Smoking is a beautiful thing. You should take up the habit: standing in lines is much less stressful whilst indulging!

No problems in MAD for me, but CDG is perpetually a nightmare - all the planes from the US seem to arrive within five minutes of one another and it seems like that is always the time that either:

* Immigration folks decide its time to go on break and shut down to two lanes
* They close the secure area to examine a suspicious package (this has happened to me twice now)
* Airline workers go on strike and they have to confer with one another to decide what to do

My sentiments as well (as a holder of a non-EU passport). The CDG staff have mastered the art of making air travel as painful as they can make it. This must be a requirement for advancement in their career.

At least at CDG, Americans can unofficially use the EU lines (I have been waived over many times and now just disregard the designations with no problems). Heck, they even push me through faster than French citizens.

I know this was meant as a joke, but that's simply disgusting .

Cheers.

Maybe the fast track passes could be justified by the fact that premium cabin passengers usually pay added taxes. So, in a way, they are paying the government more and are therefore afforded more. Probably not the soundest line of reasoning but it's the best I can figure.


Frequently upon arrival in MIA the foreign national lines move far more quickly than the US citizen lines. I hate it when they discriminate against their own people.


If I recall correctly, starting January 1, 2006, smoking (or perhaps use of tobacco products) will be illegal at places of work in Madrid, so hopefully that will take care of the airport immigration problem.

That being said, MAD already has designated smoking areas throughout the terminals, but I think they're so accustomed to the smell and haze of smoke that nobody seems to mind.

They only places in the city where you can more or less escape smoke are probably department stores and the Metro. That being said, I'll never forget the time I was standing at the meat counter at a department store grocery store (where smoking is supposedly not allowed) waiting my turn in line when the woman in front of me was puffing away on her cigarette just feet from the dangling meats... and then, of course, she tossed her butt to the floor.

I wonder if there will be a revolt in Madrid come the new year.

I too agree that the lines in the US are really unreasonable. As a US citizen I also find most of the immigration officers are some of the rudest people in uniform. One time while clearing Immigration, I was so appalled observing the treatment of a new guest to our country that I sought out the offending officers superior and requested that I make a formal complaint. The superior was very understanding and and gave me an "INS passenger information form" with the address to write to. In my letter I made refererence to the long lines and rude behavior of some of the officers. In response, I received a form letter from the INS stating that for the post 9-11 security, Immigration is far more complex hence the long lines. In the case of the offending officer, my formal complaint will be listed in her official file.

Unfortunately in these uncertain times, the gov't. will make excuses for what should be a reasonable wait in line and plain courtesy in favor of the
"war on terror" fear factor that is so prevalent these days.

Hat off - a great system that is no longer in use..... I miss it!

Hat On

This is really a 'general' topic - not specific to AA. Going to travel buzz...

PM me if you have any questions -Thanks

I recently had the experience of going through US immigration at DUB (Dublin Airport in Ireland) prior to boarding a flight to PHL. It came as a surprise to me that I should be interviewed by US immigration officials at Dublin airport.
In most respects, Dublin airport is a total mess, but the immigration-before-boarding arrangement was a pleasure.

After arriving at PHL, the entire plane was "fast-tracked" into the country (and then I stood in line for 45 minutes to pick up my suitcase and recheck it for my onward flight... )

I started wondering if there could be some way to extend this arrangement so that every flight gets fast-tracked. Of course, it's not feasible to send one country's immigration personnel to every airport in the world... But perhaps immigration queues could be eliminated with some new technology... I'm thinking maybe passport scanners at departure airports or onboard planes with broadband connections and video conferencing to allow 99.9% of passengers to complete immigration processes before boarding or during the flight.

I heard that Australia had once piloted a scheme to allow passengers to clear immigration during their long flights to that country... Did that ever happen? Did it turn out to be too costly? Maybe it would be more feasible today?

Sure, we have a few less than sparkling citizens, but I wouldn't call us a completely unclassy society!

At one time , this was tried at LHR; I remember taking a TWA flight from LHR and the immigration procedures were performed in the departure lounge ; on arrival in the USA, nicely bypassed the immigration hall and went straight to baggage reclaim

Dave

I was (and am) completely serious. I wish all of the anti-smoke nuts would just relax. Considering how stressed and uptight a lot of rabid anti-smokers are, I honestly believe they could benefit from the calming effects of nicotine.

^ ^ ^

I remember that 10 years or so ago there used to be a fast-track blueline for passengers that had been 'pre-screened' at departure - I think this was an airline and country specific programme, and airlines would send passenger info in advance of arrival to minimise the time spent going through immigration.

The problem I found was that it seemed as if everyone on the plane had a blueline stickers so it was no faster than being in the regular line anyway.

I, too, am serious. The blowing of noxious fumes in a public place is simply disgusting and inconsiderate. Us "anti-smoke nuts" are concerned about our health, and want to avoid, when possible, breathing in poison (yes, this has already been established, and is not debatable). I guarantee that reducing my life expectancy by smoking is not likely to reduce any stress I may have.

I'll relax when I'm in places where I can separate myself from the toxic smoke produced by cigarettes. Smoke while you may...the places you may do that are becoming (thankfully) fewer.

Cheers.