Last edit by: JDiver
MODERATOR NOTE
NOTE: This thread is exclusively for q&a, discussion about security procedures encountered by AA passengers. General discussion about airport security properly belongs in the Travel Safety / Security fora, particularly the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate subforum. Link.
The 2017 enhanced security interviewing general discussion is New passenger screening "interviews" to US, starting Oct 26/2017
As of Thursday, 26 Oct 2017 the procedures described below have been expanded to all airlines and departure points to the USA, required to avoid the alternative ban on personal electronic devices larger than a mobile phone that was originally imposed. By October 26 2017 these have been implemented network-wide by AA and most airlines. A few airlines were granted extensions until mid-January 2018.
Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to complete these additional procedures, which may include all procedures detailed below, including interviews, deeper scrutiny of documents, carryon baggage and personal items, including explosives detection swabbing of electronic devices.
Link to Reuters article, 29 June 2017
Link to Time article, 25 Oct 2017
Link to USA Today article, 25 Oct 2017
Security procedures for those departing internationally to the USA, particularly since 11 Sep 2001, have been more extensive. The U. S. Department of Homeland Security requires ALL airlines perform more extensive passenger screening of USA-bound passengers. (AA began in Europe with ICTS International a Dutch firm founded by former Israeli Shin Bet (internal security) and El Al personnel. In Europe, when you have been cleared (at or near the gate generally) they will affix a sticker (base and letter colors may vary by day, etc.) marked "ICTS" to your passport cover.)
Passenger questioning generally includes a first layer of questions, usually asked by check-in staff, that include such items as "Who packed your baggage?", "Has your baggage been in your possession since it was packed?", "What electronic devices do you have?", "Have you had any repaired while on your trip?"
A second layer of questions may include requests for more detailed information about you and your travels, such as "What do you do for a living?", "What company do you work for?", "What's the name of your CEO?", "How many times a year do you travel through XYZ?", "Where did you stay?", "What's your favorite restaurant in ....?", "Tell me about your best ever holiday?", "describe your neighborhood" and include questions about your home address, neighborhood, children, etc. To some people these questions might appear intrusive; others may feel the body language, tone and language used are inappropriate in some way.
These second layer questions were previously asked by contract security personnel, but now might be asked by airline check-in staff as well. Note the behavior of the passenger is observed and may be emphasized over answer content. Failure to reply with requested information or refusal may result in more extensive procedures.
Be aware: it has been verified the agents have the ability to issue your boarding pass with "SSSS", meaning you will get "heavy" screening. Several people have described "giving lip" or declining to answer agent second layer questions for various reasons and getting SSSS.
Though USA-bound passengers are generally screened at or prior to entering the gate area for departure, additional screening may include more extensive questioning by AA or contracted security personnel and / or more screening of possessions. This may be entering or at the gate area, or even at temporary stations set up at the gate or on the boarding bridge; passengers may be selected randomly, or from lists that may include other countries one has visited.
Other procedures may be used at other airports for departing passengers boarding to the USA. Procedures may intensify or lessen as influenced by current security status or information in possession of local, airport, airline or other security and intelligence entities.
More extensive security suggest giving yourself more time to process these enhanced procedures.
Please refrain from altering this moderator note.
NOTE: This thread is exclusively for q&a, discussion about security procedures encountered by AA passengers. General discussion about airport security properly belongs in the Travel Safety / Security fora, particularly the Checkpoints and Borders Policy Debate subforum. Link.
The 2017 enhanced security interviewing general discussion is New passenger screening "interviews" to US, starting Oct 26/2017
As of Thursday, 26 Oct 2017 the procedures described below have been expanded to all airlines and departure points to the USA, required to avoid the alternative ban on personal electronic devices larger than a mobile phone that was originally imposed. By October 26 2017 these have been implemented network-wide by AA and most airlines. A few airlines were granted extensions until mid-January 2018.
Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to complete these additional procedures, which may include all procedures detailed below, including interviews, deeper scrutiny of documents, carryon baggage and personal items, including explosives detection swabbing of electronic devices.
Link to Reuters article, 29 June 2017
Link to Time article, 25 Oct 2017
Link to USA Today article, 25 Oct 2017
Security procedures for those departing internationally to the USA, particularly since 11 Sep 2001, have been more extensive. The U. S. Department of Homeland Security requires ALL airlines perform more extensive passenger screening of USA-bound passengers. (AA began in Europe with ICTS International a Dutch firm founded by former Israeli Shin Bet (internal security) and El Al personnel. In Europe, when you have been cleared (at or near the gate generally) they will affix a sticker (base and letter colors may vary by day, etc.) marked "ICTS" to your passport cover.)
Passenger questioning generally includes a first layer of questions, usually asked by check-in staff, that include such items as "Who packed your baggage?", "Has your baggage been in your possession since it was packed?", "What electronic devices do you have?", "Have you had any repaired while on your trip?"
A second layer of questions may include requests for more detailed information about you and your travels, such as "What do you do for a living?", "What company do you work for?", "What's the name of your CEO?", "How many times a year do you travel through XYZ?", "Where did you stay?", "What's your favorite restaurant in ....?", "Tell me about your best ever holiday?", "describe your neighborhood" and include questions about your home address, neighborhood, children, etc. To some people these questions might appear intrusive; others may feel the body language, tone and language used are inappropriate in some way.
These second layer questions were previously asked by contract security personnel, but now might be asked by airline check-in staff as well. Note the behavior of the passenger is observed and may be emphasized over answer content. Failure to reply with requested information or refusal may result in more extensive procedures.
Be aware: it has been verified the agents have the ability to issue your boarding pass with "SSSS", meaning you will get "heavy" screening. Several people have described "giving lip" or declining to answer agent second layer questions for various reasons and getting SSSS.
Though USA-bound passengers are generally screened at or prior to entering the gate area for departure, additional screening may include more extensive questioning by AA or contracted security personnel and / or more screening of possessions. This may be entering or at the gate area, or even at temporary stations set up at the gate or on the boarding bridge; passengers may be selected randomly, or from lists that may include other countries one has visited.
Other procedures may be used at other airports for departing passengers boarding to the USA. Procedures may intensify or lessen as influenced by current security status or information in possession of local, airport, airline or other security and intelligence entities.
More extensive security suggest giving yourself more time to process these enhanced procedures.
Please refrain from altering this moderator note.
Airports initially used by AA included because of different, more thorough etc. security included:
AMS - Amsterdam, The Netherlands: USA-bound AA passengers are reported to undergo airline security contractor questioning at check-in or when transiting.
BOG - Bogotá, Colombia: USA-bound AA passengers are reported to undergo more intense, even aggressive, questioning even from than other Colombian airports served by AA in 2016.
BRU - Brussels, Belgium: a terror bombing at departures 22 Mar 2016 has impacted BRU and security procedures have changed and intensified as it slowly reopens.
DUB - Dublin, Ireland: AA passengers departing to the USA pass through airport security to the airside departures area with shops and lounges - followed by US Customs and Border Protection (customs and immigration) formalities and TSA security, as this is one of several pre-clearance airports (the aircraft arrives in the USA as a domestic flight). Please discuss DUB in the dedicated thread - link.
LHR - Some members report more extensive and intrusive questioning of AA USA-bound passengers. It doesn't seem different than questioning that has been used on departing passengers elsewhere (e.g. AMS, BRU, CDG, FCO, FRA, MAD in the wiki author's experience), but the intensity could vary - influenced by current security status or information in possession of local, airport, airline or other security and intelligence entities.
MEX - México City, Mexico: Hand baggage inspection tables are generally set up at the jetbridge for further examination of documents and carry-on items. Though passengers are said to be randomly selected, the first passengers boarding are often selected.
AMS - Amsterdam, The Netherlands: USA-bound AA passengers are reported to undergo airline security contractor questioning at check-in or when transiting.
BOG - Bogotá, Colombia: USA-bound AA passengers are reported to undergo more intense, even aggressive, questioning even from than other Colombian airports served by AA in 2016.
BRU - Brussels, Belgium: a terror bombing at departures 22 Mar 2016 has impacted BRU and security procedures have changed and intensified as it slowly reopens.
DUB - Dublin, Ireland: AA passengers departing to the USA pass through airport security to the airside departures area with shops and lounges - followed by US Customs and Border Protection (customs and immigration) formalities and TSA security, as this is one of several pre-clearance airports (the aircraft arrives in the USA as a domestic flight). Please discuss DUB in the dedicated thread - link.
LHR - Some members report more extensive and intrusive questioning of AA USA-bound passengers. It doesn't seem different than questioning that has been used on departing passengers elsewhere (e.g. AMS, BRU, CDG, FCO, FRA, MAD in the wiki author's experience), but the intensity could vary - influenced by current security status or information in possession of local, airport, airline or other security and intelligence entities.
MEX - México City, Mexico: Hand baggage inspection tables are generally set up at the jetbridge for further examination of documents and carry-on items. Though passengers are said to be randomly selected, the first passengers boarding are often selected.
Enhanced AA airport security screening procedures, questions (master thd)
#331
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, HH DIA, Hertz PC, GE + Pre✓, Amazon Super Special Prime
Posts: 1,008
Over the weekend at LHR my better half, with Pre-Check nearly 5 years received her first SSSS. We were told that this is completely random by Homeland Security. I also received the SSSS a few months ago. This is just plain stupid, a waste of time and money. Homeland would be better served to follow how ELAL does security.
I get that they have a job to do, and it is not their fault. But a little common sense could help streamline this for all.
#332
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IND/MEX
Programs: AA PPro BA Bronze SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt Exp
Posts: 1,134
#334
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW-In Plano & CDG-In the 11th
Programs: DL Diamond, AA revenue negative, Bonvoy Titanium +, Avis likes me
Posts: 3,209
Mrs Dallas49er does not allow me to talk to ICTS "agents" (other than a smile (forced) and a mono-sylabic answer, when I'm traveling with her).
#336
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: LAX/BUR, RDU
Programs: DL SM, AAdvantage, SPG
Posts: 1,360
I think this is a lot better than the inane questioning I've seen on this thread.
#338
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New York City + Vail, CO
Programs: American Airlines Executive Platinum, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 3,226
I was also in LHR a few weeks ago and wasn't asked any extra questions, I jokingly said "no interrogation this time" and she said that if people are TSA precheck they don't ask extra questions anymore--despite TSA precheck not being valid out of the US.
#339
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,042
Flew LHR-EWR on UA and only got asked if I was returning home. What's funny about precheck is that there is a *G Fasttrack security line in T2 that for all intensive purposes is precheck. Doesn't OW have an equivalent at LHR?
#340
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Boston, USA
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, HH Gold, SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 939
For what its worth, I was asked similar silly questions at Tel Aviv
airport which is famous for being very good at identifying
troublemakers. This young woman asking me random questions
about my family did not seem like she cared for the answers etc.
Maybe the threat determination is done well before you reach
the security person and all they are doing is a little bit of show to
keep the process consistent for all....
airport which is famous for being very good at identifying
troublemakers. This young woman asking me random questions
about my family did not seem like she cared for the answers etc.
Maybe the threat determination is done well before you reach
the security person and all they are doing is a little bit of show to
keep the process consistent for all....
#341
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,638
Thiese questions are asked due to DHS requirements so maybe DHS issues new guidance if passenger has Pre.
#342
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 58
Flew out of LHR and printed my boarding pass at the kiosk. Since I wasn't checking any bags, I didn't see an agent and just went through security to the CX lounge. Upon arriving at the gate, I was semi-scolded by the agent for not having the sticker or stamp on my boarding pass for completing the interview. It had never dawned on me this needed to be done nor had I seen any signage (why even have kiosks to check in then...). The agent told me they wouldn't send me back since I would surely miss the flight at that point. He then proceeded to ask me about 5 or so questions and that was that.
#344
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 153
Flew out of LHR and printed my boarding pass at the kiosk. Since I wasn't checking any bags, I didn't see an agent and just went through security to the CX lounge. Upon arriving at the gate, I was semi-scolded by the agent for not having the sticker or stamp on my boarding pass for completing the interview. It had never dawned on me this needed to be done nor had I seen any signage (why even have kiosks to check in then...). The agent told me they wouldn't send me back since I would surely miss the flight at that point. He then proceeded to ask me about 5 or so questions and that was that.
Doing security interviews at the boarding gate has been a normal procedure, at international outstations, for years.
Maybe an agent on a powertrip...?!
If you feel treated wrongly, ask for the Duty ISC or the respective LSA for that flight.
#345
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
been in and out of LHR quite a bit this year, the only question I am asked now is at the shuttle bus stop at T'3 terminal , right after you get off the bus, is where were you coming from?
and yes of course at that point they put the "sticker" on my boarding card
and yes of course at that point they put the "sticker" on my boarding card