A personal account of airline travel

[Rustyshakelford]

An interesting situation we faced on the way from the US to Panama last Saturday, 09.27.08: This happened as we were leaving Dallas-Ft Worth airport to fly to Panama City. Before boarding of the plane began an American Airlines employee made an announcement on the loudspeaker that travelers are only allowed to carry $10,000 out of the country. (That isn’t news: what IS news, is that now it’s not $10,000 per person; it’s $10,000 per family.) Before boarding began the entry ramp area was locked. Ten (perhaps 12) persons (men and women) in uniform, with sidearms, lined the entry ramp on both sides. (We were told they were Customs/Border Patrol/Homeland Security.) Once a passenger entered the hallway, s/he was in a locked passageway, with armed personnel on both sides. Before entering the hallway, airline personnel asked to see our passports. When we entered the hallway, the first armed man asked to see our passports. As we progressed down the hallway, the last armed man asked to see our passports, then inquired as to our business in Panama, and the amount of money we were taking out of the country. (Money means: cash, coins, money orders, travelers checks.) Every adult who entered the plane underwent this procedure. We had a full plane and there were a number of angry people. This is the first such experience I’ve had or heard of in America. Thought you might find it interesting.

[Rustyshakelford]

Just an FYI. This was NOT my personal account. Just an account of someone else.

[Diesel]

wow that is very interesting.. what's next they cut off international orders and incoming products?

[Rustyshakelford]

Remember, a walled off America, works to keep people out, but it also works to keep people in. There is an old Cold War Saying: You can always tell the effectiveness of a peaceful workers paradise, by the number of armed guards at the gates.