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Originally Posted by drewguy
(Post 35835467)
Ha - I once did that in FRA, and the German security people seemed to relish giving me even more baggage screening.
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Originally Posted by thebakaronis
(Post 35835439)
If it helps put things in perspective, lots of people, especially those of color and those with other (less valued) passports, routinely face much worse treatment at borders. I've had many far worse run-ins, particularly at FRA (although it has happened at other European airports too) for decades, including being singled out for questioning on the aerobridge when getting off planes from business class exits, being sent for secondary questioning, being asked to prove that I had legitimate business at my point of origin and my destination. And when I protested, unlike you, I was sent for additional, time-wasting checks. I've sent many angry letters to their immigration control managers for what is clearly racial profiling (of course nothing ever came of them). For years I hated the idea of ever entering Germany. It was one of the last European countries I visited, and thankfully the general populace in Germany is far better than their airport officials. A change of passport & age have made things a lot better for me, but I still see lots of people at various airports being treated with utter disrespect.
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Whereever there is a special section of the terminal for US bound flights, especially UA, there tend to be higher likelihood for invasive questioning, BRU for example (UA has its own gates at the end of B gates). Flying non-US airlines you are much less likely to get interrogated.
I like flying out of the Nordics, so I don't have to be asked my about daily itinerary sometimes (ex-AMS, and I refused to provide a response). Of course, if you are young age male, flying solo, 1 way ticket, good luck - ask me how I know. |
While intrusive and annoying, this questioning is nothing compared to what you may be subjected to returning from Colombia or Panama (or other latin american countries, no doubt), courtesy of our DEA.
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Originally Posted by Hilmar Lehnert
(Post 35835316)
Last week I was checking in for FRA->IAD when I encountered an extra officer at the entrance to the check in area (all lanes).
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Originally Posted by Kacee
(Post 35835618)
While intrusive and annoying, this questioning is nothing compared to what you may be subjected to returning from Colombia or Panama (or other latin american countries, no doubt), courtesy of our DEA.
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Occasionally you get questioned like this waiting at the departure gate for a UA flight from Australia (SYD) to the USA.
I’ve watched these people closely after my interaction. There is no evidence of racial profiling as far as I can see. Every pax gets the same treatment….except USA passport holders of course. My travelling partner is one of those. |
Originally Posted by halls120
(Post 35835363)
When I ran into this foolishness prior to departing on a US bound flight and upon arrival in the US while I was working, my usual response was “I’m on official business for the US Government,” which almost always ends the interrogation.
Now that I’m retired, it will be “I’m on vacation.” :) If I'm traveling on business and get the interrogation, I simply say I'm abroad doing work for the U.S. Government and I really can't discuss my job. That's also a good conversation-ender. |
Originally Posted by Kacee
(Post 35835618)
While intrusive and annoying, this questioning is nothing compared to what you may be subjected to returning from Colombia or Panama (or other latin american countries, no doubt), courtesy of our DEA.
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Originally Posted by FlyingUnderTheRadar (Post # 245)
(Post 35835774)
Did they at least give you a little memento stick on the back of your passport?
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Originally Posted by FliesWay2Much
(Post 35836134)
Last year, while returning from Jordan via FRA, Mrs. Flies received the dreaded SSSS on her FRA-IAD boarding pass. When we approached the U.S. gates. checkpoint, I took her laptop and carryon right in front of the security personnel while she and all of the other SSSS victims were ushered downstairs for their special screening.
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Originally Posted by Hilmar Lehnert
(Post 35835316)
What the heck is this all about? Has anyone else encountered that recently? It seems weird and also somewhat futile: After all, I was able to push my way through them without actually answering any of the questions that they were trying to ask.
Since the additional questioning is usually conducted by an airline contractor who has no actual law enforcement authority, they quickly pass up pax who do not exhibit the signs they are taught to recognize that fit the profile of a suspicious person rather than risk a bad customer service situation for the airline. Eh. |
On my last flight out of NRT, someone at the gate approached me under what must have been this program. After asking me where I'd been, she asked how Japan was different from the US, and clearly I must have answered in a tone that suggested this was an absurdly vague question, because *she* started seeming nervous. I looked up when the agent made an announcement and when I looked back, she had left without a word. My conclusion from this was that you don't need to be that compliant, at least in NRT.
I do suspect solo travelers are picked more. |
Originally Posted by Section 107
(Post 35837556)
These questions are part of the airline's federally (TSA) required security program. It is another "layer" of the layered security approach; it is designed to provide another opportunity for interaction that may bring to light/attention someone up to no good or induce such a person into tripping up and making a mistake. As many attest to here, questioning like this tends to make one nervous, and if one is already nervous due to being engaged in illicit activity, additional scrutiny may add enough to the nervousness to induce the person into making a mistake and revealing the untoward intentions.
Since the additional questioning is usually conducted by an airline contractor who has not actual law enforcement authority, they quickly pass up pax who do not exhibit the signs they are taught to recognize that fit the profile of a suspicious person rather than risk a bad customer service situation for the airline. Eh. |
Originally Posted by FlyingUnderTheRadar
(Post 35835774)
Did they at least give you a little memento sticker on the back of your passport?
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