Overseas Security for U.S. bound flights
 

I know somewhere is a thread where we posted about extra security measures for U.S. bound flights from HKG, but I can't find it anymore. In any case, I flew Asiana out of ICN to LAX a couple of days ago. Right in front of the jetbridge doors were five tables set up and staffed each with two or three security people, who checked each passengers' carry-ons and personal belongings before allowing access to the plane. They manually go through everything. Granted, they were quite polite but I find myself getting more and more aggravated by all this theatre. I am too old to subject myself to this over and over again with really no prospect of any improvements and am therefor seriously considering getting out of this flying business and let everyone else have fun at it. Leaving for MAD tomorrow, let's see what happens next.

It's indeed frustrating. :( Our experience has been similar on US-bound flights from quite a variety of countries, most recently flying DEL-EWR.

I find it intriguing whenever I go through the initial security checkpoint at ICN that I am always asked my destination. If I respond with somewhere in the USA, I am made to remove my shoes and am subjected to further searching. If I respond with a destination elsewhere, I get to leave my shoes on. Not once is my BP checked. I still get my water bottles confiscated at the gate, however.

We had a different experience at ICN arriving from BKK and transiting to LAX. We were never asked about our destination at the transit check but needed to take off shoes, belt, jacket etc., indeed just like in the U.S. Laptops needed to be taken out. Only difference was there was no cancer machine, but thank heaven only a WTMD. Had to dispose of a bottle of water though before clearing security. Hours later during the boarding process I noticed that passengers had their bottles of water confiscated at the gate check:mad:

Most if not all of our experiences involve two levels of security: first, the standard security everyone goes through, whether at an entry gate or at a transit gate (e.g. NRT), which is followed by tighter U.S.-mandated security as part of the boarding process at the gate.

Our recent experience with gate security at DEL (CO DEL-EWR) involved everything out, including all electronics, belts and shoes off, and a fairly invasive rub-down, although much more efficient and quick than that of the TSA. This was in addition to the fairly thorough wanding search as we entered security, and for that matter the two wanding searches we'd already undergone to take two metro trains from our hotel to the airport.

IST is the same way for DL flights back to the US.

I would guess that they are supposed to check the BP for destination but don't bother under the theory that not many people would like to government officials given the risks in some countries of doing so, in order to avoid taking off their shoes for 30 seconds.

When I flew from ICN to SFO on UA, they did not ask the destination at security. Everyone was taking their shoes off and putting on slippers. I did not think that using these slippers was more sanitary than just walking with your shoes off (like in the US). I was very surprised by this. They then had some sort of bag check at the gate which was really quick.

Over the past few years, my US bound flights have departed from NRT, MEL, SYD, HKG and LHR.

At HKG (CX flight), there were tables set up at the entrance to the gate area where they were checking all bags. I had a bottle of water from the lounge which I had planned to drink on the plane. They wouldn't let me through with the bottle, drank it there.
At SYD (QF), they had random bag checks with security guards grabbing people as one of the three tables became free.
At MEL (QF), LHR (BA/AA) and NRT (AA), I don't recall anything additional at the gate and only the normal screening for that port at the main checkpoint.

The basis of the problem is in the US, and the solution will not come from Hong Kong or Korea or Japan or anywhere else. It will persist until American people demand 'real' change from within America. Currently the pragmatist in me says fight it, but learn to live with it for the immediate future because it's not changing any time soon as far as I can tell.

^

My personal solution is easy - I won't travel to the US, nor do I fly on any US owned airlines. I guess it's not that simple for some people, but it works for me.

^

Part of the problem however is the American public, including some FTers, who have been so conditioned by TSA that they no longer think for themselves.

I did my own little survey these past few months in my part of the world, because I am often confused how I can have a very different experience at the same airport, for the same flight, as some FTers.

Well, I found out why. At an airport where it has been confirmed over and over to me by various people that shoes do NOT need to be removed as a matter of course, Americans were removing their shoes. Not only that, they were ordering other passengers to do so, even when security told them it wasn't required.

This happens regularly at FRA and at LHR, and in this case it was CDG. Many times we see people here insist that shoe removal is required at these airports for US bound flights on US carriers, but it simply isn't the case.

People are making up their own rules, based on what occurs in the US, and then claiming it is the rule elsewhere. I realise that isn't the case every time, but I certainly witness it happening. And last week I saw it again, and again asked and was told that I was right, and everyone else was doing something they did not need to do.

+1 to the above.......avoid travel through US, and avoid travel on US airlines.

Even though the ticket price was cheaper on a US airline, I still chose to fly on a EU airline straight out of Canada. There is no way I would subject myself to such ridiculousness when traveling for visiting family.

Sorry US airlines, you not getting my money (and probably a lot of other people do the same)......

The US-bound theater in HKG is one of the most entertaining. I wasn't paying attention on one flight back to the US. I had a coke in my hand (was drinking it) and four more 20-oz'ers in my carry on. The table jockeys were so excited about the coke in my hand (they joined ranks before calling a supervisor over), that they didn't even look inside my carry on. They did make sure I totally understood the need to throw out the one I was drinking.

At least I felt pretty secure that the stupidity wasn't contagious.

It's a shame that my fellow americans are so easily conditioned by the government.

It's a lot easier for me to do this, travelling from Australia, than for you from Canada, good for your for putting your money where your mouth is.

I'm spoilt with an abundance of Asian airlines that can take me to anywhere I want to go, my next long haul is on Malaysia Airlines, which is pretty much my favourite. The US used to get a fair portion of my holiday dollars, but the last few of years it's been France (primarily), and places like Bali, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand. I'm pretty much cured of the desire to return to the US - I used to enjoy regular little trips to Hawaii but I doubt I'll return there, even if the US does some day return to its senses.
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