"Uncomfortable" experience at MSP
May 13, 2009 | 4:18 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 54
I was looking for more of an explanation than "told" which you've provided me, thank you.
I don't necessarily think you're being too sensitive about it. Pleasantries make everything go easier. I've been bent out of shape before from curt behavior with nary a please or thank you in sight.
I'm certainly not going to justify his attitude, but a very large percentage of the CBP personnel are ex-military and this is one of the habits that I have seen die a very slow death.
FYI, an interesting historical anecdote. Pre-DHS, the officer in question would have never been hired by the US Customs Service based on the body art on his arms.
I don't necessarily think you're being too sensitive about it. Pleasantries make everything go easier. I've been bent out of shape before from curt behavior with nary a please or thank you in sight.
I'm certainly not going to justify his attitude, but a very large percentage of the CBP personnel are ex-military and this is one of the habits that I have seen die a very slow death.
FYI, an interesting historical anecdote. Pre-DHS, the officer in question would have never been hired by the US Customs Service based on the body art on his arms.
Many years ago (1970's) I was in the military as well. PT instructor. It was the time of the second Jaws movie and one of the recruits came up with this
"First we had Jaws 1 and after that we thought we were safe. Then came Jaws 2 and after that we again thought we were safe. And then you came!".
My nickname became "jaws3" and stuck ever since.
My point here is that I could recognize the kind of "military attitude" and I think you hit the nail on the head with that one. I should just let it go. Thanks for taking time to post.
May 13, 2009 | 4:21 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 54
May 13, 2009 | 4:28 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 54
I suspect your itinerary and that it was a trip for mother's day set off some red flags. Your schedule may not seem unusual to me or others here, but I suspect it would seem strange to an ordinary person, let alone CBP.
Typically I have problems at DTW; more often than not I'm coming in on the AMS flight when this happens even if I originate elsewhere.
I've had loud obnoxious agents, I've had CBP officers tag-team me playing good cop-bad cop, I would be asked the same question 20 times in varying ways as if they were looking for me to change my answer, etc.
In this particular case, I'd probably write it off as a one-off. I get the impression they purposely jack pax around in secondary in an attempt to intimidate and to look for holes in ones story. When it has happened to me, I just answer truthfully until they get sick and tired of me and don't find anything.
I've never had any problems with MSP as a port of entry - DTW has been problematic for me on a regular basis; I now avoid DTW. None of my entries at DTW were mileage runs either, just trips abroad.
With #3, just be honest, its a mileage run for FF miles .. and if there is a secondary, I'd chalk it up to being DTW.
Typically I have problems at DTW; more often than not I'm coming in on the AMS flight when this happens even if I originate elsewhere.
I've had loud obnoxious agents, I've had CBP officers tag-team me playing good cop-bad cop, I would be asked the same question 20 times in varying ways as if they were looking for me to change my answer, etc.
In this particular case, I'd probably write it off as a one-off. I get the impression they purposely jack pax around in secondary in an attempt to intimidate and to look for holes in ones story. When it has happened to me, I just answer truthfully until they get sick and tired of me and don't find anything.
I've never had any problems with MSP as a port of entry - DTW has been problematic for me on a regular basis; I now avoid DTW. None of my entries at DTW were mileage runs either, just trips abroad.
With #3, just be honest, its a mileage run for FF miles .. and if there is a secondary, I'd chalk it up to being DTW.
You are flagged if you have a "no-show" on one of your legs on the ticket.
When I left MSP last Friday, NW 42 was 4 hours late. As a result I missed my AMS-JNB connection by 15 minutes. Had to stay over the day, fly to CDG that evening and catch the midnight AF flight to JNB. Perhaps I was flagged as a "no-show" for the AMS-JNB leg that I missed? Just a thought.
May 13, 2009 | 4:33 pm
#21
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NorCal
Posts: 658
I read on FT something else today that may have sparked their curiosity:
You are flagged if you have a "no-show" on one of your legs on the ticket.
When I left MSP last Friday, NW 42 was 4 hours late. As a result I missed my AMS-JNB connection by 15 minutes. Had to stay over the day, fly to CDG that evening and catch the midnight AF flight to JNB. Perhaps I was flagged as a "no-show" for the AMS-JNB leg that I missed? Just a thought.
You are flagged if you have a "no-show" on one of your legs on the ticket.
When I left MSP last Friday, NW 42 was 4 hours late. As a result I missed my AMS-JNB connection by 15 minutes. Had to stay over the day, fly to CDG that evening and catch the midnight AF flight to JNB. Perhaps I was flagged as a "no-show" for the AMS-JNB leg that I missed? Just a thought.
May 17, 2009 | 12:51 pm
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 54
Just spoke to wife an hour ago after they had cleared DTW CBP. Only one question was asked: "Did you come from South Africa" (they have South Afican tourist visas in their passports from visit last month). Answer "No, we were in Amsterdam". She did not add they were only there for 2 hrs and 35 minutes and he did not ask. Nothing further, passports stamped and they were on their way. Total of of about 2 minutes she said.
This brings to mind two further questions to which I probably will never find the answers. Anyway, here goes:
1. why did I get a secondary from CBP 5 days ago in MSP after having done, in essence the same trip as my family 5 days later? they went MSP-DTW-AMS-DTW-MSP while I went MSP-AMS-CDG-JNB-AMS-MSP)
2. why was my family asked if they were returning from South Africa (I was returning from there but they were not)
I may be paranoid but it seems to me it has something to do with visting South Africa.
Be that as it may, all four of us have applied for NEXUS all ready and then plan to get GE via the lateral application if approved. May have to travel to US just for that "sepcial sticker" on the inside back cover of passpoort but it's worth it to try and prevent a recurence of MSP last Monday.
Perhaps I don't have the right "personality" to fly? But I find it very hard after many years of travel, to be thought of as someone who is either lying or trying to hide something. I have absoluetly no problem with random checks or screening etc, but this CBP had an attitude of "you are lying or hiding something and I will find it".
May 17, 2009 | 2:14 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt something
Posts: 34,511
I may be paranoid but it seems to me it has something to do with visting South Africa.
Be that as it may, all four of us have applied for NEXUS all ready and then plan to get GE via the lateral application if approved. May have to travel to US just for that "sepcial sticker" on the inside back cover of passpoort but it's worth it to try and prevent a recurence of MSP last Monday.
Perhaps I don't have the right "personality" to fly? But I find it very hard after many years of travel, to be thought of as someone who is either lying or trying to hide something. I have absoluetly no problem with random checks or screening etc, but this CBP had an attitude of "you are lying or hiding something and I will find it".
Be that as it may, all four of us have applied for NEXUS all ready and then plan to get GE via the lateral application if approved. May have to travel to US just for that "sepcial sticker" on the inside back cover of passpoort but it's worth it to try and prevent a recurence of MSP last Monday.
Perhaps I don't have the right "personality" to fly? But I find it very hard after many years of travel, to be thought of as someone who is either lying or trying to hide something. I have absoluetly no problem with random checks or screening etc, but this CBP had an attitude of "you are lying or hiding something and I will find it".
Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
May 10, 2020 | 6:43 pm
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 54
As a belated ending to this episode 11 years ago, my NEXUS application was successful in 2009. I applied for my renewal (third NEXUS card) last week and despite no new applications or interviews being done due to Covid at the moment, my application was electronically cleared within 48 hours. I now travel around 150-170k miles per year and since this episode I have never had any issues at MSP (or any other port of entry) again. Go NEXUS!