Travelling

We are not Muslim, I'm not veiled in any way. We are all Caucasian. I'm German, my husband is American, our kids are both. And yes, we have gotten preferential treatment because of having several young kids in tow either by being ushered to the business or first class check-in. The last time we had somebody come and take our tickets and passports (on both sides of the Atlantic). Both did an overwrite somehow on the e-ticket booth and checked us in there. Then they went to the counter got eight lagguage bands, put them on the lagguage, carried it back to the counter and just send it through while another customer's paperwork was checked at the same counter. They did ask all the relevant questions and such but we didn't have to stand in the long line. I assume with this group it also could have been that they know these people probably will run through extra checks at the customs checks because of the veils. So they rushed them through luggage check-in, probably hurried them over to customs, just so they could make the plane. Would you have liked to wait for them to make it through customs and have a delayed take-off because of that? Boarding, families with young kids often can board early and many do seat reservations preferably in a way that their kids can't bother other passengers. I know we try to do that. Now at immigration in the US, if they themselves went to the front of the line, it's rude, but of course nobody would say anything, that would be racist;) Now if they were led there, it could have been that they would have to be checked in a separate area anyway. Most regular passengers don't know that but extra checks have to walk to a separate office for immigration verification. They show there info at the regular counter, there names are checked in the computer and marked for special check, the passports and stuff are handed back and they are given instructions on where to go to get the passport stamped before they can enter the country. I had to do that once because I had an open ticket and only a tourist visa. Now with the green card. That's standard. The airlines are responsible for people having the right visas or they have to take them back home for free. If you are a US citizen and your husband doesn't have a green card, that always raises a red flag, because the assumption is that once in the US he might apply for a green card. The gate agents are instructed, now more than ever, to ask those questions, although she shouldn't have kept insisting like that. For that you should complain to the airline. That was unnecessary. I don't know about faces on passport pictures. I thought the pictures had to show those. Are you absolutely sure the faces aren't on there? They do have to have them on US passports. There is no exemption. "Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and even then, may not cover any portion of the applicant's face." That's also true for the visa waiver program. If they had a visa, the visa, not the passport would show the face. Now, if they are diplomats and family, all bets are off;)

I think I would do the very same thing but I bet it does not do you any good to do it. they wander why so many terrorist and other people that are not allowed here, get in. The people are letting them in and not thoroughly checking them but then again, they want to run someone else through the mill, who has already proven to be valid.