Originally Posted by
Nazdoom
I have nothing specific to add about DL or TLV-JFK specifically. I will just highlight that your experience can vary wildly based on their risk assessment of you and that you shouldn't misconstrue others' experience as what you should necessarily expect. If you become rated as higher risk for whatever reason (race, religion, language, family name or ties, travel patterns, nervousness, companions, whatever) you can expect enhanced scrutiny in a way you may have never experienced in any other country -- and that might just be the security screening, not even any customs or immigration components.
It's not some big scary boogeyman, and most people with nothing to hide will have no real problems (other than perhaps wasting a lot of time). But risk assessment factors can include sensitive factors that are often protected grounds in other countries or contexts, so you need to understand what that might mean for you and plan accordingly (in terms of timing, err on the side of caution for sure).
THIS for sure. It was not a super-recent experience (right before COVID-19) but I once arrived at TLV four hours before my flight and was concerned I might miss my flight because of screening.
I was stopped (and questioned) in my taxi at the gate to the airport. I was stopped and questioned OUTSIDE the airport. I was questioned by the first desk by the check-in area. I was questioned at check-in. I received the dreaded number/sticker that indicated "enhanced" screening (it used to be the "middle" lane/area of their screening lines, not sure if it still is). I had the pleasure of that experience (every item I owned was removed from my carry-on bag and inspected, multiple pat-downs, everything swabbed multiple times, etc) with a number of folks who were probably profiled into that area based upon language spoken, heritage/ethnicity, and physical appearance, based upon my assumptions.
Some things that were probably flags -- I was a single woman traveler (Americans might assume this is a low-risk category, but Israeli security considers us high risk for various historical reasons it turns out), I had traveled to several ME countries (Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, etc.), I had flown in on one carrier on a one-way ticket and was flying out to another destination on another carrier on a one-way ticket, though I was in Israel for tourism my line of work was unfamiliar and less common to Israeli security officers, Etc.
These were all innocent coincidences having to do with my busy work schedule/work and vacation travel -- that hadn't really occurred to me would be issues -- though when they're listed out, it seems a bit more obvious that I should have anticipated the grilling and inspections I received. Fortunately my American passport and full cooperation/eagerness likely enabled me to keep my electronics (yes, some folks have them removed and mailed to them...not kidding...even their cell phones) and meant I wasn't escorted from a holding room to my plane seat (has also happened to people).
So, in other words, you could breeze through -- especially if you are traveling as a family and/or with your children, and/or if you have family that are Jewish Israelis who live in Israel. Or, you could end up with 1+ hours of questions/inspections. Depending on who you are and your circumstances you may want to plan to account for the latter.
P.S. and keep in mind when being questioned, even if it gets...um, aggressive...these people are just doing their jobs. It's not personal, though it seems that way. And the worst that's going to happen is they're going to get on you on a plane out of the country -- unlike some countries, where detainment can be a fear.