Yesterday, SJO to ATL, every passenger was subjected to wanding and hand luggage inspection on the jetway as we were boarding.

Also, I observed the airport police wanding all the baggage handlers on the tarmac before they were allowed to approach the plane.

Tight as I have ever seen it. Not just for USA flights either, as I saw the same thing done to an AM flight.

Further proof that TSA doesn't trust their own employees and procedures to keep the 'sterile' area sterile?

SJO = San Jose, Costa Rica.

Ahhh... Rookie mistake... I was thinking US, obviously... My reading comprehension skills are a little weak today.

I've had em do this before a few years ago. Seems to be to show the Americans how security conscious they are.

Right. It is San Jose, Costa Rica. Why they have searches the carryon bag at boarding jetway? There is no such thing to put into the secondary screening. Because those passengers who had it right to get through at main checkpoint. They already being search before. They don't have to search the bag again.

I use SJO (as well as LIR) a number of times each year and in my experience, gate security is rather laid back. Usually depart on DL or AA to ATL or MIA respectively.

Typically they'll put the tables up and do the show, but I've never seen it as strict or tight as you describe.

SDF

Actually, I see this often in foreign airports. I got caught up in one instance a few months ago where I just made the flight, and was stopped on the Jetway. I'm waiting for them as they're ripping apart my Computer Case, while the FA is yelling "hurry! hurry!".

I commonly see the same at foreign airports, notably in European airports for US flights. However, I've experienced the gate checks in Asia, Australia, and the Middle East on flights to the US.

Aside from Europe, I've seen it most strict at airports like DXB for non-stop travel to the US.

However, some airports are more laid back, in my experience; SJO is typically more laid back. Often no shoes off at security checkpoint and no laptop out. The gate security is more of a show to confiscate liquids, as liquids purchased airside cannot be brought on-board.

The air conditioning doesn't always work the best at SJO, and like others, I find myself purchasing overpriced drinks inside the terminal and chugging them prior to boarding.

LIR, which is the secondary Intl airport in Costa Rica, is the same way. Primary security is laid back, no laptop out. Security at gate is mainly a show and to intercept liquids purchased airside where there is no a/c in the old terminal.

The old terminal at LIR is outdoors, but there is a brand-new, indoors, air conditioned terminal known as "New Liberia Airport" - I don't think it has officially opened yet (I've seen recent pictures and they look good), but if it hasn't opened yet, it will soon.

I hope to use the new terminal next time I fly into LIR.

The construction was going at a rapid pace at LIR on my visits earlier in the year. ETA: Opening date appears to be November 3.

SDF

And I see this virtually never, perhaps a few times per year. Even then it is certainly not every passenger as OP stated it was.

I fly weekly around/to/from Europe, Asia, and North America.

It may have been more common in past on US carriers flying to the US but in the past year it has been uncommon on my flights from FRA, MUC and LHR to the US.