Originally Posted by
Berkeley92
However, the security staff is simply ridiculously over the top. First of all, we often are searched ON ARRIVAL. Of all the countries I've been in, this is the first time where our bags and our bodies are invasively searched on landing.
This happens in other countries too. Standard practice when making connections in most places.
Also, spot checks are done especially when the originating country is identified as a security or drug trafficking concern.
Never gone through screening at Changi when my trip was ending in SG.
Yesterday, the security staff asked me to take out my iPad, then sent the iPad back through the xray machine by itself.
Commonplace at Asian airports, especially in the PRC.
Today, I was thoroughly groped (patted) down. Just to be sure, he frisked me three times per limb. Firmly. And went through my wallet. It made me prefer to take my pants off in public just to avoid the overly invasive procedure.
Never happened to me, but sounds no worse than the usual TSA treatment. Difference at Changi is that this is not standard practice.
I appreciate Singapore as a country and it is a very nice and orderly place. However, what they are doing with the security check is simply over the top. It really made me wish the TSA were running the security in Changi.
They're far more helpful, courteous, and efficient than the TSA, there are no body scanners, and you don't have to remove your shoes/belt/etc, so I'm not sure what the nostalgia for the TSA is all about.