Security Aggravations at LHR
Sep 27, 2010 | 4:06 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: United
Posts: 2,710
This is all very interesting to me. I had a time where I was flying from Doha, Qatar to Tucson, Arizona and the ticket agent didn't check my bags through. So I had to clear immigration and customs in LHR. When I was asked how long I planned to stay in London I looked at my watch and told them "About two hours." They waived me through without any other questions.
Sep 27, 2010 | 4:36 am
#17
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 48
I'm not sure what there is to complain about with security at LHR. Its fairly standard practice, and obviously serves a purpose.
For comparision, travel through Tel Aviv airport and their security set up. 'Mind-blowing' might be one way to describe it. And yet to my mind they've never had a major incident?
For comparision, travel through Tel Aviv airport and their security set up. 'Mind-blowing' might be one way to describe it. And yet to my mind they've never had a major incident?
Sep 27, 2010 | 2:17 pm
#18
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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I'm not sure what there is to complain about with security at LHR. Its fairly standard practice, and obviously serves a purpose.
For comparision, travel through Tel Aviv airport and their security set up. 'Mind-blowing' might be one way to describe it. And yet to my mind they've never had a major incident?
For comparision, travel through Tel Aviv airport and their security set up. 'Mind-blowing' might be one way to describe it. And yet to my mind they've never had a major incident?
Sep 27, 2010 | 3:00 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2000
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Sep 27, 2010 | 9:07 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SLC or DUB
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Back in the day when NW still operated DUS-DTW, I was connecting from AMS-DUS-DTW.
Once I arrived in DUS, the flight was just about to begin boarding when myself and a few other pax were called up to the desk. Turns out none of us have the precious stamp on the back of our passport since we did not check-in at DUS. So after answering where my bags have been, did I pack them myself, did anyone else have access, bla, bla, bla, I got my nice little sticker, only I think they use a different company in DUS. Stupid and pointless either way.
Once I arrived in DUS, the flight was just about to begin boarding when myself and a few other pax were called up to the desk. Turns out none of us have the precious stamp on the back of our passport since we did not check-in at DUS. So after answering where my bags have been, did I pack them myself, did anyone else have access, bla, bla, bla, I got my nice little sticker, only I think they use a different company in DUS. Stupid and pointless either way.
Sep 27, 2010 | 10:03 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
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Posts: 1,615
In the mid '90s sometime I had one of these folks question me about my travel to Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic because "they used not to be our friends" or some such.
Sep 27, 2010 | 11:03 pm
#22
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BTW-- In FRA, I have never encountered one of those contractors for US-bound flights when coming from the FCT or the FCL/B and being driven to the plane; I wonder how that works . . . do they still have these folks at the gate for LH flights to the USA in FRA or are they gone?
Sep 28, 2010 | 2:49 am
#23
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No. My recent flights to the US on BA and CO did not have this extra enhancement.Not sure. I used OLCI with BA and had no nitwit, but I didn't have any nitwit when I used BA airport check-in either, so I'd still say it was an airline thing in the OP's case.
Sep 28, 2010 | 3:52 am
#24
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I went to the UA checkin counter today at LHR T1 for a flight to the USA, but before you can reach the counter there is a security officer checking your passport and apparently your story. He asked me how long I'd stayed in London and I said one day. This it seems flags you as a potential terrorist in the U.K. I had arrived from BUD the previous day and decided to overnight in London. This explanation did not seem to satisfy the officer who demanded I produce proof of my hotel stays in BUD. His supervisor came over and agreed. I have never been asked to produce proof of prior hotel stays before. I said I had email print outs of my hotel stays in BUD, but they were at the bottom of my luggage and I would need to empty my bag to access these records. The officer then insisted I do this, which mean spreading all my clothes and travel purchases out on the floor in front of the UA check in area. After I did this and showed him my hotel confirmations for the previous few days, he seems content, and I was allowed to proceed to the UA check in desk.
I imagine these ubiquitous and aggravating security agents are paid by the airport or the U.K. government, rather than UA. I think they are out of control. No wonder taxes are so high for U.K. airports. What Heathrow needs is more staff manning the luggage X-ray posts, and fewer standing around demanding proof of my prior hotel stays. When I went through flight connections T1->T3 a week and a half ago, there was a 3/4 hour wait for luggage screening at Flight Connections, due to inadequate staffing at 8 am.
I really think, for UA pax, it is better to transit through FRA and avoid LHR, and I plan to do this.
I imagine these ubiquitous and aggravating security agents are paid by the airport or the U.K. government, rather than UA. I think they are out of control. No wonder taxes are so high for U.K. airports. What Heathrow needs is more staff manning the luggage X-ray posts, and fewer standing around demanding proof of my prior hotel stays. When I went through flight connections T1->T3 a week and a half ago, there was a 3/4 hour wait for luggage screening at Flight Connections, due to inadequate staffing at 8 am.
I really think, for UA pax, it is better to transit through FRA and avoid LHR, and I plan to do this.
You should have seen the brouhaha when I once told the CO security that my phone charger was not mine, but property of HM (who was my ultimate employer). I honestly thought I was not going to be allowed to board the flight with the property of a friendly government in my hand luggage!
Sadly or happily, they didn't make the connection if the phone charger was not my own, then neither was the phone it charged... and having seen the reaction to an innocent phone charger, owned by Her Majesty, I was not about to see their heads explode about my phone!
Sep 28, 2010 | 4:10 am
#25
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Sep 28, 2010 | 5:24 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: London - UK
Posts: 56
You should have seen the brouhaha when I once told the CO security that my phone charger was not mine, but property of HM (who was my ultimate employer). I honestly thought I was not going to be allowed to board the flight with the property of a friendly government in my hand luggage!
Sadly or happily, they didn't make the connection if the phone charger was not my own, then neither was the phone it charged... and having seen the reaction to an innocent phone charger, owned by Her Majesty, I was not about to see their heads explode about my phone!
Sep 28, 2010 | 5:26 am
#27
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 16,064
Sep 28, 2010 | 7:22 am
#28
Join Date: Nov 2002
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Posts: 9,583
Unfortunately we're already booked for two flights out of LHR in 2011.
As to demanding proof of hotel stays, we've never experienced that one anywhere and we just made a similar connection out of ZRH after visiting elsewhere - something to look forward to?
Sep 28, 2010 | 8:15 am
#29
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 18,093
I make about six trips to London a year, and this is the first and only time this has happened to me (last year).
I was going through Immigration and after answering the usual questions I was asked to show my return ticket. Return ticket? Who has those now? I explained that it was an electronic ticket so I have no physical ticket. He then asked if I had any proof that I had a return ticket. Not used to printing any kind of receipt or itinerary, I told him that I do not. He then intimated that he could refuse me entry (intimated, as it wasn't a "threat").
I explained to him that I was not a student or homeless person, but a middle-aged businessman who had no intention of permanently staying in the UK.
After a little more back-and-forth, he "allowed" me to enter.
I now take a copy of my itinerary and receipt with me when I travel overseas.
As to the hotel question, I know I was asked for a receipt leaving a non-US airport once, but I can't remember where that was. I don't think it was LHR, but it may have been a European one.
I was going through Immigration and after answering the usual questions I was asked to show my return ticket. Return ticket? Who has those now? I explained that it was an electronic ticket so I have no physical ticket. He then asked if I had any proof that I had a return ticket. Not used to printing any kind of receipt or itinerary, I told him that I do not. He then intimated that he could refuse me entry (intimated, as it wasn't a "threat").
I explained to him that I was not a student or homeless person, but a middle-aged businessman who had no intention of permanently staying in the UK.
After a little more back-and-forth, he "allowed" me to enter.
I now take a copy of my itinerary and receipt with me when I travel overseas.
As to the hotel question, I know I was asked for a receipt leaving a non-US airport once, but I can't remember where that was. I don't think it was LHR, but it may have been a European one.