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News and views from the German-language region of Europe

October 18, 2009

Don’t do this!

Filed under Life in Europe

I could have set off an alert at the Frankfurt airport about one hour ago!

I was checked in for my flight to Cincinnati via New York for a meeting of the Council of Elders. At terminal 2 there is a Burger King restaurant once you have entered the area where only passengers are allowed. I got myself a coffee and a table and then walked down the hall about 50 feet to look at something, leaving my carry-on bag at the table where I had deposited my coffee. Since I was within sight of the restaurant, I did not think much of it – there were many people in the airport yet and the only other people at the restaurant were two airport employees at the table next to me. When I returned a couple of minutes later, they gave me a lecture about airport security. If the German border police (they patrol the airport) had seen my unattended bag standing by the table, they would have closed down the restaurant and sent off for the bomb-sniffing dogs. I would have to pay for the bomb squad examination, too. That convinced me that being within sight of your suitcase is not good enough – keep it right next to you all the time!

Paul Kieffer's blog with personal insights and news from the German-language region in Europe.

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