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.

My sincere apologies for the passionate nature of my response, but I am none none too fond of the greedy, corrupt, filthy, racist and religiously bigoted pigs who are ICTS, and your experience reminded me of my own battle against these diseased tosspots.

The type of thing you describe has been standard practice for at least the last 20 years for ICTS. Your experience is certainly not out of the ordinary, especially if you do not fit the demographic this company is most comfortable with. And BTW, these filthy ICTS pigs are paid for by the airlines, and therefore by you and I, not the UK government.

Actually, what really causes a melt down for them is something that I routinely do, and pay the price for... Namely, boarding a flight in the Middle East or South Asia, arriving at LGW or LHR, going home to have breakfast, a shower, saying hello to parents, etc, then returning to the airport a few hours later for my flight home to the US. Upon returning to the airport, it is necessary to have a LHR/LGW issued BP to get through the security checkpoint. When ICTS realize that you have left the airport (they see an onward boarding pass issued in KHI or DXB or wherever), they tend to freak out. I've been accused by these greedy, disgusting creatures of being a terrorist, of testing the system and illegally leaving the airside portion of the airport by going to my own home IN MY OWN COUNTRY for three hours!

Of course, if you know the history of ICTS, it's ownership, the corruption, the incompetence, it's links to international state terror and it's links to individuals that have gotten away with spying on the US, you will learn exactly what sort of filth you are dealing with and why this company and it's scum leadership needs to be eliminated by any means necessary. These are nasty, nasty people.

It's an airline thing and has nothing to do with perceived high taxes.

It seems UA is your problem. Have you discussed it with them?

Isn't this behaviour TSA mandated for all flights to the US?

I think this is reasonable -- airline security needs to be sure that you do not have plans to travel back in time, re-board the aircraft and this time, blow it up on approach to LHR. (And don't say this cannot be done, it is every bit as feasible as making a bomb out of a liter bottle of evian).

Has anyone ever ignored one these dingbats or told them to pi$$ off or it's none of their business? What is the repercussion, and who is the escalation point - the airline GSC?

Hi,

On UK airlines lights at least ( BA/VS) there is no person asking questions prior to check in. ( On BA the first person to ask for your passport will be the check in agent)

At the gate there will be a couple of contractors for the airline checking your passport and occasionally asking a question ie how long will you be in the us.

The US airlines check prior to check in is more visibly obvious.

Regards

TBS

Having flown US from LGW this summer, i can assure you that this goes on elsewhere too....

at LGW they have staff with portable machines to scan your passport, make sure you have an esta/visa/green card etc., ask the ins and outs of your travel plans and then put a little sticker on your passport to show you have been 'security scanned' before you can reach check in

Same for intra-Europe. I have flown to the US from LHR from T1 but didn't have any of the 'extra' security others have reported, other than passing through the security counter at the far end of the *A gates in T1.

From FRA to US I have have an 'extra' checker prior to check in ensuring that everyone had the correct visa etc.

Can you use OLCI to bypass these nitwits?

A very good question. I suspect the answer is no, because they put a "Security ICTS" sticker on the back of my passport. I assume in some strange way, it is important to have this sticker in order to leave the U.K. BTW does someone know what "ICTS" stands for?

International Consultants on Targeted Security

http://www.icts-int.com/

Sorry -

In my last 2 times thru FRA, they did the same thing at the check-in line. An endless stream of questions -- that I answered very slowly.

s

LOL

@:-) Oh, wait, they're really called that.

Seriously, that name is so silly I thought you had made it up.

Last time I flew out of LHR, I was able to OLCI, and could have bypassed the counter, but I had to check a bag..

I am looking at doing a quick turn to LHR, leaving the US on Friday, spending Saturday night in London, and returning to the US on Sunday. I wonder if I will be considered a potential terrorist..

I would be interested in the results of ignoring these guys, and demanding to see the UA GSC.. Perhaps for a pax such as a GS or 1K, they might be able to help..