Opinion: Taken aback by airport security checks

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It happened not once but twice. The first time as I cleared the final check-in at Auckland International Airport and headed towards the departure lounge. An airport security officer carrying one of those wands approached me and asked me to step to the side. I had been randomly chosen for an additional security check. I was a bit taken aback. But I know better than to kick up a fuss. Airport security is not to be taken lightly and any joking or smart aleck comment, I have been told, brings an instant rebuke. In America probably guns would be drawn. Legs apart and arms outstretched again while the wand did its job "up, over and around". My cabin take on bag was swabbed too. I asked the officer why I had been chosen. She politely replied it was a totally random selection. Everything checked out.

Then bugger me the same thing happened at Sydney International Airport five days later on my way home to New Zealand. Cleared through the final check-in and heading to the departure lounge I was again stopped and requested to step to the side. I was really miffed this time but tried hard not to show it. It wasn't the officer's fault but again I had to question "why me"? He said I had been randomly selected. But I did start to wonder if that was true.

Funny how the imagination starts to fire up. Was I being profiled? Are short, dumpy olive-skinned mature women the ones to look out for these days? I wouldn't have thought so. But who knows. I probably was randomly selected but that didn't make me feel any better. And I don't think I look threatening. My sister didn't help matters when I told her about my experience. "You must have looked shifty" she laughed.

It was no laughing matter sister dear. People were looking at me and I felt embarrassed and uncomfortable. Yes I know what you're going to say "if you've done nothing wrong, there's no need to be afraid". And I agree. So when it happened the first time I accepted it as a necessary inconvenience when travelling between countries these days. But when it happened a second time I did wonder if I was being targeted, picked on. Did I look somehow different to everyone else? Of course I didn't. Dressed for comfort while travelling I wasn't wearing anything outlandish. Nothing that would draw attention to myself. So again I come back to "why me"?

I know airport security have a job to do. And the travelling public probably don't help matters by taking umbrage when inconvenienced for a short time. But I didn't like being under the spotlight even for the shortest of time. Sadly terrorism activities have had a negative impact on international travel. We now have to put up with more stringent luggage inspections and personal searches. Right now there is talk of banning laptops and iPads on some international flights in and out of America. How inconvenient for those who want to work during long haul travel.

I guess profiling is common and now accepted as part of our daily lives. But when we travel we are not all potential terrorists hell bent on destroying the plane we will be flying on. We just want to get where we are going. I accept that security checks have had to be stepped up. But they are time consuming and can make international travel unattractive for many. I don't know why I was randomly selected on these two occasions. I have tried to think if I did anything that would have raised a red flag to airport security. The only thing I can think of that I did differently this time when leaving and returning to New Zealand, that I didn't do in February when I went to Rarotonga, was to write down politician as my current employment. Surely this wouldn't have warranted the attention I received. Then again it could be someone's warped sense of humour. "Here's what we really think of you lot". I guess I'll never know.

Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.