Back from a flight--US to Colombia, noticed on the back of my passport a yellow and black sticker that has Delta Security with the number 42 (written in ink). Can anybody clue me in to what it means??

Thanks!

In my case, all of my Delta security stickers on the back of my pasport were the result of being interviewed in EZE by DL security before I approached the ticket counter. Perhaps your's is along the same line?

<<my Delta security stickers on the back of my pasport were the result of being interviewed in EZE by DL security before I approached the ticket counter. Perhaps your's is along the same line?>>

No...the only interview I had was with airport security in Bogot�---who wanted to know why I was wearing an underwire bra and why I had maxi-pads in my carry-on.........

When you fly from overseas destinations to the USA on US-based airlines, you ordinarily clear airport security and supplemental security provided by the airline.

In most cases this involves an interview prior to check-in (this is where the sticker goes on your passport), a checked bag inspection (with stickers on your bags), and an interview immediately prior to boarding.

The interviews are conducted typically by contract agencies, such as ICTS or Securitas. The agents either wear uniforms of the contractor or airline uniforms. They also set up "kiosks" for the interviews that usually say "Delta Security," "United Security," etc.

Some stations are more stringent than others. I'm surprised that you did not undergo an interview in Bogot�.

<<Some stations are more stringent than others. I'm surprised that you did not undergo an interview in Bogot�. >>

When I arrived, the airport was crawling with soldiers...the airline computers were down, and there was a long delay before anyone was checked in.

In the past two and a half years, I have traveled to China, Thailand, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Cuba, and just recently--Colombia. This is the first 'security' sticker I have to my credit.

(Before I get flamed by anyone...I traveled to Cuba with an OFAC license)

Funny, I get those little stickers more often than not, sans interview. (I've only been in Singapore and Germany in the past four years -- all UA flights.)

I'm pretty sure they are the 3rd party security company's approval for you to be checked in. I've gotten these at LHR/LGW, Manchester, Milan, Prague, etc.

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I'm pretty sure they are the 3rd party security company's approval for you to be checked in. >>

Thanks for the info....guess they are hit-or-miss (at least in my experience)...just glad to know that I'm not pegged for future 'close inspections'.......

essxjay-

That's bizarre that you were on UA out of Germany and didn't have to go through the interviews.

I do know that the interviews are starting to fall out of favor. I read an article about how El Al is starting to reduce its interviewing--and they invented the whole idea.

-Mats.

And of course even less so if you peel the sticker off . . .

El Al had a short term experiment, in TLV only, where it used scanners instead of interviews for a number of passengers. Now it uses those scanners, in addition to interviews, for passengers it considers particularly questionable.

The domestic Israeli airline, Arkia, had a frequent flyer program which exempted you from the interviews -- but you had to have a short background investigation to qualify.

As of this week, even its frequent flyers have to be interviewed.