Airport Security

[RUSHBURY]

We flew Glasgow to Orlando via Newark. The fingerprinting and photos didn't seem to delay us much at all - maybe we were lucky. My DS8 didn't get his photo taken or his fingerprints done - much to his disappointment - the immigration officer told him that he didn't need ot done as he was 'special' - this made his day. DD14 and DD17 had there's done.

 

[disneyholic family]

Obi Wan Kenobim-.....absolutely....a total waste of time........

 

[vernon]

oh, and by the way, it has nothing to do with illegal immigration ("wetbacks") and everything to do with terrorism....

IMHO it's an attempt to be seen to be doing something. The fact that it won't contribute a jot to security isn't the point, it's so the current administration can point to these measures and tell their voting public "see there's proof we're taking steps to make you safer" and without major inconvenience to the American Public. What is blindly ignored by much of the US public, is that those who carried out 9/11 had correct and legal documents, their visas were in order, they'd cleared checks that were as strict as the current ones just to get into the country and that these new checks wouldn't have picked them up either.

As far as it helping to prevent "future" acts, kinda hard when you're dealing with suicide bombers, not many of them re-offend . 9/11 was commited by terrorists with legal docs, and most (if not all) of them didn't have any terrorist background.

It has little to do with terrorism, and everything to do with winning votes, JMHO.

 

[Andy Lou & Meg]

To be honest, the security checks in Gatwick are pretty tiresome, but not too bad, and you accept that you need it to be stringent now in today's climate.
Orlando International is another problem though....
I really can't see the point of putting my luggage through 3 different X-Ray machines upon arrival. After queueing for ages to get through immigration, the last thing you need after an 8 hour flight is to keep messing about with you baggage.
I know why they do it, but surely 1 X-Ray will spot anything untoward?

 

[maureen4200040]

Hi,

Since you are travelling with a disabled husband, be sure to get Airport assistance. I requested this when travelling with my mother last year. On arrival at Sanford airport we were the last passengers off the plane. We were collected by Airport staff with wheelchairs and taken through to immigration. (Airport staff will push the wheelchair through to the queue mainly for disabled travellers).

Our passports etc were checked quicker than all the other passengers on our flight, we were then taken to luggage collection (another quick process)
in total I would say it took us around 20minutes from getting off the plane to departing the airport.

When requesting Airport assistance remember you need to book it on both legs of your journey.


maureen4200040

 

[alisonbestford]

Sounds a great idea to me Maureen - all I have to do now is convince DH that we could do with a hand at the airport.
I'll practically have to carry him off the plane but will he admit it?!

Men

I'll 'give it a whirl' tho as I must admit that I do get pretty fed up trying to juggle everything off the plane and either not leaving anything behind or murdering someone in the process
Stick a prolonged check-in on top of that and I may not be responsible for my own actions.....

Alison

 

[Funky_dino]

sanford this yr was pretty good really, went through really quick with no probs, we didn't bother putting padlocks on our cases we just left them and they all came back fine at gatwick, although i took my digi camera, ipod and stuff in my carry on, and was ok excpet............. when i went through the gate i set it off. I had to remove my ring, watch, belt, shoes and hat. then i had to demonstrate my camera, ipod and mobile phone working, which is quite a common thing they ask if u have elec stuff on u.

 

[MazdaUK]

First time we went to America we took our SLR camera with us and at customer were asked to take the lens off - unfortunately my husband had completely forgotten how to do that! (we only had the one lens - lucky the customs bloke knew what to do)

So if taking a new toy, take the instructions too to avoid red faces!

 

[jjpenguin]

Just back from WDW. Getting into the US was no problem, flew via Newark and it was very quick going through passports etc. Fingerprinting is quick & painless and doesn't add much time. I only had hand baggage so didn't have to go through the collect, scan, drop off rigmarole.

Getting out of the US was a whole different matter! First my case (checked in this time) was selected for an extra check ; I waited till it had gone through the x-ray as it was locked, but wasn't allowed to open it. Security was v. stroppy. Have no idea what caused it? maybe the 2 containers of DKNY body creme? Stuff was swabbed, but they didn't take everything out thank goodness.

And then (maybe because of this) I was picked for extra security check and had to wait for ages before being scanned & frisked and have all carry on luggage searched and swabbed. No idea why, maybe cause I first had internal flight MCO to Houston ?? anyway it was a pain in the ***, took forever, and the fact that there was a security officer next to me looking at his colleagues holiday snaps just emphasised the pointlessness of it all!!

Also at Houston there was no check whatsoever, a lady at check in took the green card and a security chap glanced at my passport and that was it.

It is more 'show and tell' than that it has any real use as far as I can see.

 

[natalielongstaff]

we flew into the us with virgin,but out of the us on american airlines and to me they seemed a lot stricter than the gatwick lot!! however that said it didnt take too long. we did have to take our shoes off and have our feet checked?? and ds(3) loved being made to stand feet apart arms outstretched and kept doing it while the rest of us were checked so the lady let him have another go!

 

[disneyvillainlover]

I have to comment on some statements that were made..

Every airport in the USA has the same checks. If you did not go through security when you connected it was because you never left the secure area of the airport. At Chicago we had to go through security to get to the gate at Philly we never because you do not leave the 'past security' side.

The probable reason for the case going through extra checks is because you have to have your cases unlocked so the fact that yours were locked raised suspision.

The 9 11 suiciders used internal flights which needed no security at the time 'like riding a bus' that is why they managed to do what they did .. the USA thought that they were safe 'at home' big eye opener for them..
I mean my mum was on a connected flight pre 9 11 and people were boarding the plane asking to buy a ticket!!

Immigration takes as long as it takes.. and just like any line I join I always get the one that doesn't move LOL but hey I am going on holiday and it is only minutes when all is said and done.