Sorry for those who were offended, but 'gate rape' is, I believe, a colloquial term among some frequent flyers that started (I think) in the days following 9/11...today's LHR event matches my experiences of that era and other unnecessary SSSS screenings...

To make sure I'm not too overboard I searched for & found recent FT postings that use the same term.

As to using the title to get attention, that was not my intention....

two thoughts after living in the UK for a little while:

1. I have learned to take the noon or later LHR-IAD or LHR-ORD flights, instead of the 8am or 10am flights. You cannot get to LHR early enough with any reasonable train from outside London (and I don't even try to get there more than 1.5hr in advance,unless subjecting yourself to a neck numbing early slow train ride, for a huge sum of ££), and you will otherwise have to stay in an extortionate LHR hotel overnight (with £4 hotel bus ride, thank you).

2. You may have forgotten, or maybe it's just not in the US news much, but the UK is home to most/all of the recent terrorist plots against airports and airplanes, etc. The Glasgow airport car attack, shoe bomber (though laughable, he was not acting on his own), and the London attacks, (and foiled car bombs just a few months ago). These are not just to be brushed off as single incidents in quirky Britain -- they're a warning sign of significant underground activity. And more seriously, in the UK it is a *domestic* terrorism problem, I believe worse than any possible tangible threat in the US right now. Unlike our US experience, where the terrorists were foreigners and visitors and (in hindsight) more easily identifiable, the UK is home to *native* citizens who wish to carry out these kinds of organized acts. There are whole veritable cities of disenfranchised minorities in the UK which their intelligence services have identified as places where extremist philosophy is attracting followers. Recent reports (2006), although I am no expert, say that the UK is "al-Qaeda target #1".

Why am I saying this? Well, if there is anywhere that needs to watch out for security issues, it is the UK, because it is a necessary check on their reliance on a sort of honor system of behavior. After living there, I can tell you, you would be surprised at how loop-holey their system of financial credit checks, driving licenses, and general recordkeeping is -- relying on their citizens to behave as they should.

So while the SSSS when boarding at LHR may seem a little extreme to you, I think that if there's anywhere I'd want it to be used, it's on flights from the UK. I'm not saying there aren't things that could be improved -- many things about LHR and BAA are outright ridiculous. I have spoken to the BAA security supervisors several times about some silly policies at T3, and received pretty unsatisfactory answers. But regardless of that, when it comes to real security procedures, the UK does have a problem and I think these gate checks are necessary (but need to be done correctly).

The thing I think is silly is that the people doing the gate screening look to be (to my eye) no more than the same low wage x-ray technicians you passed by 20 minutes before. Whereas, for example my experience in AMS-DTW for example, or other countries (although this was a while ago), the people interviewing you at the gate were actual federal police. I wonder, what would these BAA gate people even do if they came across someone really suspicious?

Which makes it so ironic that on balance, LHR is perhaps the easiest airport to clear flights to the US from compared to most European airports. Depart from Germany or AMS for example and you will go through the obligatory "interview" of why you were in the country before check-in, then pass general security, and then pass another layer of additional security at the gate [which at AMS includes yet another "interview"]. At LHR, you check-in quite normally, clear general security and then board without any additional screening unless you have been flagged somewhere (which I have never endured despite dozens upon dozens of LHR departures to the US).

In fact, what the OP describes is simply SOP at most European airports for US departures. Only at LHR is this considered being 'singled out' for extra treatment.

Although I've been through the quick gate screenings at LHR while departing on UA, I've also been waved through a few times.

The gate screenings really don't take that long. Just deal with them....

BTW, what cabin was the OP in?

There may have also been a heightened level of security at LHR that day. The OP states that he got to the boarding area rather late and everyone left in the line was getting the extra screening, but it may be possible that a lot more of the earlier passengers also got the extra examination, but he just wasn't around to witness it.

I was recently on the LHR-ORD flight also. I believe it was UA945 (it left at 12:40). As we entered the gate area Mrs. Cayenne92 and I were both selected for the additional screen. I would not classify it as anything close to gate rape. It was a light pat down, shoe inspection and quick check of the hand baggage. I luckily cannot compare it to a stateside SSSS.
My experience flying ex-Europe to any US destination results in some sort of additional screening at the gate. It just is that way now.

I am going to move this to the Travel Safety/Security forum where others who fly out of LHR can weigh in

iluv2fly
Moderator, UA

No ICTS w/UA @ LHR? Wow.

I get the full ICTS treatment on all my LGW departures on US carriers. Same goes with AMS, BRU, FRA, MUC, MAD ... pretty much any European departure point I've used.

Now that I'm doing a bit of flying on OW, have OW Emerlad Status, etc, against my better judgement I booked a connection via LHR. I purposely left plenty of time for connections, knowing I will have lounge access to use should I have extra time.

Anyone know what the current procedure is for AA flights these days on LHR-ORD? Any ICTS interview, or is it just transit screening, gate screening, and back to the USA?

FCC or exit via immigrations and change?

T3 to T2 and reverse connection. FCC or exit via immigrations and change terminals? Arrival into T3 is early AM, arrival into T2 on the return is late-AM.

Thanks!

Agree. But, off topic, if you do stay in one of the Bath road hotels there is no need to take the extortionate Hoppa any longer....city buses going to heathrow from a bath rd pickup are FREE! There is a thread on this somewhere. Also from
LHR Central Bus station to bath road is free...just say bath road hotel to driver when you board

My complaint is not the screening in general but how ALL "late" (although not really late as in doors are about to close) arrivals were subject to screening

Good point...hadn't considered that

Business...entered thru that line also

I am usually flying EU/USA transatlantic and every time I have been through LHR there has been screening at the gate for all passengers....folding tables out and they literally took every single thing out of my bag and fingered it and asked questions about many things...they were pleasant mind you and very polite...but it still sucked packing everything again and queuing for it in the first place.

Heathrow, along with other European Airports, has been designated "Extraordinary Risk" by the US government. It is unique, however, because the interviews are sometimes less extensive.

Some European airports (Brussels in particular) have a mandatory frisking of all US-bound passengers prior to boarding. This happens at Paris/CDG only for certain flights.

Others airports, such as Frankfurt, have a three checkpoint system (regular security, special screening for US-bound flights, then gate screening), so your odds of being pulled aside are far greater.

It's one more reason I like Tel Aviv... once you clear security, you're done. There is one interview, one metal detector, no frisking. You just get on the plane. But the wonder of Israeli security is beyond the scope of this thread.

Just minimize use of US carriers, and it's more likely you will have a better trip without the entire dog and pony show.