Most Number of Security Checks
 

Yesterday, I flew from AMS to IAD, and the number of times I had to wait in line and show my ID was incredible, even funny. Here goes:

1. Enter airport and wait to have luggage x-rayed (all bags)..
2. Interview with a security person, checks itinerary and passport.
3. Check luggage with United and get boarding pass. Passport checked.
4. Clear immigration. Passport checked.
5. Cary-on bags x-rayed again and metal detector.
6. Enter concorse area. Bags x-rayed and metal detector. (never left a secure area since step 5)
7. Enter gate area. Bags x-rayed and metal detector; passport checked. (once again, never left a secure area)
8. Boarding Pass checked to board plane. Random searches.

Then fly to IAD.

9. Retrieve checked luggage. Clear immigration and customs. Passport checked.
10. Re-check luggage. Cary-ons x-rayed. Metal detector.
11. ID and boarding pass check to board connecting flight.

Now that is a system trying hard to look like security.

Yes, showing your ID shields the world from all prospective wrong-doing. If only it were this easy.

A couple of weeks ago, I flew JFK-CDG. Overheard a pax sitting behind me talking with his seatmate. He checks in at JFK. Fine. Goes through security, is randomly selected for a full-on hand-carry baggage check and wanding. Fine. On boarding the aircraft, he is selected at random again to undergo another thorough check. Boards the aircraft. As he's telling this story, the F/A comes to him and says that he's requested to retrieve his hand-carry and to undergo another security check at the boarding gate.

At first, I thought this was funny. Then I realized maybe it wasn't random, maybe some software program triggered all these additional security precautions.

Coming back on UA from MEX to IAD, they did a complete manual search of our checked and carry-on baggage, along with an ID check, another ID check at the metal detectors at security, then they did a complete second manual search of our carry-ons at the gate (for everyone), then they wanded us manually for metal and another ID check before boarding.

It was a complete contrast to going from IAD to MEX which was much more casual.

Yeah,

and don't you just hate those TV networks that only seem to interview people who fly maybe twice a year to a wedding or vacation who are quoted saying "I think whatever security measures they want to take are fine as long as it makes the flight safe..."

I'm sure glad I'm not traveling this Christmas!!!

So, I flew LHR-JFK-SFO-DFW-LGW last weekend on a mileage run.

LHR - Checked in at AA business class. A few questions, that's all. Went through airport security, breezed through. Got to the gate, asked more questions, board the plane. Arrive in JFK, get stopped by customs, explain I'm on a mileage run, waved right through!
Pass swifty through Terminal 9 security, get to gate, board airplane. Arrive SFO, out of the airport in 3 minutes.
Coming back, go through security at SFO. Get stopped. Bag gets searched, twice. Christmas gift removed. Unwrapped, then confiscated.
:-(
Arrive DFW, out of airport in less than a minute. Arrive back at DFW 6 hours later, walk through the check-point, no alarms go off, get subjected to the most humiliating 'random' search ever. The guy was ex US military. He literally barked orders at me, ("Turn around!", "Spread your arms", "remove your belt!", "Undo your pants!".) I mean, what the hell is all that about? Boarded the plane, no hassle, thank god. Back to England, straight through customs.

A funny thing happened last month in Chicago. I was the random selectee on a flight from ORD to Calgary. The guy searching was so bad, I showed him how do do it effectively. (I worked AA security for 3 years and was an instructor). Absolutely hilarious, because the guy just stood back and let me do it while he watched.....

777Brit:

Once at DEN, I had to tell a security person that his wand was turned off! Absolutely no telling how long that had been going on.

Flying out of most any airport in India has even more levels of security than those described, and has been that way since well before September 11. To put it in perspective, you have to pass through a security check before you can even APPROACH the CHECK-IN counters.

I'd be tempted to keep my mouth shut especially if the whole terminal could be evacuated as a result.