ICTS ?
 

Anyone know who exactly is ICTS? I presume they are a private (?) security company which airlines like DL use at overseas stations such as Madrid (but I may be wrong).

If anyone has any information as to who they are, I would much appreciate it, as I plan on submitting a complaint to Delta in regards to them.

They provided 'tight' security overall, but managed to break a couple of fragile items in my carry-on when it was "dumped" (they were doing secondary security for all pax at the gate in Madrid). Additionally, I had a few RX's on me for my allergies and a chest cold that were pawed through. The security guard was wearing dirty gloves and opened my RX bottles, dumped the pills in his dirty gloved hands, and examined them, and even dropped a few on the floor. Not cool and not appropriate from a hygene standpoint.

What the h3ll is it with airport security and RX medications? I've had the TSA paw through my medications with their dirty hands in the past here in the states and now this with private security in Madrid.

FWIW, the official airport security in Madrid at the checkpoint was highly professional, curtious, yet thourough. No silly shoe off business, yet my shoes were checked by hand (while on my feet) and they did a great job.

Security at BCN was highly professional as well; same goes for AMS.

Last but not least, when I cleared TSA security at JFK they were the rudest bunch of SOB's I've come across in general. Not just one employee, all of them at the checkpoint were just nasty & rude in general. Amazing how the TSA varies so drasticly around this country.

Best,

SDF_Traveler

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

Wow, that's pretty rude and dangerous, to handle your pills by dumping them out.

I've never had that happen to me. If it did, I'd sue them for reimbursement to buy replacement pills...

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"If life doesn't offer a game worth playing, then invent a new one."
-Anthony J. D'Angelo

But it happened in another country.

What are the procedures for that company or government organization?

What rights do you have when it comes to this?

And Does Delta have any control over that checkpoint?

This wasn't at the general airport security checkpoint, but at a secondary screening done by private security which Delta contracts (to the best of my knowledge).

Thus my question about ICTS (the name of the company), as it's my understanding they are a private security firm which Delta contracts directly to provide additional security on their flights specifically.

At most overseas airports, there is the general security checkpoint which all passengers go through. But certain airlines, typically US based carriers, will often contract out additional security to conduct secondary searches of all passengers at the gate as they are considered "high risk flights". As an example, this would be similar to an airline like El Al providing additional security above and beyond what the TSA does in the United States.

Being it is my understanding DL hired them to specifically provide security services above and beyond what the airport provides, DL has control over this specific "checkpoint".. (I put checkpoint it quotes as this was not the primary security checkpoint - this was at the gate and an "additional screening" above and beyond what is done at the regular checkpoint that all passengers go through).

It would be a different scenario, IMHO, if this happened with the regular airport security (primary checkpoint) at the Madrid airport. The primary checkpoint is staffed by Spanish airport security / local police (Spanish Govt controlled, I would presume) --- while on the other hand, what I referred to in my original message was done by private secondary screening, above & beyond, what the airport provides. FWIW, the primary security checkpoint which is operated by Spanish airport security / local police was professional and well operated.

As such, I was looking for any information or feedback with anyone familiar with this company (ICTS) and what kind of arrangements they have with airlines such as DL. My understanding is DL specifically contracts and pays them for their services -- but I'm looking for someone knowledgable in this area that could confirm if I am correct in this understanding.

Best,

SDF_Traveler

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

Gotcha SDF,

Ive never personally heard of ICTS.

So it might be a private firm in Spain. And then it proably depends on what Spain is like with its labor stuff. You might hire a company in Spain but can't set certian regs and stuff like you can in America.

So that might be something that ICTS has a personal reg. for them to do. Then it might depend on who runs the Delta Airline in Madrid to. Like TSA is different from airport to airport Delta and its regs are proably the same.

hehe Not trying to be a a$$ or anything but the complaint might not be adhered to because of it being in a different country, even if the airline is a American based airline.

But I understand what your saying about the meds. The most I do is open a bottle from time to time and just shake it a bit to make sure its only pills(if its not a see thru bottle). I dont think TSA even has a set procedure on that, as Ive never seen one.

Many carriers contract with ICTS. They provide a variety of services in many locations worldwide.

The FAA mandates additional security measures for flights from international destinations to the USA on US-based airline companies. ICTS, Servisair, and others provide this contract security, which includes passenger interviews, baggage searches, physical aircraft inspection, and so forth.

The depth of the interview, frisking, and baggage inspection varies from station to station and from passenger to passenger.

I think you're right to complain about the handling of pills. My suggestion is that you complain to ICTS and cc Delta.

ICTS International
[email protected]

Tel: +31-20-3471077
Fax: +31-20-6432412

Biesbosch 225
1181 JC Amstelveen
The Netherlands


[This message has been edited by Mats (edited 10-12-2003).]