The security desk or passport control desk
By maximax8
@maximax8 (31046)
United Kingdom
July 28, 2010 10:08am CST
When at the airport a traveler has to go though security. On my last trip a man looked at my boarding pass and then he said have a lovely day. I turned the corner to see lots of people in lines waiting to go through security. They are able to see with their machines what is in the baggage. They made me taste my baby's drinks and that was horrible. They only allow 100 ml of each liquid put in a transparent bag. It is sad that travelers can't take drinks with them. The other side of security the water bottles tend to be quite pricey.
At the passport control desk in the past they saw the cover and let each person through when my own nationality come back home. Now there are long lines of travelers. They look at the details of each traveler and put something into their computer. I read about one man's experiences. He had a British passport and he was black. He was born in West Africa but then moved to England when he was a child. He married an Australian lady and they lived in London. Every time he goes to Australia the immigration staff made bad comments about him. They said they expected trouble from someone from that part of the world.
What do you think of airport security?
Have you found staff at the passport control desk pleasant?
Have you ever had to wait a long time to get through the screening?
What do you think of how the black man was treated?
3 people like this
7 responses
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
28 Jul 10
dear maximax,
it is always rude to treat people badly because they are colored. if it is security they are after, they just have to be more keen in looking after the baggages or even people, without giving any embarassing comments.
have a nice day.
ann
@marguicha (223297)
• Chile
28 Jul 10
At those times, when I see it, I SO wish we were all checkered
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
30 Jul 10
Although some may say that we, as a race, have already made great strides in terms of advancement in the understanding of other cultures, it is sad that occurence like this at airport security, is still commonplace.
We still have a lot of growing up and understanding to do. And remarks like these do not help.
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
29 Jul 10
maximax8,
While it is good to see airport security tightening up for the safety of all passengers however, I feel that of late there has been some paranoia over the state of things.
Like in your case where you are actually made to drink your baby's drinks and the unnecessary discrimination resulted from authorities trying to carry out their job. Lately, I am not sure if you are aware but the Homeland Security in US has actually came up with a passenger no fly list where even their own do not even know how their names can be in that list or let these people appeal for their innocence.
I know that this implementation is for the better good but I feel that it should be fine tuned for a better and effective enforcement against terrorism.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
29 Jul 10
The comments to the black fellow were way out of line, of course. In general, I find security people and passport people to be professional and pleasant. I've had to deal with having my stuff gone through a few times, but it wasn't too bad.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
29 Jul 10
Hi maxi~ I must admit I only fly maybe once a year so I am by
no means an "experienced flyer" and I flew for the very
first time last year since before 9/11. I had to go see
my Mom in Florida, a 3 hour flight from NY-Laguardia Airport!
Now since 9/11 TSA has some many new rules and regulations
to remember when just simply packing a suitcase it is almost
impossible. The checking in processing is long, difficult,
tediuous and you never know if YOU will be ONE of the CHOSEN
for a " full body pat down"! They aren't playing at the NY Airports
and you better not be either! No kidding around with the TSA
because one wrong word could land you in jail or worse! The
screening process could take up to 1 1/2 hours to 2 or more
hours for a full flight! And this is just a simple Domestic
short run flight!
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
28 Jul 10
I always bring an empty water bottle and fill it when I'm through the security check. It works perfectly here (Trondheim, Norway) as they have proper water in the taps and you can regulate the temperature, in Oslo they have only luke warm water so it's a bit too cold to wash with and a bit too warm to drink :-/ It works in Finland and Austria too, as they have good water. It didn't really work for me in the US as I think the water always tasted of chlorine.
Security checks seem to target people from the way they look, but with a British passport it seems a bit stupid. I went to a conference once with a bloke from somewhere in the South of Africa. He had PhD position in the UK, a flat, two years left with salary, but to get into Austria he needed all kinds of extra documents, he had to prove he had money etc. He didn't need anything of that to get into Hungary, no checks when he took the train to Budapest from Vienna, he was the only one checked when he went back on the same train. Which is weird, because the people smuggling things on those trains look like they come from Easter Europe.
@marguicha (223297)
• Chile
28 Jul 10
Hi Maxine,
I think all this so called "security measures" at airports is plain nonsense. And it is harmfull as it is breeding hathred between people.
My youngest daughter has an american "family" She had a one year scholarship in the US and the Sharpes became part of our lives. The last time she went to see them, she said she would never set her feet in the US again even though he has a wonderful visa. She went with her 2 children. Vicente was 3 months old. They made her take Vicente´s diapers out "to check". Meanwhile, Carolina cried and yelled that she wanted to go home.
I am absolutly sure that terrorists are not stupids. If they want to hickjack an airplane, they have the means to do it. I also think that all this panic about terrorism is more terrifieing than what they did. Wars take a bigger toll on civilians than what happened at the US in Sept, 11th. I could go on. I often wonder how many civilians have been killed in Irak (just to name one war).
I think your story about the black gentleman was absolutly disgusting, against freedom, racist and by all means a legal terrorist act.
I have never had problems myself at control desks though. It seems I make people work for me instead of the other way around
. It might be because I´m an old witch.
. It might be because I´m an old witch.
