Jan 20, 2015, 5:28 am
Last edit by: hillrider
LHR charges for the cost of this screening to the passengers. For example, if you transited LHR on a round-trip in economy class from the US, you paid GBP 54.39 (USD 83.10) for this (on the ticket under tax/fee "UB").
EU Regulations state that "transfer passengers and their cabin baggage may be exempted from screening, if: (a) they arrive from a Member State [...] or (b) they arrive from a third country where the security standards applied are recognised as equivalent to the common basic standards [...] [E.g. the USA]"
SECURITY CONTROL both ways:
NO SECURITY CONTROL either way (Schengen to USA or v.v.):
NO SECURITY CONTROL from Schengen to USA (control on the way back from USA to Schengen):
EU Regulations state that "transfer passengers and their cabin baggage may be exempted from screening, if: (a) they arrive from a Member State [...] or (b) they arrive from a third country where the security standards applied are recognised as equivalent to the common basic standards [...] [E.g. the USA]"
Security control when connecting between USA and Schengen flights (European airports competing for LHR traffic)
SECURITY CONTROL both ways:
- LHR
NO SECURITY CONTROL either way (Schengen to USA or v.v.):
- FRA (A/Z-gates only) [Lufthansa hub]
- MUC [Lufthansa hub]
- AMS (from mid 2015 when reconstruction works finish) [KLM hub]
- HEL
- ZRH [SWISS hub]
- CPH
NO SECURITY CONTROL from Schengen to USA (control on the way back from USA to Schengen):
- VIE
- WAW
- ARN
- OSL
T5 security is a total disaster! [inc Fast Track issues]
Dec 15, 2014, 6:27 am
#796
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, CX Gold (OW Sapphire), Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Accor Platinum
Posts: 1,476
Happily located in the breakfast area of T5 GF (well, as happy as possible at this time of the morning).. Arrived at 5.50am, didn't like the look of the tensabarriers outside south security, but pressed on through Fast Track and found.... no queue.... The new area was working well and I must have been through in 5 minutes or even less. Was quite concerned having read this thread 
The big issue I had is the scanners - was wearing exactly the same suit, cufflinks and shoes as last week (pockets empty, similar shirt - but no metal) and this week the scanner went off and I got the full pat down. Bit of a joke all in all.
Dec 15, 2014, 6:36 am
#798
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
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Dec 15, 2014, 6:45 am
#800
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL (for now) and Lifetime Gold, Marriott fan thanks to Bonvoy Moments
Posts: 5,115
A - % chance you've left something metallic on your person (let's assume 100% detection for simplicity
)B - % chance of being randomly selected by scanner (assuming it only randomises those that don't trigger it)
C - % chance you've left something prohibited in your bag
D - % chance something in your bag looks suspicious
E - % chance your bag just gets randomly selected
Chances of getting through scanner unmolested: (1-A) x (1-B) = G
Chances of bag getting through w/o secondary screening: (1-C) x (1-D) x (1-E) = H
As G and H are independent (ignoring likelihood that someone silly enough to wear watch through archway is probably the sort of person who doesn't remove liquids etc...) that gives G x H as the overall probability of an easy security experience
Filling in some randomish numbers:
A - I'm very well behaved, call it 3%
B - call it 10%
So G is 87.3% (97% x 90%)
C - let's say 8% (sometimes there's a stray item)
D - these days seems to run at 20%
E - let's say 10%
So H is 92% x 80% x 90%, or 66.2%
So G x H is about 58%, not very comforting...
Dec 15, 2014, 6:50 am
#801
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
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Posts: 32,145
Despite being "clean", I have frequently been subjected to extra screening by the nice people at Premium Gatwick. Conversation usually goes something like "I assume that's just a random ping?" "Yes, Sir, we have no control over when it does that."
Dec 15, 2014, 6:52 am
#802
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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In PRG they just say "do you have any metal on you?" if you say no they just ask you to go through again "but try walking a bit faster".
Dec 15, 2014, 7:06 am
#803
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
Dec 15, 2014, 12:11 pm
#804
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 34
I do wonder if they've adopted a similar policy for the x-ray scanners too. So you're then faced with the below likelihood of delays
A - % chance you've left something metallic on your person (let's assume 100% detection for simplicity)
B - % chance of being randomly selected by scanner (assuming it only randomises those that don't trigger it)
C - % chance you've left something prohibited in your bag
D - % chance something in your bag looks suspicious
E - % chance your bag just gets randomly selected
Chances of getting through scanner unmolested: (1-A) x (1-B) = G
Chances of bag getting through w/o secondary screening: (1-C) x (1-D) x (1-E) = H
As G and H are independent (ignoring likelihood that someone silly enough to wear watch through archway is probably the sort of person who doesn't remove liquids etc...) that gives G x H as the overall probability of an easy security experience
Filling in some randomish numbers:
A - I'm very well behaved, call it 3%
B - call it 10%
So G is 87.3% (97% x 90%)
C - let's say 8% (sometimes there's a stray item)
D - these days seems to run at 20%
E - let's say 10%
So H is 92% x 80% x 90%, or 66.2%
So G x H is about 58%, not very comforting...
A - % chance you've left something metallic on your person (let's assume 100% detection for simplicity
)B - % chance of being randomly selected by scanner (assuming it only randomises those that don't trigger it)
C - % chance you've left something prohibited in your bag
D - % chance something in your bag looks suspicious
E - % chance your bag just gets randomly selected
Chances of getting through scanner unmolested: (1-A) x (1-B) = G
Chances of bag getting through w/o secondary screening: (1-C) x (1-D) x (1-E) = H
As G and H are independent (ignoring likelihood that someone silly enough to wear watch through archway is probably the sort of person who doesn't remove liquids etc...) that gives G x H as the overall probability of an easy security experience
Filling in some randomish numbers:
A - I'm very well behaved, call it 3%
B - call it 10%
So G is 87.3% (97% x 90%)
C - let's say 8% (sometimes there's a stray item)
D - these days seems to run at 20%
E - let's say 10%
So H is 92% x 80% x 90%, or 66.2%
So G x H is about 58%, not very comforting...
You've overestimated the size of G and underestimated H.
Can't go into details in public but A and B are both higher in general population.
C + D (as they are same net result to you and the operation) is slightly high, depends on how many trays you have anyway. Eg: 10% of trays could get rejected but most pax have 2 so value of C+D would be 19%
E is a ratio of the population (1-C)*(1-D) not of whole population.
Would also question that G and H are independent, I also would say that chances of passenger's 2nd tray being compliant if first wasn't are lower.
Regardless, the values of A, C+D and E vary a lot depending on time of day, day of week and time of year!
Dec 15, 2014, 1:31 pm
#805
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 995
Dec 15, 2014, 1:38 pm
#806
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,145
We strip watches, my money clip, and everything that could make the machine go 'ping'. They all have their places in our carryons at screening.
I'm glad I didn't buy iWife a lot of jewellery ... we got stuck behind an African lady at IAD who must have been wearing 1kg of metal
I'm glad I didn't buy iWife a lot of jewellery ... we got stuck behind an African lady at IAD who must have been wearing 1kg of metal
Dec 15, 2014, 2:24 pm
#808
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Pasadena, CA
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Posts: 651
Dec 15, 2014, 2:31 pm
#809
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wassenaar, NL
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 709
I actually DID think about walking via the tunnels but not until I got to the train platform and then I didn't have a clue where to go to find the secret entrance
I really do want to have a go at walking but I'm nervous I'll end up in some maintenance boiler room or something and then get arrested for trespass.
Perhaps we could have a "tunnel meet up" thread - a bit like the lounge meet up one but with kind souls offering the tunnel virgins a guided tour before departure?
Meanwhile, back at security screening - I never ever remove my jewellery at any airport. Bangle, bracelet, watch, necklace, 2 rings and earrings. All stay on and I haven't "pinged" for ages. I wear underwired bras and they don't trip the sensors either.
I still believe it is entirely random screening when the machine pings and that the metal detectors aren't that sensitive. Have been selected for secondary bag screening just one all year.
Go me!
Dec 15, 2014, 2:38 pm
#810
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007