These infamous lists are relevant only to flights to the USA. The USA demands the use of these lists, and the airlines have to comply, if they don't want to lose their landing and overflight rights.

Also, that's why in Germany every pax to the US is subject to a SECOND security screening that follows another standard dictated by the US and has to fill out a form with his personal data and his first address in the US (also mandated by the US). Of course, it doesn't stop here, as (given he's not American) he'll have to to fill out 2 more forms (4 pages) on the plane and will finally be questioned, photographed and fingerprinted upon his arrival in the USA.

An American flying FROM the US to Germany will not have to fill out any paperwork and will not be fingerprinted or photographed. Yet the German people still feel safe. I know, they must be kinda stupid. Or cute. ;)

Flying as a non-American on an American carrier to the US seems like a pain:

1. Submit your first address in the US to the airline; and all the details must be stored and transmitted by the airline to the US government so that we Americans have a bigger haystack for which to look for a needle or two.
2. The secondary security screening nonsense when the flight is operated by an American carrier heading to the US. But if you fly a non-US-based carrier the secondary screening and all those stupid questions from "contract" security -- which couldn't tell a monkey from a gorilla -- doesn't occur.

And now even US citizens may get some additional harassment from immigration and customs upon arrival in the US if even one letter in the passenger manifest is different from the passport details. Talk about ridiculous.

Some could probably live more free from government interference in Afghanistan than in the US. :eek:

Identity is not security -- nor are these various "lists" going to provide absolute security. Terrorists -- especially suicidal terrorists -- will use real authentic ID just as readily as fake ID. Many even show real authentic ID on the days where they decide to show their worst side to the world.

In MUC and FRA, all US bound pax have to undergo secondary screening, no matter what airline (LH or US flag carriers) they are flying. Sometimes, they even play the "shoe carnival", but in the end, lines are small (at least in MUC) and you don't really lose much time. They also have priority lines in MUC for secondary screening, but nobody seems to care about enforcing them.

Amazingly, the TSA screening in LAX is very nice and relaxed leaving from the TBIT, as the guys working at the International Terminal are consistently one of the best.

Like I said, fondleing men's rear muscles would make me happy. Doing a pat down on a woman is just work.

I wonder if they would give me a one day transfer???