CDG Security Report
Jan 29, 2010 | 3:55 pm
#1
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Living the dream in Antigua and the nightmare in Florida
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CDG Security Report
I spent a long weekend in Paris last week, taking advantage of a soon-to-expire SWU on AA. I had not been through CDG since 2002, and I had heard some horror stories about their security theater, pre-underwear bomber. Here is what I found:
My return flight was AA45, and my spouse and I were in C class. We arrived at the airport at about 9:00AM, for the 11:05AM departure. AA has separate check-in areas, depending on which city. Business Class has its own check-in area. There were about 6 pax ahead of us, and there were three kiosks where "security" questions were asked. It took about 5 minutes to make it to the "security" screen. The questions were the same idiotic questions that were asked pre-9/11: "did you pack your bags yourself, where have they been, etc."
This took a grand total of one minute or less - then check-in; with just carry-ons, it was a breeze. At immigration, we were escorted to the front of the line (C-class privilege), quick scan of the passport, and on to screening, where we were again passed to the front. One thing in favor of CDG is the many security screening stations... Laptop carnival, shoe carnival, and liquid lunacy were in force, but minimal French barking. However, I was told to remove my belt, which never happens in the USA or Canada.
After clearing screening, we went to the AAdmirals Club, which is all the way at the end of 2A, and of course the flight was at gate 51, all the way at the other end. I expected further security groping, so I decided to go to the gate by 10:15. It was a bus gate, with no one waiting, other than the crew. After waiting a few minutes, I saw a sign pointing to the end of the concourse, where flight 45 would be boarding. In this area, a full grope was occurring. However, apparently the fact that we were flying C-class exempted us from the grope, as we were passed through the line. We then had to wait inside an abandoned lounge for the bus. As a side note, it was hilarious watching a few people trying to get the long-since abandoned (and obviously turned off) espresso machine to work.
Total delays were minimal, slightly annoying, and completely useless. However, the arrival delay at JFK was highly annoying - only 2 CBP officers for the entire flight. Were about 20th off of the plane, and it took about 20 minutes to clear.
My return flight was AA45, and my spouse and I were in C class. We arrived at the airport at about 9:00AM, for the 11:05AM departure. AA has separate check-in areas, depending on which city. Business Class has its own check-in area. There were about 6 pax ahead of us, and there were three kiosks where "security" questions were asked. It took about 5 minutes to make it to the "security" screen. The questions were the same idiotic questions that were asked pre-9/11: "did you pack your bags yourself, where have they been, etc."
This took a grand total of one minute or less - then check-in; with just carry-ons, it was a breeze. At immigration, we were escorted to the front of the line (C-class privilege), quick scan of the passport, and on to screening, where we were again passed to the front. One thing in favor of CDG is the many security screening stations... Laptop carnival, shoe carnival, and liquid lunacy were in force, but minimal French barking. However, I was told to remove my belt, which never happens in the USA or Canada.
After clearing screening, we went to the AAdmirals Club, which is all the way at the end of 2A, and of course the flight was at gate 51, all the way at the other end. I expected further security groping, so I decided to go to the gate by 10:15. It was a bus gate, with no one waiting, other than the crew. After waiting a few minutes, I saw a sign pointing to the end of the concourse, where flight 45 would be boarding. In this area, a full grope was occurring. However, apparently the fact that we were flying C-class exempted us from the grope, as we were passed through the line. We then had to wait inside an abandoned lounge for the bus. As a side note, it was hilarious watching a few people trying to get the long-since abandoned (and obviously turned off) espresso machine to work.
Total delays were minimal, slightly annoying, and completely useless. However, the arrival delay at JFK was highly annoying - only 2 CBP officers for the entire flight. Were about 20th off of the plane, and it took about 20 minutes to clear.
Jan 30, 2010 | 10:21 am
#3
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 298
Funny experience at CDG yesterday: My spouse made a remark (in French) that the whole gate groping really stinks which caused the French screener to start a big rant about the US and their security policies. They guy went on to saying that he would never fly here since that country seems to be over the top interms of air travel.
Just a disclaimer and to keep things civilized: I don't want to start yet another fight of the US vs. the French but I had to chuckle at the fact that a screener openly admits that these hightened policies are useless (and this even though his job depends on this).
Never heard of any TSO who has a similar level of introspection.
Just a disclaimer and to keep things civilized: I don't want to start yet another fight of the US vs. the French but I had to chuckle at the fact that a screener openly admits that these hightened policies are useless (and this even though his job depends on this).
Never heard of any TSO who has a similar level of introspection.