X-ray machines are out to ruin Valentine's Day—one airport has a solution
X-ray machines are small but necessary inconveniences to ensure passengers fly safely. As Valentine’s Day draws near, marriage proposers begin to pack rings in their carry-on baggage, and the machines have the potential to ruin the surprise of a vacation marriage proposal.
That’s why East Midlands Airport, about 100 miles north of London, is allowing passengers packing an engagement ring in their carry-on to email airport officials beforehand in case they’re stopped in the security lined with their soon-to-be partner, digitaltrends reports.
This happens to at least a few people each year, the article notes. That’s why upon receiving a return email from officials, travelers planning to propose will receive a code phrase that they’ll utter to security if they’re chosen for a random bag check. Security will then take the passenger to a different lane, separating them from their partner and keeping the ring a surprise if it’s pulled out of the bag.
“With Valentine’s Day coming up, we wanted to reduce the chances of the marriage proposal being ruined at the airport because, frankly, as much as we like the airport, we don’t think it’s the most romantic place to get engaged,” Ioan Reed-Aspley, a spokesman for East Midlands Airport, told BBC Radio.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.