US check-in agents bend the passport--how to deal with it?
#63
Join Date: Nov 2004
Programs: BA GGL, LH FTL
Posts: 3,577
Not really random and stupid questions, I call those the dumb criminal questions. They ask questions like that to catch people in lies. If you've come to a foreign country to work or do something illegal and you tell them you're visiting as a tourist they're counting on you not having a list of things you did while you were visiting. It's not small talk, it's one layer of security.
#64
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 410
Isreal has notoriously high quality airport security. I don't think it's any coincidence they chose a charming female security officer to ask those questions. They want to catch people off guard and keep defenses low so they slip up.
#65
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,647
On my last passport I printed a 3cm x 2cm label, "DO NOT STICK BAGGAGE TAGS HERE" and stuck it on the back which stopped most of the staff although amazingly some still stuck the baggage tag on (almost directly over the label!!!!!). Happily things seem to have moved on and there doesn't seem any need for the label anymore.
Those small "document ok" stickers seem to have been replaced by a more automated approach too, so good riddance to those.
Those small "document ok" stickers seem to have been replaced by a more automated approach too, so good riddance to those.