To have reported this in the airport

[TheHyacinthGirl]

Waiting in the departure lounge at the airport yesterday and a man sat a few seats down from us repeatedly got up and left his rucksack. He did it the first time and walked over to the toilets, I thought ok fair enough, not something I would do though.
Then he did it a second time a few minutes later, but just walked off out of sight. Nerves started to kick in so I moved DCs away and found a member of staff to report it to, who removed it.
DP said I was over reacting, but I think leaving your bag unattended repeatedly in an airport is totally inappropriate! WIBU for reporting it?

YWNBU. I would have reported it too.

This is a photo of a typical departure lounge
The shelves on the right hand side are where bags go

If you saw someone get up, put their bag in there and then walk to the toilets, would you report it?
Or if you saw someone put their bag in there and then walk out of the lounge to go shopping, would you report it?

loungeindex.com/Europe/Switzerland/GVA/British%20Airways%20Lounge/Lounge-GVA1.jpg

Personally, I can't really see why that isn't a threat, but someone leaving the same bag 3 feet away on a chair is a security incident

Of course you were right to to report it op. Hatesummer it does not appear that anyones holiday was spoiled, but a lot more would have been if there had been a bomb. Security is very tight but no one can be certain that nothing harmful can get through.

Anyway, if the man gets told not to do it again by security/airport staff it may mean that he won't do it in other situations, where he hasn't been through security checks and so leaving a bag unattended could cause a really major disruption, (e.g. evacuation) so it was worth reporting if it stops him doing it.

YWNBU in fact I say well done to the OP. It probably was nothing but a careless moment by the owner of the bag BUT one day it won't be and someone like the OP will save a horrendous incident from happening.

I once contacted the police after seeing something some people would not have thought anything of and actually stopped a terrible crime from happening, so good on you OP.

YANBU

Ooh Shushmonster... Tell us more!

guitargirl are you asking the OP if the man was a muslim?

In the actual departure lounge? So on the other side of rather strict security.....what could have been in his bag that wasn't picked up there?

On the basis of the location, no I wouldn't have reported it.

You did the right thing.

I reported a seemingly unattended bag at Miami airport and the staff could not have been less interested. They literally shrugged and it was still there 30 minutes later.

"You can surely see the difference between that, and a bag that has been through full airport screening and is about to be allowed onto a plane"

The laptop bag that blew a hole in the side of the plane in Mogadishu last year had also been security cleared.

Your point is what exactly?

guitargirl I know what you're trying to imply and it was a white man.
Not sure why people think security means no one will ever be able to get anything contraband through again! You're not supposed to have any liquids but I accidentally packed a large bottle of perfume in my hand luggage earlier this year and forgot about it - got through airport security and it was only when I got home I realised I could have had it confiscated.

DP needs to get a grip. You did entirely the right thing.

Not sure why people think security means no one will ever be able to get anything contraband through again!

You might get the odd deoderant through, but people above are wittering on about bombs and such like. There was no chance of that.

When did explosives last get onto a plane via a passenger carrying them on through an airpot? Years? Decades?

Last year actually, twice.

OP yanbu, you did exactly what the public are advised to do.

The laptop bag that blew a hole in the side of the plane in Mogadishu last year had also been security cleared

Security cleared in a European airport? I think not.

YANBU. I was reading about the number of items that were taken through airport scanners by security personnel as a test (weapons, explosives); they don't catch everything.

Where in my OP did I say it was a European airport?

petals
Are you honestly trying to compare the screening procedures for a domestic flight on Somalia, which has been without a government for how long, and is so unsafe that not a single major international airline flies into it, with a western airpots with modern screening?
Honestly?

YWNBU and I doubt you "ruined" the bag owner's holiday. It would probably have been ruined if someone nicked his bag when he left it unattended but clearly he didn't give a shit about that.

As Petal pointed out, explosives do get through security. It might be very rare but it's not impossible.

You absolutely did the right thing!

OP, if you are worried about contraband getting through security, are you comfortable using lounges that have left luggage areas?
Or even airports have have left luggage facilities?

Surely if you are that concerned, you can't feel comfortable using an airport at all?

You absolutely did the right thing, unlike Mr unattended rucksack who is a foolish beyond belief.

Where in my OP did I say it was a European airport?

It didn't, but I'm willing to bet you aren't talking about Mogadishu.

We reported a left bag at Gatwick station. Staff didn't take kindly to us bothering them! Bombs have been left in stations. No reason why same couldn't happen before going through airport security.