Originally Posted by exbayern

'Security' in India varies greatly and it isn't really fair to base assumptions on one trip. Try travelling around the country staying at different types of hotels, flying from different airports, driving to different areas/regions, etc for an extended period of time.

Over the years I have experienced varying types of security. In the past few weeks I have had the most basic of 'hotel security' which involved a bored guard sliding the mirror just under the front of the car, nobody using a WTMD, and no other checks of luggage, etc. This was in a hotel geared towards locals in a smaller city.

At the other end of the sprectrum was a luxury hotel which had a great show of a private female booth for a physical check, WTMD, and luggage scan. Yet the car wasn't checked.

Then I had an experience at a nicer hotel, but not luxury, which had gates across the drive, the car was checked including inside the trunk and inside my bags, a dog was brought out to sniff the car, then at the door my bags were scanned, I went through a WTMD, and had a physical check.

I have been on construction sites in India where everyone entering and exiting is physically searched and bags searched, up to multiple times a day if crossing the entry point during the course of the day.

Airport security frankly is still sensible. I flew recently from a small airport in a potentially 'hot' area of India. I was asked if I had a lighter in my bag as they saw something on the scanner (check in bags are scanned in view of passengers so that issues can be resolved right away, and I have had to explain items several times over the years) I didn't have a lighter this trip; the guard said it was near the bottom left of my suitcase, and I recalled what it could be and explained. After another check, someone noted my bag info and I was on my way.

If you put your laptop in a bin at the airport, you often receive a corresponding number tag so that it can be matched back to you when you are through the scanner. Women receive pat downs (minimally invasise, nothing like the TSA search) in a curtained stall.

All carry on receives a paper tag from the airline which is stamped by security. No stamp, no fly. Once last year security forgot to stamp my tag and I forgot to check; the airline was very apologetic and escorted me back to security, where they too apologised profusely for their error and for 'delaying' me.

As a single female who usually travels alone, I have no issues or concerns travelling around India. I don't feel the fear and nervousness I do days before I fly out of a US airport. I am greeting politely, I am treated with respect, and nobody has ever shouted at me. Nor have I ever had to remove my shoes.