Don't wait until final boarding call while relaxing in the Pearl Business Class Lounge at Kuwait International to head for your Luftansa flight. Even though you've been through a complete security screen before that point, there is another rigorous one at Gate 2 to get in the boarding area for Luftansa/United flights. The passengers are primarily U.S. troops (God bless them!) returning home from the Gulf, who must remove there high-top boots, belts and dog tags.

But, but, but the TSA website specifically says that returning soldiers don't have to remove their shoes unless they alarm!

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrav...rial_1880.shtm

They make them remove their dog tags?

Whoa. I fly in my dog tags all the time with no alarms.

Yes, but it's not the TSA"s rules. The screening at the Kuwait Airport is at the discretion of Kuwaiti authorities, United, and United's contract security provider.

Airlines from the United States that choose to serve Kuwait must follow DHS screening guidelines for "Extraordinary Risk" airports. But these screening procedures and rules differ from those at TSA checkpoints in the US. The TSA does not conduct screening overseas, so its screening rules do not apply.

A soldier on active duty is subject to secondary screening, tertiary screening, and more at overseas checkpoints, even if the flight is destined for the US.

Many passengers describe screeners at overseas airports as "TSA," but these are actually contract security agencies with their own screening protocols.