There's a discussion going on here in Europe: Do you avoid the USA as a tourist or in transit or...... because of their politics or standarts?

I met a couple of people who won't do the transit on the Europe-AUS/NZ route in the US anymore because of the immigration procedures. Or they are worried about getting their laptop confiscated and the TSA grubbing their baggage.
That is nothing about bashing, I'm just interested.

By myself, I like to spend my money in a country that don't treat me like a criminal. So, I'm going to Canada or Asia instead.

Buh Bye. Here's your hat, what's your hurry?

I don't look forward to Customs or the TSA, ever.

However: I find it soothing to come back to the US, every time.

And I have found unpleasant 'entry points' in many countries (Europe and Asia, some in the Americas too), but certainly not the US.

That said, I have heard (first-hand) that many Europeans do not appreciate US politics, etc., so for those that feel that way, there is an entire universe willing to open their doors to them; for the most part, what I heard first-hand, is not based on actual experiences but mostly on what they hear on their local news, and well, we know what media propaganda can do to people's minds, especially in lands where the media is government run or supervised.

Enjoy Canada and Asia!

That said, I have heard (first-hand) that many Europeans do not appreciate US politics, etc.,

We'll try to get along without you. Just give us a call if those Huns get too frisky for you..

Please continue to follow this thread in the TS/S Forum.
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

I give the biggest to Aussie Immigrations.

Folks:

Steady on with the ethnocentric remarks lest this thread gets the bum's rush to OMNIville. Thanks.

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essxjay
TS/S moderator

Sorry, it's just a question..... Don' want to hurt your feelings!
I don't think this is a topic ot the security forum, should not be bannned from travelbuzz.

OK, it is bad english, but in my opinion this is a topic for everybody not only the safaty-interested ones....

Transit in the USA is terrible. Even on the same plane service LHR-LAX-AKL vv you have to clear immigration (full fingerpring and eyescan treatment, visa required if applicable) even though you are held in a secure airside holding pen. Why would I subject myself to this when transit in asia is painless?

If I am not visiting USA (or somewhere that I have to connect through USA) then I try to avoid transitting. Pretty hard on RTW tickets though. I have even routed through asia to Canada to avoid LAX transit treatment. With NZ's new AKL-YVR flight avoiding USA on RTWs has just got easier.

Well, sounds like the same reason why I would avoid LHR transits. I wouldn't choose to transit the US either, but because of the stupid rechecking rules.

To avoid transiting a country because of politics is lame.

To be honest over the past couple of years I have tried to avoid the US (as well as LHR!). Recently I had to do a trip to FLL and Brazil and I had no choice. I was pleasantly surprised that contrary to my last visit everyone I came into contact with was friendly and professional. Even in MIA where I had been told it was a zoo, I found the TSA screeners to be efficient and courteous. Maybe I was a lucky, but that is irrelevant. I feel a lot happier about transiting and visiting the US than I did a year ago.

Anywhere in the U.S. and LHR are a pain for anybody. Dubai is lovely for transit en route to/from Asia and Africa (although a recent C class trip on Emirates led me to the conclusion that EK bidness class is pathetic). If you're going to S. America you're stuck with Canada.

AeroMexico has NRT-TIJ-MEX direct now to for a southern route to Asia to avoid USA transit too. I could see where it might work well for any number of Asian and Latin American business people.

They are also after the San Diego market because transiting LAX is a hassle for them too!

Politics does play a big part in this. Why else would they have those 'stupid rechecking rules'? I'm sure the airlines would rather avoid the hassle. Having to pass immigration even when transiting is also the governments fault.

As for LHR that'd still be a nightmare to transit even if the UK had no immigration controls due to the design of the airport. This should improve when T5 is complete where the plan is to move airlines around so each alliance is in the same terminal whether possible.

Leaving the UK is the worst part though as our carry on rules are more restrictive than the US.