Actually, this isn't entirely accurate. You often face a grilling at the check-in counter in Germany at US airlines by contract personnel for flights going to the states. However, if you fly LH, you get no questions for US bound flights. I always wondered what would happen if you refused to answer the contractors, since it seems to be an airline thing instead of an airport security program. I wonder if the airline could deny you check-in if you don't answer the contractors.