Weird Santiago experience (SCL). Security check INSIDE the jetway
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,435
Weird Santiago experience (SCL). Security check INSIDE the jetway
Flew from SCL-LIM-LAX last month. After security, I bought a few final souvenirs and a bottle of water while waiting for the flight.
After going through the gate, walking down the jetway, there was another layer of security inside the jetway. They had a table set up in the jetway, and you couldn't pass by until they examined your carryon. They confiscated my bottle of water. I told them that I bought it AFTER security before, but they didn't care. Meanwhile, a guy next to me was carrying a bottle of water, and another agent let him go through. I had never encountered an additional bag check when I was already inside the jetway. Does anyone know if this is common for LAN or SCL airport?
After going through the gate, walking down the jetway, there was another layer of security inside the jetway. They had a table set up in the jetway, and you couldn't pass by until they examined your carryon. They confiscated my bottle of water. I told them that I bought it AFTER security before, but they didn't care. Meanwhile, a guy next to me was carrying a bottle of water, and another agent let him go through. I had never encountered an additional bag check when I was already inside the jetway. Does anyone know if this is common for LAN or SCL airport?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: US expat somewhere south of Valpo, Chilezuela
Programs: On the way to lowly LATAM Gold, AA, MiClub Lider
Posts: 853
Quite normal for any Chile-origin flights going to the USA. You can thank the paranoia and hysteria emanating from TSA and similar US rule makers.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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It is a US rule (as the airport doesn't have a general liquids ban). The passenger who boarded with the water likely had a LIM BP. This means his water was safe, and yours was not.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,631
Some airports have a special area for flights to the US only, and the 2nd check is conducted at the entrance to that area. Others don't have such an area, and do security at the boarding gate or in the jetway. In any case, there is a second security check somewhere for flights to the US.
Regarding the bottled water mentioned by the OP, yes it is a problem. When there is a secure section of the terminal for US flights, you can pass security with an empty bottle and fill it up afterwards at a water fountain. But when security is in the jetway, you are out of luck.
Regarding the bottled water mentioned by the OP, yes it is a problem. When there is a secure section of the terminal for US flights, you can pass security with an empty bottle and fill it up afterwards at a water fountain. But when security is in the jetway, you are out of luck.
#10
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Silver / Hertz Presidents Circle
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Ah yes..... H2O is well known for its incredibly explosive & destructive qualities..... its certainly an extremely dangerous & deadly substance.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: London
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this happened to me this week. I had taken a couple of bottles of water and a coke zero from the lounge because I was staying at an airport hotel and didn't want to pay minbar prices.
They took it and laughed and said "lounge?" and i said "yes.. otherwise I would cry if I paid airport prices"
wasn't even a good search because they didn't take my sun cream or hair spray from my bag
They took it and laughed and said "lounge?" and i said "yes.. otherwise I would cry if I paid airport prices"
wasn't even a good search because they didn't take my sun cream or hair spray from my bag
#13
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: LANPASS
Posts: 368
most likely the checkpoint missed it. On a flight from SCL to the US (regardless of where it stops) the checks apply to everyone even if they deboard at LIM
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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I have been on LA600 a few times where people with LAX BPs get checked and LIM BPs don't. (I haven't been on 600 for some time on the SCL/LIM segment.)
#15
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: LANPASS
Posts: 368
nothing is ever consistent in Chile apparently haha..
Of all the times I've flown to LIM on a flight that has an onward leg to the US (mostly LA600 and LA530 when it does the whole SCL-LIM-JFK) I've always been checked for liquids, regardless of my de-boarding in LIM
The logic is that otherwise, the checkpoint becomes pointless. All it would take to board dangerous liquids in contravention to the TSA/CBP regulations is to have someone flying up to LIM and giving you his backpack while on board so you can take it the rest of the way
Of all the times I've flown to LIM on a flight that has an onward leg to the US (mostly LA600 and LA530 when it does the whole SCL-LIM-JFK) I've always been checked for liquids, regardless of my de-boarding in LIM
The logic is that otherwise, the checkpoint becomes pointless. All it would take to board dangerous liquids in contravention to the TSA/CBP regulations is to have someone flying up to LIM and giving you his backpack while on board so you can take it the rest of the way