Apr 3, 2016, 11:47 am
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)
Dec 17, 2015, 10:04 pm
#61
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: PHX
Programs: AA PRO
Posts: 352
LHR check-in and new security screening questions [not new]
We flew both ZRH-JFK in October and LHR-CLT in November and this happened both times (business class check in at ZRH and flagship at LHR).
I am not particularly chatty when I arrive at the airport for these morning departures at the end of my vacation. The guy in ZRH was pleasant and it didn't seem to awkward... The woman at LHR was very stiff and it was anything but "casual". My increasingly short answers to her (from about three words to one word after the fourth or fifth question) only made it worse. She probably asked us at least a dozen questions and finally my partner stepped in and defused the situation. We went on without incident.
I am interested to see that others have experienced this as well - this new level of questioning that is FAR beyond "who packed your bag, where has it been, and have you had any electronics repaired?"
And I have the feeling that on my next trip (it will be MAD-DFW in February) that I will have to cut it short or ask for a CBP officer.
I am not particularly chatty when I arrive at the airport for these morning departures at the end of my vacation. The guy in ZRH was pleasant and it didn't seem to awkward... The woman at LHR was very stiff and it was anything but "casual". My increasingly short answers to her (from about three words to one word after the fourth or fifth question) only made it worse. She probably asked us at least a dozen questions and finally my partner stepped in and defused the situation. We went on without incident.
I am interested to see that others have experienced this as well - this new level of questioning that is FAR beyond "who packed your bag, where has it been, and have you had any electronics repaired?"
And I have the feeling that on my next trip (it will be MAD-DFW in February) that I will have to cut it short or ask for a CBP officer.
Dec 18, 2015, 2:22 am
#62
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Members interested in engaging in a debate about the efficacy of this security measure or that security measure, or in discussing the security failings of 9/11, or really any other security-related discussion that isn't directly related to these questions at LHR, would be invited to join discussions already underway in the relevant Travel Safety/Security forum.
I've done my best to pare down this thread to posts which discuss this specific topic. Further paring will be done if necessary to keep us focused on the AA questions asked at LHR, and their impact to individual travellers.
~Moderator
I've done my best to pare down this thread to posts which discuss this specific topic. Further paring will be done if necessary to keep us focused on the AA questions asked at LHR, and their impact to individual travellers.
~Moderator
Dec 18, 2015, 3:34 am
#63
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
The only thing that changed about 3 months ago was that the questions switched from a dedicated security agent to the check-in agent.
The type of questions has not really changed, the only difference seems to be that the check-in agents take this task more seriously than the previous sub-contracted staff, or perhaps they feel less comfortable exercising flexibility so close to their training.
With the previous security staff my questioning had dropped to 'Hi, you're back again then?' as I fly frequently out of LHR and the back of my passport is covered in the ICTS stickers so they would quickly spot their own marks on the stickers and not bother with questions.
The check-in staff are not yet at that level of comfort with the process, nor do they have enough of their own stickers on there to give them any particular comfort level with me as a traveler.
I dare say they will get more comfortable with the process as time passes.
Dec 18, 2015, 7:56 am
#65
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2004
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Executive Club Silver. Back of the plane on everyone else.
Posts: 262
Very much agree with this. It felt uncomfortable and awkward - seemingly friendly questions but posed in a manner that was decidedly not friendly.
And yet seemingly some of us have never encountered this type of questioning, whether from an AA check-in agent or security agent.
Has the policy always been to ask these questions of every single person? Perhaps the AA people are taking it more seriously, or AA is being more vigilant about doing it for every passenger.
Once again, this is not new.
The only thing that changed about 3 months ago was that the questions switched from a dedicated security agent to the check-in agent.
The type of questions has not really changed, the only difference seems to be that the check-in agents take this task more seriously than the previous sub-contracted staff, or perhaps they feel less comfortable exercising flexibility so close to their training.
The only thing that changed about 3 months ago was that the questions switched from a dedicated security agent to the check-in agent.
The type of questions has not really changed, the only difference seems to be that the check-in agents take this task more seriously than the previous sub-contracted staff, or perhaps they feel less comfortable exercising flexibility so close to their training.
Has the policy always been to ask these questions of every single person? Perhaps the AA people are taking it more seriously, or AA is being more vigilant about doing it for every passenger.
Dec 18, 2015, 8:06 am
#66
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Executive Platinum; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,663
I really don't understand the big deal. I went through this questioning last month LHR-PHL. While I found it unusual, I certainly don't mind the questions. It may seem intrusive to some but I have no problem answering just about any questions. I just want to fly when and where I want.
Dec 18, 2015, 8:35 am
#67
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 92
Actually, it was very much the airline's business to endure the safety of all of its passengers.
Dec 18, 2015, 8:42 am
#68
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
And yet seemingly some of us have never encountered this type of questioning, whether from an AA check-in agent or security agent.
Has the policy always been to ask these questions of every single person? Perhaps the AA people are taking it more seriously, or AA is being more vigilant about doing it for every passenger.
Has the policy always been to ask these questions of every single person? Perhaps the AA people are taking it more seriously, or AA is being more vigilant about doing it for every passenger.
At LHR there were a number of different places where the security sticker could be applied to your passport, but if you made it to the gate without the sticker you'd be routed off to the security desk there to go through the process, so yes, it was for everyone.
I suspect that some of the security staff were better at it than others and some passengers may well have completed the process without noticing anything more than that the member of staff seemed very friendly.
Others are less adroit and you couldn't help but notice the nature of their questions.
One way or another though this has been applied to all AA passengers traveling through LHR to the USA with AA for a long time now...
Dec 18, 2015, 9:33 am
#71
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DHA
Programs: AA EXP/2MM+ Miles/OW Emerald; DL Lifetime Silver/1MM+ Miles; Hilton; Marriott; IHG
Posts: 72
Can also confirm that this has been going on for a while. It used to be "ICTS" and they'd put a sticker on your passport, and you'd know they were "security" people explicitly asking you questions (e.g. did you pack your own bag, etc).
Checked in last month at LHR flagship checkin, and the agent was definitely having a casual conversation with me that turned into more and more prying information gathering. I drew the line at "Did you do any work while you were staying in the UK?" This was probably question #15 or so she had asked me. I stopped her and told her the questions were getting quite personal for an airline employee to be asking and that if she was doing a security screening of some sort, I suggested she get a security officer to do it. She handed me my boarding pass and said "Have a good flight."
Checked in last month at LHR flagship checkin, and the agent was definitely having a casual conversation with me that turned into more and more prying information gathering. I drew the line at "Did you do any work while you were staying in the UK?" This was probably question #15 or so she had asked me. I stopped her and told her the questions were getting quite personal for an airline employee to be asking and that if she was doing a security screening of some sort, I suggested she get a security officer to do it. She handed me my boarding pass and said "Have a good flight."
Dec 18, 2015, 10:17 am
#72
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,559
I flew LHR-LAX last month and used the premium check-in. I actually prefer this style of questioning as it was a bit more chatty and less obnoxious than immediately treating you suspiciously - which is how it used to seem. Plus, the former style was very robotic and I think it probably was less successful at rooting out anyone suspicious as it probably put everyone on the defensive.
In fact, this time we were actually joking with the agent that this is so much more pleasant than the past and she said something to the effect of "wait 'til you get upstairs" since I had received the dreaded SSSS on my boarding pass. We all had a laugh about that.
However, it was probably the least obtrusive and most polite secondary screening I have ever encountered once I did go through it at the gate.
Overall, no skin off my back and, if it actually helps, I don't mind the whole process.
In fact, this time we were actually joking with the agent that this is so much more pleasant than the past and she said something to the effect of "wait 'til you get upstairs" since I had received the dreaded SSSS on my boarding pass. We all had a laugh about that.
However, it was probably the least obtrusive and most polite secondary screening I have ever encountered once I did go through it at the gate.
Overall, no skin off my back and, if it actually helps, I don't mind the whole process.
Dec 18, 2015, 11:36 am
#73
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA | DEN
Programs: AA EXP/2.9mm | Marriott LT Titanium 1.6k nights | NEXUS
Posts: 981
So did the agent in the lounge put the ICTS sticker on your passport (like what used to happen upon first entering the lounge in the past) or not? When I transited LHR last month and checked in with the AA lounge agent, she asked me several questions and then gave me the boarding passes, but no ICTS sticker was put on my passport. When I got to the gate, the security questions had to be answered (again) before the sticker was applied and I was allowed to enter the holding area. Answering the security questions and getting the ICTS sticker in the lounge used to be a godsend in lieu of having to wait at the connections desk or departure gate and if AA has trained its agents in this new procedure, then surely this can/will be reinstated in the lounge.
Dec 18, 2015, 1:11 pm
#74
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 3,790
Depends on how the agent is asking the questions as well. If it's in a general chatty/conversation way, it's fine and might get the job done. If it's in a suspicious/authoritative way, I am less inclined to answer, or at the very least would be rude back.
Dec 22, 2015, 2:50 am
#75
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DHA
Programs: AA EXP/2MM+ Miles/OW Emerald; DL Lifetime Silver/1MM+ Miles; Hilton; Marriott; IHG
Posts: 72
They'll do this at either Flagship checkin or if for some reason you decide to proceed to the counters inside. For the latter whether you are checking bags or not it's done by the AA gatekeeper at the head of the Priority/Biz/First entry point. If not checking anything you just go topside to FastTrack after that. I don't know if this is still done in the lounge or not since I almost always go to tGalleries or until recently the CX lounges. In any case, yes the questions are more intrusive but I don't see any data retention issues here. These screeners probably have a script and a daily print out to deal with hot-button phrases. No indication your answers are recorded/retained. None of them seemed concerned - or impressed when asked, I told them where I worked. Which was also the case the few times I've had TSA secondary back home.