Security, Italian-style.
 

I am still trying to figure out just what Italy is hoping to accomplish with its new airport security system.

In the past, if I flew El Al MXP-TLV, I was sent to a special section of the airport for check-in. The area was guarded by two policemen and I went through the usual El Al questioning which it always asks passengers. If I flew Alitalia to TLV, however, I went to the regular check-in area and was treated as if I were flying to any other destination.

Yesterday, AZ ticket hot in hand, I went to the FC check-in and was told that I have to go to that special security area. She said that is the case now with all flights to Israel, America, and one other country (which I don't remember).

Okay, I walked to it, got in line, read the announcement that said I have to have my passport out and be prepared to state where I was flying to, and waited. As the line was very long, I expected a lengthy delay. A few minutes after I arrived, however, the AZ check in folks got to their desks and the line just walked right in.

The police -- now there were four of them, all armed with assault rifles -- did not actually look at the passports (I just showed the outside cover of mine) and were not asking for proof of your destination -- it was enough to say "Israel" or "US".

There were no additional security procedures while checking in, and after getting my boarding pass I was free to wander around the terminal or go outside for a cigarette. My hand luggage was x-rayed together with everyone else's, no matter what their destination.

(BTW, in Italy you do not have to take off your shoes, remove your computer from your rollerboard, or put liquids in Ziploc bags.)

If US security is a "dog and pony show" then the Italian version can only be described as a sign saying, "This way to the dog and pony show" but upon arriving you discover they didn't bother having either a dog or a pony. :D

You are missing the point entirely. Merely stating that travelers to Israel or the U.S. must go to a "special security area" is enough to terrorize the terrorists! The mere thought of having to go to said "special security area" makes them immediately flee. In fact, they depart in such a panicked state that they are instantly identifiable and can be arrested at the airport exits.

This is actually the world's most sophisticated security system. Please don't ruin it by telling the terrorists what to expect. :p

Bruce

I really hate that security theater when flying out of MXP (to US). I escorted a friend to Delta's counter. The police/military guy asked him his destination (ATL). Looks to me..."and you? Same?".......I reply "sure". I was actually going to AMS.

What a joke. On the other hand, MXP's TSA equivalent are friendlier and easier to deal with.

That's the "pretty boy" brigade putting on its useless show that does nothing against the mass casualty danger of explosions for customers landside in the terminal. Some of the assault-rifle posers seem to have spent more time combing their hair than they spent at a firing range.

This is nothing new at MXP. I've seen it at MXP in 2007, 2008 and 2009. It's nice to see that the Italian security "thinkers" believe that my life is sort of more valuable when flying to the US, Israel or the UK than when I am flying to any of the other two dozens or so countries I fly to from MXP.

It is not an Italian rule it is a US and Israeli rule. Why do you think T5 was built at FCO.

Ciao,
FH

Far from the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth as is clear when trying to answer the following: what rule is simultaneously a US rule and an Israeli rule and a UK rule (but applying to UK flights operated by BA but not by AZ), where those 3 foreign governments have jurisdictional superior to Italian government rules at MXP?

That is absolutely classic! :D

I find that hard to believe because there is no such special check in area in TLV for flights to the US, nor is there a special check in area in ATL or JFK for flights to Israel.

In Israel, right before boarding for the US, you are asked if you have any liquids. That is the only extra step and it is handled by the airline, not by Israel.

In the US, you are given a second TSA-type screening right before boarding an Israeli-bound flight, but that is handled by the airline (or, at least, a private security company) but not by the US government.

(To be clear, in both of the above situations, I am speaking only from experience on Delta. I have not flown El Al or any other airline to/from TLV-USA.)

Why would either Israel or the US require check-in at a special area but then make no additional security arrangements?

And exactly spot on -- the U.S. and Israel impose special security requirements on foreign airlines flying to the USA and Italy. If you do not comply, you lose your landing rights. But most countries know these "special requirements" are just security theatre. So they go through the motions of compliance, retain their landing rights, the US/Israel gets its theatre, and as long as nobody stupidly opens their mouth and comments on the Emperor's nudity, then everyone is happy.

Uh, no. I flew to Milan two weeks ago from Israel and there was no special security requirement for Alitalia.

I did not speak for the UK nor Israel, but the US government asked Italy to provide seperate security/check-in procedures, under certain circumstances (including average pax numbers, cargo volume and a few other metrics), for US flagged jets and passengers. It has asked this of several other countries as well (some have said yes, some no). The fact El Al jumped on the bandwagon at T5 is not shocking though.

Even at VCE and other airports that get smaller numbers of US bound pax, there are different procedures in place for US flag carriers. Some visable, some not visable. This is a fact. Whether you deem it so, matters not to me.

As for special UK rules, I have never seen it, and I fly CTA to LGW at least twice a month, but I would love to hear what they are. Is it like the US and only at high volume airports in Italia?

Ciao,
FH

El Al has long had special check-in areas in Italy but with a difference -- they actually have real security there. Each person is interviewed by an El Al security agent before being allowed to check-in.

I could understand it if Alitalia did the same thing, but to have passengers go to a special area for security purposes and then treat them the same as any other passenger makes no sense at all.

I agree (and I am well aware of what El Al does, I've flown them) but the US asked for it so now we have the T5 fiasco at FCO. Not shocking to me really. You should read some of the language the US and some other countries put into some of our NATO SOFAs and use treaties. It makes this look simple.

Ciao,
FH

I have. I spent two years in SETAF and the SOFA was more than a little ridiculous.

I just flew back from FCO and the whole check-in and security took no more than 5 minutes at T5. At LAX yesterday, the lines were over an hour long for non-elites at all the terminals I went by.

And who has the "fiasco"? It certainly is not the Italians! They were courteous, fast, and of course we could keep our shoes on.

No dogs, or ponies, were seen.