02:47 PM PDT on Tuesday, August 26, 2003

By PHOEBE LEONG/ KING 5 News

SEATTLE - Travelers at Sea-Tac International Airport whose pocketknives, scissors, can openers and other banned items facing confiscation can now mail their belongings home.

Ken's Baggage & Frozen Food Storage, a baggage and storage facility, located opposite the Alaska Airlines Baggage claim, one floor down from the B-concourse security checkpoint, provides a mailing service to travelers.

Owner, Diana Sweeney said she has seen an increase in her mailing business after Sept. 11 2001, but declined to say by how much. However, you can get an idea of the amount of business she does when you compare the amount of stamps sold before 9/11 and post 9/11.

KING Karen Hickman, assistant manager of the company has seen some of the strangest items banned.

Mainly employees who worked at the airport and knew Diana's company had stamps bought the 10 stamps. After 9/11, when banned items went into effect, travelers started trudging down to her service to mail.

"There's certainly more shipping nowadays because, you know, after 9/11, items that were previously allowed through are now banned," she said.

Items such as Swiss Army knives, The Leatherman tools and scissors, which makes up 98 percent of the mailed banned items, are examples of items that were previously allowed.

The other 2 percent are what she calls 'mismatch' items such as crochet needles and GI can openers that were issued to servicemen during World War II.

"I had an 80 year-old woman, who came in with one, and it had a mother pearl on it. It was also embossed with the Albert D. Rossellini floating bridge, and I think she must have had the can opener for 50 years," said Sweeney.

Such an item may not cost a lot, but it carries sentimental value for that person.

KING Chainsaws such as this is not allowed on board.

To have an item packaged and mailed, it costs between $4.00 and $7.00, depending on size, and it should take between 3 to 5 days, domestic and 5 to ten days, International.

Currently, Sweeney has eight employees and business is brisk.

To assist with the business load, she's going to open four "Send-It-Home" self-service kiosks that provide all necessary materials. They will be located strategically at every pre-security checkout point and are due to open anytime soon.

"This way, travelers don't have to come all the way down into the baggage area from security checkpoints located upstairs, and in the process, lose their queue in line," said Sweeney.

Currently, busy travelers don't have time to do the mailing and get back in line.

Besides the common banned items, some strange items also come through Sweeney's service. Karen Hickman, assistant manager said she's seen items such as camp stoves and even a chainsaw. The camp stoves are donated to the Boy Scouts, but she's not sure yet what to do with the chainsaw.

When asked why travelers continue to bring banned items, even though it has been two years since these items were banned, Sweeney says most times they're simply not thinking.

In her experience, she's found that the last thing on their minds is what they can or cannot bring. Instead, they're more anxious about forgetting their passports, tickets or leaving for the airport on time.

So, when they're told they can't bring a certain item on board, they're mostly frustrated at themselves.

KING An assortment of banned items left behind by travelers, who say, someone will pick it up for them.

"Typically, some get angry when they can't take it through and cannot mail it either," she said.

Items such as butane lighters (torch-kind), maces, and anything that has to do with gas, liquid or flammable items are prohibited by the U.S. postal service.

"And some are angry because they have expensive lighters," she added.

So, what can these people do?

"Well, they can store it with us for $1.50 per day, and have someone come pick it up for them.

It's definitely worth it if the item is expensive," she said.

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Travelers are also frustrated because a number of them fly in from the East coast having made it through security checkpoints there without any hitches, but are requested to get rid of the banned items when they arrive at Sea Tac.

"So, there's the inconsistency between airports that makes them frustrated," said Hickman.

So, what happens to banned items that are not mailed back home?

According to Bob Parker, Sea Tac spokesperson, most prohibited items are not kept, but thrown away.

"There's a garbage can right next to the security checkpoint, and travelers must throw the items away themselves, before they're even allowed through," explained Parker.

KING Ken's Baggage & Frozen Food Storage, opposite Alaska Airlines Baggage claim, provides a mailing service to travelers.

So how do the Portland International Airport and Spokane International Airport measure up?

PORTLAND

Portland International Airport does not have self-service kiosks or a one-stop mail service like Sweeney's company. But it does have two concession stands - "The Hudson News" near the north checkpoint and "Your NW Travel Mart" near the south checkpoint - that provide envelopes.

But, you can't mail it from there. You have to then go to the South Service Center, located near concourse A/B/C security checkpoint, or the North Service Center's located near concourse D/E security checkpoint. Two others are located at concourse C near Gate 4 and 14, and concourse D near Gate D7.

So, even though the service center is on the same floor as the security checkpoints, it still doesn't provide the same convenience as a one-stop mailing service or a strategically located kiosk.

"For six weeks right after 9/11, the Port of Portland customer service provided the much needed service to mail the items back for travelers," said Elisa Dozono, spokesperson, Portland International Airport.

But the tremendous volume didn't make it financially feasible anymore for the Port, so they discontinued it. Also, TSA took over security from the airlines that previously handled it, said Dozono.

SPOKANE

Spokane International Airport, on the other hand, doesn't have a mailing service or kiosks. Currently, a traveler's options when faced with a banned item is to either put it with his checked luggage, give it to a friend, or throw it away, according to Todd Woodard, spokesperson, Spokane International Airport.

And though there's no timeline to get a mailing service running, Woodard says, "We do see a need for it."

Hence, he's currently in discussions with concessionaires at the airport, who are very interested in the mailing service idea, and he's also floating it with some volunteer programs.

However, the volunteer programs aren't 24 hours, so he's not sure yet how he would work with them.

Dezono and Woodard were impressed by Sweeney's company, and would like to see something similar at their airports soon.

Seattle is ahead of the game with its strategically located kiosks and one-stop mailing service center.

Regardless of the different services provided by each airport, one thing remains clear: Due to the number of banned items post 9/11, travelers are clamoring for a much-needed service and northwest airports are responding.