  I could give them a few ideas.

Some airports have donation bins where money can be placed for designated charities.  I love this idea and it sure beats having TSA make the decision where that change winds up, don’t you think?

Best advice this traveler can give her readers is to have all that stuff tucked away in pockets in a backpack or carry on luggage well before going through security.  It certainly makes it easier to only have to have your ticket and ID ready to be checked if you have your pockets emptied and you are ready to go.  If you recall I wrote a post full of traveling tips.  You can read that by clicking here.

Oh and by the way.  If you see some rocker walking around looking lost and confused I am betting he is looking for that guitar he left at the security checkpoint in Cleveland.  Just point him in the right direction.  I am sure he will dedicate a song to you someday.

 

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bracelets cigar case guitar ID security checkpoints things left at airport security travel TSA
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18 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Dianna
    June 23, 2017 at 06:43 am

    I’ve never thought about items getting left behind at security! Years ago, I had the cutest little pair of folding scissors that I kept in my make-up bag. We were traveling somewhere, and I forgot they were in the bag…and yes, I had the make up bag in my carry-on. Of course, they showed up on the “x-ray”. I hated losing them, but what was even worse was that “gestapo” woman jerking them open (into the cutting position) right up in front of my face. I mean really…. I shrugged my shoulders, shook my head and said: “I’m sorry, I forgot they were in there”. Embarrassing….

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 23, 2017 at 07:29 am

      Oh yes. Chris has had the little scissors from his little credit card like set taken a couple of times–remembered to take the little knife out but not those. Grrr.

      Reply
  2. treadlemusic
    June 23, 2017 at 08:00 am

    Ahhhhhh, the mysteries of life…………………..

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 23, 2017 at 08:01 am

      Indeed! 🙂

      Reply
  3. jena c. henry
    June 23, 2017 at 08:21 am

    My husband has traveled zillions of miles. On our last flight he forgot that he still had a corkscrew in his back pack, from a car trip. Goodbye corkscrew- at least the TSA Agent didn’t wave it in his face. Fun post, Beth. Cleveland has those painted guitars (like the painted pigs, cows, etc) so maybe that’s what will happen to that lost guitar

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 23, 2017 at 09:07 am

      Dratted corkscrew! Maybe that guitar will show up on display in Cleveland. I don’t know–it was just odd!!!

      Reply
  4. McGuffy's Reader
    June 23, 2017 at 09:01 am

    I cannot imagine bill ever leaving behind a guitar. No way; it is an extension of him. He has several, all old in mint condition. He would stay behind with it, rather than leave it anywhere!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 23, 2017 at 09:06 am

      I know! That is what was so weird! Anyone I know with any kind of instrument is tethered to it. Weird, huh?

      Reply
  5. Mama's Empty Nest
    June 23, 2017 at 10:07 am

    I too have been amazed at things people leave behind at airports. Some I can understand how you might forget, but your ID? Can’t imagine. Also the guitar is strange too. I wouldn’t think a musician would want to be without that. But who knows? The strangest thing security ever took from me was while entering the Statue of Liberty. They took an apple from my bag. Really, my lunch? I’d already gone through the metal detector so obviously something wasn’t inserted into my apple. Guess they were afraid I’d throw it off the highest point of Lady Liberty and bonk someone on the head. That’s the only reason for absconding with it that I could think of. 😉

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 24, 2017 at 07:36 am

      An apple? Really? That is odd but you might be right about thinking you would launch it. Or maybe one of the staff was just hungry and your apple looked especially appealing that day? Weird.

      Reply
  6. Diane
    June 23, 2017 at 10:45 am

    How does one forget a guitar? Maybe in a big hurry for a big gig. Uh-oh. Lol. Love the charity donation for change. That’s a lot of charity.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 23, 2017 at 10:56 am

      Beats me!!! So weird, huh?

      Reply
  7. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    June 23, 2017 at 03:47 pm

    A musician recently left her rare and expensive violin behind on the T (I believe) in Boston. She was distracted by her cell phone. Yes, it was recovered.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 24, 2017 at 07:35 am

      I guess it is more common than I thought it would be. Just amazes me the things that are left behind.

      Reply
  8. C. J. Hartwell
    June 23, 2017 at 04:12 pm

    Yoyo Ma once left his cello in a cab, and that’s his livelihood! (He eventually got it back.)
    Maybe we should cut them some slack. Musicians have too much going on in their heads to keep track of everything. 😊

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      June 23, 2017 at 04:13 pm

      Maybe so! It just really, really surprised me to hear that. Hopefully they were reunited as YoYo Ma was!

      Reply
  9. Jeni / JeniEats (@JeniEats)
    June 24, 2017 at 01:05 pm

    I hope that person remembered their guitar! Security is such a stressful experience I bet people just want to get out of there.

    Reply
  10. Darlene
    June 24, 2017 at 05:01 pm

    I am sure there are some pretty weird things left behind at airports. A guitar would be hard to forget but then again…..

    Reply

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