MANY of us have felt that almost irresistible urge to make a sarcastic quip to a security official while trying to board a plane—and then quickly thought better of it. For sound reasons, airport staff like straight talking. No matter how proudly you cherish your reputation as a joker, we all know it is best not laughingly to tell a security guard you have eight bombs in your bag.
Still, there is always a wag in waiting. According to AB7, a Los Angeles news station, a flight from LAX to London was delayed for three hours on Sunday after a passenger noticed that someone was using the WiFi hotspot “Al-Quida Free Terror Nettwork” (sic). Reports AB7:
The plane was held at a remote part of the airport for three hours and passengers were told to turn off their electronic devices. Passengers said they were initially told that it was a maintenance issue.
Contrary to the urban myth, it is not illegal to crack a joke at a TSA checkpoint.