MitzEclipse

Hi all
I'm currently at CPH flying to SFO flying with a US passport. I arrive at the gate and told i need to fill out a form before going through.

The form was so basic - only asked for given name, last name and a contact name and phone number in the US. I think it was form 238 or whatever it was it was required "by law".

Why as a US Citizen am I being asked for this info?

Why is this basic form even required? The gate clerk didn't even examine the form - just tossed it to the side with the rest of them.

How does this form realistically make America safe?

kauppias

Isnt this the small form that asks for your emergency contact? Incase of say a accident etc?

FlyerTalker01565

It's retaliation for the decades of ridiculousness you people have subjected the world to through TSA. You're welcome

GUWonder

This USG emergency contact info requirement for US persons on international US flights started before the TSA was established. Filling the form with junk info is technically not disallowed by the USG, since US persons are even allowed to say that they refuse to provide such contact info. SAS gate agents make more of an issue about the info on these forms than the US Govt does.

It's not being done to make the flight safe. It's being done to make it easier for the USG to know who to contact in case of a US person's death or incapacitation arising in the course of an international flight serving the US.

The law about demanding these forms is a US legal requirement applicable to the airlines. Passengers can say that Mickey Mouse is their contact and his number is 1-800-DISNEY1.

CPH-Flyer

Which is probably because the USA via SK tells the SK gate agents that the form is required, without really relaying to them the true state of the legal implications should US citizens not desire to complete said form. Which is probably none whatsoever....

GUWonder

The airline request for the info is legally demanded by the US. The option for a passenger to refuse to supply such info is also legal, but the airline has to ask for the info prior to, or alongside, allowing an opt-out from providing such info as long as the opt out is recorded. This is SK's version of implementing a US legal requirement applicable to airlines.

livious

It is always great to know that the US government is looking after us Americans. I laugh knowing at least one person will be informed of my (or my kids) potential death(s) while my wife's (Swede) will go unannounced. I am so happy that my tax money is going to such a wonderful endeavor and sleep much better at night knowing that Uncle Sam is doing this on my behalf.

At least we avoid much involvement with TSA en route to the US. I would gladly fill out another form if it meant skipping contact with TSA on the return home.

JR67

As a fellow American, I wonder why you seem to hate the TSA. I hear stories all of the time about how awful and incompetent they are. I travel more than your average American (more than the top 10% of Americans) and have yet to see TSA agents doing anything unprofessional. I have always found them friendly and accomodating. I am EBD, and get the D part completely from trips to the US. In my experience, TSA agents are <redacted> to the ones who ask for it. Otherwise they are very friendly and professional. All they want is for the lines to move smoothly, which is exactly the same as what we FFs want.

My other FF friends and colleagues have the same view of the TSA.

FlyerTalker01565

I, uh, severely disagree. I get that you can't do public works programs over there for political reasons, so TSA is a nice compromise.

I find this satirical depiction very apt:

JR67

I agree on the inconveniences, my point was on the people. I have never seen them rude to anyone who I didn't think deserved it. If you have experience traveling then you know what to have out, and are ready when you get to the front of the line. They are always friendly to these people.

But the "welcome experience" at American airports could defintely be made better. But the TSA guys do the best they can, and if they <redacted> with you, you probably deserve it.

livious

I don't believe that I made any mention of TSA agents, rather TSA as a whole. The agents may be friendly (not my experience, but they have become more professional), but the whole circus makes travelling to/from/via the US a hassle. Heck, consider the costs that passengers pay to support TSA and then consider how poor a job they do regarding safety.

Personally I would prefer a rude, competent agent than a pleasant buffoon.

FlyingMoose

Or simply Scandinavian people's autistic response to being told to do something and so they will, without asking questions, execute the rule or order to the letter with no deviations (except priority boarding).

Hm, that parelel universe thing again. I can't believe you have had zero unfriendly and unprofessional treatments from TSA when you travel more than 90% of American citizens. Impossible.

Yes, not all experiences are great but at least 1 in 5 is negative to the point of terrible. With your kind of luck I'd visit the casino more often.

CPH-Flyer

Scandinavians, and particularly Danes, normally have a very strong tendency to get management instructions watered down to voluntary guidelines. Hence also your lacking priority boarding. If there was even a remote possibility of not asking for these details it would frequently never be asked. My feeling is that this was presented in the same way as the ESTA or visa requirements to ensure it is being checked.

GUWonder

I thought I was told that SK and LH have both been caught transporting people without the required ESTA, but I'll have to double check with the sources. I know it still happened last month with various carriers.

My interactions with TSA staff in the US have been mostly fine as can be given the TSA organizational dynamics. It's the TSA organizational practices that are of greater concern to me: things like the TSA encouraging TSA employees to treat parents as if they are routinely engaged in child abduction -- more so those who have visibly multi-ethnic families -- and of interrogating children as if the parent/parents aren't there too and being conditioned to respond to anything, everything and nothing at all in ways that are of questionable merit. CBP is much better than TSA in this regard, not that I have any great love for the CBP when its employees go over the top too or make the travel experience worse than it needs to be.

In this case of the form filling requirement SK has, the blame should be assigned to the US Government and SK's version of implementing it.

FlyerTalker01565

muh racism. Most of TSA's staff are, in fact, "multi-ethnic" themselves.