headhunterke

Except for El Al security stationed around Europe you mean ;D
Man, these guys are really on the border of schizophrenia. I know we should make fun of security issues, but before check-in opens, they even check coffee cups that are lying around for 'suspicion'

Thumper

Isn't it great the lengths they are willing to go to secure your safety?

And none of it involves strip searching 87 year old Swedish Nuns to ensure
no accusations of screening.

As noted, allot of the visible security is centered around actually talkingto a person and seeing how they respond. You should look into the IBM work in this area. It is truly enlightening.

headhunterke

I know, and I truly appreciate the job they are doing. They do the visible threads and person checks, but I think strip searches shouldn't be banned. Even not on elderly persons. Often people with small kids (or indeed the elderly are being searched less. Recently, there's an increased number of smugglers using elderly or babies to do the job. If these guys are doing it, it's a matter of time before something more severe happens.
But then again, this is a completely other issue which will always divide flyers in 2 groups: those who are pro and the cons. Nothing will change that and once we get going about it, it gets an endless discussion with eachone pointing out their own arguments a number of times before someone gets tired of trying to get their right.

keisari

Just because you are schizophrenic and paranoid does not mean they are not out there waiting to get you.........
I know sometimes Israeli security may seem paranoid but the stakes are very high. I grew up in that environment and can sympathize with what they go through.

headhunterke

Don't you get me going on security pal. I am probably one of those that are willing to sacrifice a whole lot in the sake of security. So don't convince me 'they are out there'. I KNOW! The thing I was pointing out is that the rest of the world isn't used to this severe prodcedures.
So next time, read my other posts carefully and you might spot a hint I'm all pro security.

DavenM

This is the worst airport experience I've ever had in my life. Most people who have had the misfortune of setting foot in this airport will say the same. [redacted] Even before you arrive at the airport there is a check point with machine gun wielding solders who, depending on what type of vehicle you are in, or who your taxi driver is, will order you out of the car, take your bags, search them at gun point and the vehicle. This is before you enter the airport. Then again your bags will be x rayed & re x rayed. Then opened up, rummaged through. If you are lucky, thats it & you get to run to your gate. If not, a soldier will take you to a room where you get to have the IDF strip search you. Then run to your gate....Good luck with that trip buddy.

worldiswide

We just returned from Africa with short stops in tlv on the way in and out. Except for a few additional questions from security on our routing from us to tlv to jnb the airport experience was hassle free. We returned our Eldan rental car in terminal 3. They had a printout of exact instructions and a card to get you into T 3 lot that worked perfectly and cut a lot of time out of the return in T1. I much prefer the airport experience in tlv to any US airport. LHR connection on the way home required removal of all covers including neoprene for iPads iPhones and kindles just to slow down the already excruciating process of intra terminal security. I've always feared the staff who do the security at LHR and wonder what kind of clearance has been performed . Id rather be in tlv anytime.

Thumper

It is curious that no other poster had the same experience you did.

I can think of dozens of airports world wide that have soldiers who are there to protect passengers. I know I am greatful for them.

Calling Jews <redacted> tells the reader more about the poster than the the people being described.

I am gratified that numerous posts, including one immediately after yours decribe more accurately the experience of traveling through Ben Gurion Airport.

No soldier nor security agent will "take your bags out of your car". If for no other reason than they might be boobytrapped. And of course there are no X Ray machines at the entrance gate. From there it is hard to lend credence to anything else you have written. For example, there are no uniformed members of the IDF in the airport, it is all airport security, so again, your spewing reveals allot more about you than it does about any experience you might have had, real or perceived.

One can only imagine what really happened, or if you ever actually were in TLV airport ever in your life.

paulwuk

How many times have you been through to be able to judge this? I've had palestinian taxi drivers take me to the airport (in an israeli car) with no problems.

I haven't had a good rummaging for a few years, last time I had enhanced questioning, but most of the time I breeze through.

Delhi, on the other hand, had 2 searches of all my luggage before checkin, and two searches of my hand luggage after checkin.

Did you get strip searched? Or is this guesswork. When they take people to the back rooms it's not necessarily for a strip search.

If you had as much security as you did, I suspect you were being difficult with the answers at the first questioning ("I don't have to say where I've been" etc), or you drew the short straw as a training exercise as it was quiet and you had a lot of time.

tharris

Thumper. thanks for a great reply to DavenM's post. It sounds to me like he was either a very difficult passenger (one that any airport would give additional screening) or, more likely, never there.

I travel through TLV several times each year. The last experience, which was a few weeks ago, was again quick and efficient. My (Arab) cab driver and I were waved right through and I love that I don't have to remove my shoes.

In contrast, my connection at JFK was terrible. Poorly or totally unmarked areas that made it very difficult to find my connecting gate (eventually there were five of us in a little band trying to find it) and conflicting information from every airport employee we asked. TLV requires a long hike, but it is very clearly marked. When I got to the security check I found I had the dreaded "SSSS", meaning additional screening. The lone boarding pass screener kept calling for a supervisor, but none came, so the line behind me got longer and angrier. After several minutes, I was taken for the additional screening. I was surprised and dismayed to see when I was unpacking that night that, when switching some carry-on with some checked luggage (basically trying to avoid carrying the pounds of chocolate bought from the TLV duty-free), I had moved a knife (Leatherman-type) to my carry-on bag. The "additional screening" at JFK missed it. I am MUCH more comfortable with TLV's screening and entire security procedures.

It does take some time to get through the airport, especially during the periods with many planes leaving (midnight is busy), but it is not unpleasant.

worldiswide

We also travel through TLV several times a year and do not find the airport experience unpleasant at all especially compared to any US airport. Keep your shoes on, and i can take my water yogurt or peanut butter on theplane and they are not remotely concerned with whether mascara or lipstick are liquids or asking me to remove a caraberner from my backpack that has traveled with me for over 10 years. TLV gets a bad rap on security procedures. For most travelers it is a non issue.

tharris

No water, at least when headed to the US. Even beverages purchased after security are disallowed. There are no scanners, just people who manually check bags.

paulwuk

Policy of a crazy country (the u.s)

paulwuk

Well f you do go to countries like Syria and Saudi....

Always goo to keep one passport dedicated to USA/Israel ad the other for normal countries like Indonesia Pakistan Syria etc.

dls25

I am actually in Israel right now. The TLV apologists can say all they want but alot of it has to do with what you look like.

I am a generic brown, potentially muslim-looking person and I am actually dreading checking-in for my return flight to the US. I had no issues with immigration but I had hell with TLV airport security just for a domestic flight to ETH.

I was searched and questioned just riding in a taxi into the airport, then I was searched a questioned again at the door of the terminal. At the normal pre-checkin security check, I had my luggage taken apart, all my electronics tested, and then I was taken to a private room so I could open up my pants so they could swab the INSIDE of my underwear and wand me. After they were satisfied, the took me through a side door and escorted me directly on to the plane. While the agents were not rude, the entire process was extremely humiliating.

I am an ordained minister but I do not plan ever returning to Israel after this trip. I will go somewhere where my generic brown, potentially muslim-looking dollars are really appreciated.