Pat downs @EZE for US-bound passengers
 

Pat downs for passengers flying to the US have now been implemented after the WTMD screening points. Shoes off is standard for everyone.

They obviously don't think much of the normal EZE security check.

Shoes off for everyone was effective no later than mid-October. And at that time, US-bound passengers were getting extra WTMD attention. I've been asked a few times regarding my destination, which fortunately from EZE hasn't frequently been the USA.

Shoes off has been in force for all pax since October both at EZE and AEP.

Since October? I was in EZE in Nov and I didn't have to remove my shoes at all (AA908).

I had to take my shoes off on October 20 when departing for the US, and again last week (as did everybody going through the WTMD on both occasions).

Is it right after the WTMD, or at the gate when they do the liquids check? If right after the WTMD, why limit it to US-bound? You later become commingled with non-US bound passengers.

Are they still hand searching carry on bags at the gate for most USA bound passengers, at least on USA carriers?

Not for most. For some.

UA was searching bags at the gate last week (but no pat-downs or shoe searching).

All bags or just some?

All, but it was (as usual) very cursory.

Would be interesting to know if these extra security checks are taking place everywhere or just at certain airports...any idea?

It's seemed to be most on my flights from EZE, but I obviously didn't stand there and count.

Flights to the USA from SCL and LIM have gate checks. Security checkpoint (SCL) once took my water bottle when asking where I was traveling.

Note that SCL and EZE don't have general liquid bans through the checkpoints, and LIM doesn't through the transit checkpoint, but does through the main checkpoint.

They are taking place at most airports beyond the US for US-bound flights on US carriers. That extra screening demand by the US is applicable to most EU/EEA airports served by US carriers; the extra security checks are not unique to Argentina.

I can't remember last time I had to remove shoes at EZE, and my last departure was November 24 on the AA954 to JFK. The one before that was probably two months earlier. Also no special handling of hand baggage at security, but there has generally been someone taking a peak into some of the bags at boarding.

Not that it matters to anyone at EZE (in terms of how security gets handled) but my boarding passes with AA always show the Precheck thing, so it would indeed be normal inside the USA for me not to have to remove shoes, electronics, etc.