I'm sort of there with you, but it is far and away better than in the past -- at least now the UA gates have something to drink, a few snacks, and most importantly, a restroom past security.

You can't beat the convenience from gate to curb.

DEN is crazy. A modern airport with Neanderthal security. Even the premium line is stupid -- let's have you stand in the puffer, then take your shoes off. Um, what threat exactly are we screening for?

IAD is another goofy airport. Seems like that line takes forever.

I'll agree with LHR -- and that was before they really got stupid.

I'll add DFW to the list -- I have no idea why TSA doesn't have a separate checkpoint for military in uniform. It p*sses me off every time I see a guy going to Iraq have to remove his boots and get patted down. As far as I'm concerned, if you're in uniform, under orders for a charter to a war zone, with proper ID, you walk on through the checkpoint with a smile and best wishes.

CLT has had its moments for me =-- particularly when you have successive ID checks 15 feet apart, plus a guy at the WTMD checking your BP again.

Yep. Apparently some other airports in the US are like this too (require TSA screening to leave the terminal when arriving internationally). I've heard that this is true for PIT, but I've never arrived there internationally w/o connecting. I've had the good fortune never to have flown to ATL (or even connect there). Guess what's the biggest airline I haven't flown?

I thought you had the right to refuse a TSA screening before it begins (at the expense of not being allowed to fly,) and that said right is part of the legal basis for permitting warrantless TSA searches. Any lawyers (or wanna-bes) have any input on this?

A few years ago, ARN (Stockholm) had screening for incoming internationals. Lost a corkscrew from a picnic set that had been a gift (cleared BWI and random inspection at KEF).

These days, no incoming screening, but the odd timings of some of the check-ins can cause a really odd pile-up in Terminal 5. No zig-zag for two of them, very small one for the third, causing people to be lining up to either block the way into SkyCity or blocking check-in desks. On the other hand, the express lane seems to be working and usually clear.

It's not just DFW, that's at BWI, too. Very sad.
DFW had its own issues but my last trip there was in October 2001 so I'm loathe to bash it now with no current info.

One of the checkpoints in T5 at LAX is pretty rough as the line for security is usually all the way across the walkway to the parking garage and the line completely obstructs everybody else trying to move within the terminal

Without a doubt the airport from hell: SVO (Sheremetyevo in Moscow). This airport is so wrong on every level:

• Exit curbside
• Enter sheep-pen like holding area that funnels to a single entrance
• Push and shove (no lines, remember "festival seating" at concerts?) to single gate
• Through door to smaller area with luggage inspection tables scattered about
• Finally, to a DL counter agent
• Disney-like serpentine of fences to Customs
• Enter Customs, plexi doors shut in front of you and behind you
• Trapped as Customs agent scrutinizes your papers
• Door opens, I'm free! Run up the stairs
• Enter walkway on the rim of the circular terminal building
• Walk 3/4 (yes, 3/4!) of the way around the rim
• Finally, walk down jetway
• Kiss floor of A/C in gratitude

Of course, that's Russia. US of A...I dread MCO every time.

All the best, James

I second the vote for DEN.... for a "new" airport it's pretty bad.

Also ATL and the criss crossing lines and then MCO (B side especially) and their ridiculous lines.

Flying out of MCI today so will see how that goes but like a previous poster mentioned, I actually like the curb to gate layout of this airport.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned EWR B-3 checkpoint for the NW and DL area. It's narrow and you're dealing with EWR TSO's.

I agree, the absolute dumbest are Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and the few others that require screening for inbound international passengers who are not connecting. It's an unthinkable waste of time and money. I can't believe that this is still going on.

As mentioned elsewhere on this board, the multiple ID checking airports are the second worst. It's wasteful, annoying, and--of course--there's no sensible reason for it.

Within the USA, BWI concourses C and D, Los Angeles Terminal 1, and Newark Terminal C seem to be the worst. The lines are ridiculous, and there just isn't any sace. It's always intimidating to pass by Terminal 1 at LAX and see the line going outside.

Outside the USA, the prize goes to Frankfurt for USA/Canada/Israel departures. How do you say "over the top" in German? It's an insane amount of security. And--how could we forget?--Heathrow. But everyone knows it's awful there.

I haven't been to Denver or Las Vegas, which seem to have some notoriety for slow security. And I've heard that the security in Moscow's domestic airports is actually far more intrusive and complicated than at Sheremetyevo. I haven't had the pleasure.

My experiences at SVO2 have been like this:

• Exit curbside
• X-ray of everything as you enter the terminal
• Stand in line for customs
• Exit customs and stand in next security line
• All checked bags (sometimes all bags) X-rayed
• Exit X-ray
• All checked bags hand searched
• Enter check-in line
• Check in for flight and check bags
• Enter Disneyland-like passport control line
• Present papers
• Exit passport control
• Welcome to the airside portion of the terminal!
• Walk 3/4 the way around the terminal to the gate noting that there is nowhere at all to sit
• Enter security line at gate
• Clear magnetometer & X-ray
• Enter gate holding pen
• At boarding time, walk down jetway!

[QUOTE=Mats;9194312]I agree, the absolute dumbest are Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and the few others that require screening for inbound international passengers who are not connecting. It's an unthinkable waste of time and money. I can't believe that this is still going on.

QUOTE]

Add MCO to this completely ludicrous "screen to exit" approach. Why can't one of either the airlines or TSA get it together, and use a bus to transfer all international arrivals post customs and immigration to the landside of the terminal? Wait a minute, sorry. Airlines or TSA "get it together"? Lost my head.

That is never my experience and I go through there every week. I show ID/BP once. At the most I just have to flash the fact that I have a BP at the WTMD. CLT isn't an ideal layout, but i've seen much worse.

At IAH in the checkpoint line for termanal A-south concourse, my ID is often checked three times in a span of 20 feet. Completely absurd.

It's gotten worse. The TSA is now checking IDs there (albeit the ones who are doing the on-the-job training). It used to be the private "security" folks, running down the checklist of what to look for (really there was one, taped to the podium in a plastic protective sleeve).

Yesterday, with the TSA-Liters, and someone hauled up from baggage, presumably to handle the abysmal lines. Not all podiums were in use, either. Those podiums were put in to answer the "choke point" problem (read: bad TSA PR) addressed a few months ago. Yesterday had the longest lines I've seen there in awhile.

Speaking of Texas, I left AUS last week. I laughed out loud when I saw the TSAer bend over and use his little instrument, whatever you call it, to look at all the IDs.

Is the line longer due to the TSA checking IDs?