Foreign airports with no extra security for US flights
May 23, 2016, 8:36 pm
#16
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA MP, Anti tsa
Posts: 29
Let's get straight to the point: it doesn't matter what international airport you're flying from, it's about the airline. If flying on US carriers from international destinations, then there will be extra security (questionnaire when checking bags and/or re-screening at the departure gate).
Flying into the US on foreign carriers doesn't require going through additional security procedures.
Flying into the US on foreign carriers doesn't require going through additional security procedures.
May 23, 2016, 10:05 pm
#17
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
The interviews occur only at "Category X" airports: Europe, India, Africa, certain Asian destinations (China), and South America.
I've never seen interviews in Central America, Mexico, Canada, the South Pacific, nor the Caribbean.
This isn't about logic.
I've never seen interviews in Central America, Mexico, Canada, the South Pacific, nor the Caribbean.
This isn't about logic.
May 24, 2016, 7:46 am
#18
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,074
Confused noob
I'm a total noob here, so be kind... 
I have always been confused why, when I am flying back to the US from an airport in South America, I have to go through a metal detector at the gate, submit to a check of my hand luggage, and surrender the bottle of water I purchased 5 feet away at an airport vendor. The surrender of drinks is what pisses me off the most, because on an 11+ hour flight it's nice to have your own drink rather than rely on the flight attendants' distribution schedule.
I've already gone through security screening to enter the terminal. Why don't they just ban liquids at THAT checkpoint and just let everyone buy food and drink inside the terminal?
I have always been confused why, when I am flying back to the US from an airport in South America, I have to go through a metal detector at the gate, submit to a check of my hand luggage, and surrender the bottle of water I purchased 5 feet away at an airport vendor. The surrender of drinks is what pisses me off the most, because on an 11+ hour flight it's nice to have your own drink rather than rely on the flight attendants' distribution schedule.
I've already gone through security screening to enter the terminal. Why don't they just ban liquids at THAT checkpoint and just let everyone buy food and drink inside the terminal?
May 24, 2016, 10:44 am
#19
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Before posting, please ask yourself, “If I were traveling today, is this something I need to know?” For example, discussions of what is permitted through TSA checkpoints belong in this forum.
If you wish to debate what should or should not be permitted through checkpoints or on airplanes, those discussions belongs in the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate forum.
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May 25, 2016, 6:02 pm
#21
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What was interesting was flying into MUC from IAD and not having to go thru security when connecting (to BKK). That was unexpected.
May 26, 2016, 10:26 am
#22
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
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Yes I just few out of NRT this Sunday. Nothing at the gate but a sign warning of TSA and extra security. A year ago out of HKG they had tables set up and checking carryons.
What was interesting was flying into MUC from IAD and not having to go thru security when connecting (to BKK). That was unexpected.
What was interesting was flying into MUC from IAD and not having to go thru security when connecting (to BKK). That was unexpected.
May 26, 2016, 5:32 pm
#23
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Yes I just few out of NRT this Sunday. Nothing at the gate but a sign warning of TSA and extra security. A year ago out of HKG they had tables set up and checking carryons.
What was interesting was flying into MUC from IAD and not having to go thru security when connecting (to BKK). That was unexpected.
What was interesting was flying into MUC from IAD and not having to go thru security when connecting (to BKK). That was unexpected.
May 26, 2016, 5:47 pm
#24
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Both when transiting HKG and FRA from china to US I had to go thru security again. Same with BKK from MUC to china. All cases (HKG, FRA, MUC) I stayed in the airport's transit zone.
I think you are confusing "sterile area" with "transit zone" and security check with immigration check.
Answer is here!
Sometimes the layout of the airport dictates whether passengers arriving from EU/Schengen countries are screened again or not. MUC has worked this out very well so passengers arriving from secure, non-Schengen countries such as the UK and the US can deplane directly onto level H (non-Schengen departure level) while passengers from most non-Schengen countries must deplane on level I and re-clear security before entering level H or going through passport control to level G for departure to Schengen destinations.
FRA on the other hand has only partially implemented this. Most arrivals from the US do not require re-screening but arrivals from the UK have to re-clear security. This is mostly due to the layout of the airport and terminal buildings.
FRA on the other hand has only partially implemented this. Most arrivals from the US do not require re-screening but arrivals from the UK have to re-clear security. This is mostly due to the layout of the airport and terminal buildings.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21173497-post10.html
Last edited by rufflesinc; May 26, 2016 at 5:52 pm
May 26, 2016, 6:51 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
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Nope, I'm not confusing anything. You were in the non-Schengen terminal the whole time in MUC. You were going to Thailand. You got off a plane, presumably walked around the terminal for a bit, waited and got on another plane in the same terminal. No need for a security check. Transit area = sterile area in this case. You came from a country (US) where you don't have to go through security on transfers, and you were going to a country that doesn't require any special security procedures at origin airports.
Last edited by catocony; May 26, 2016 at 6:56 pm
May 26, 2016, 9:47 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: PNW
Programs: BAEC Silver, DL GM, AA Plat, NEXUS
Posts: 467
I got interviews prior to check-in at SIN and HKG. I think in all Asian airports (except Korea/Japan) passengers are interviewed at check-in when flying on US carriers.
May 27, 2016, 7:19 am
#27
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May 27, 2016, 7:25 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Granted I have limited experience doing international transit but I was under the impression that most countries do not "trust" other countries security screen.
Both when transiting HKG and FRA from china to US I had to go thru security again. Same with BKK from MUC to china. All cases (HKG, FRA, MUC) I stayed in the airport's transit zone.
I think you are confusing "sterile area" with "transit zone" and security check with immigration check.
Answer is here!
LOL seems like a lot of effort to please UK and US travelers
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21173497-post10.html
Both when transiting HKG and FRA from china to US I had to go thru security again. Same with BKK from MUC to china. All cases (HKG, FRA, MUC) I stayed in the airport's transit zone.
I think you are confusing "sterile area" with "transit zone" and security check with immigration check.
Answer is here!
LOL seems like a lot of effort to please UK and US travelers
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21173497-post10.html
Schengen airports also trust US and UK screening, but this is not true the other way round. The UK however trusts domestic points of origin.
So something like EDI-LHR-FRA-ZRH - no rescreening at LHR or FRA, but enter Schengen there at FRA; on the return, no rescreening at FRA but leave Schengen there, plus rescreening at LHR and enter UK.
May 28, 2016, 12:42 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: PNW
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Yes, you are right: in most transits located in Schengen airports, you only go through security at the airport where you board your first flight. It doesn't matter whether you are leaving or entering Schengen during your travel.
Schengen airports also trust US and UK screening, but this is not true the other way round. The UK however trusts domestic points of origin.
So something like EDI-LHR-FRA-ZRH - no rescreening at LHR or FRA, but enter Schengen there at FRA; on the return, no rescreening at FRA but leave Schengen there, plus rescreening at LHR and enter UK.
Schengen airports also trust US and UK screening, but this is not true the other way round. The UK however trusts domestic points of origin.
So something like EDI-LHR-FRA-ZRH - no rescreening at LHR or FRA, but enter Schengen there at FRA; on the return, no rescreening at FRA but leave Schengen there, plus rescreening at LHR and enter UK.
May 28, 2016, 10:55 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
That is to be expected. Frankfurt does not deem South Africa nor Morocco to meet its security requirements. Therefore, flights from Johannesburg and Casablanca do not "arrive clean" into Frankfurt. Passengers coming from those flights must re-clear security in Frankfurt regardless of their final destination.