I hate Sydney (airport security) international

[BCons]

Was in some trepidation going thru LAX with elderly parent in a wheelchair and a pushy porter wheeling it. But - we went upstairs, around the queue and right to the front of a special needs line and thru in a flash. Most courteous, helpful display by TSA people ever, and nobody blinked t me tagging along, but I guess TSA there hv had 15-odd years to work out they don't have to be the complete p#@#s they first were. Maybe SYD security will eventually learn that as well ?

 

[Justinf]

I have just spent two and a half weeks travelling throughout the US and Canada.
My usual trepidation about their security process needn't have happened.
Only one minor delay in Denver, the rest easy and the attendants very, very nice and helpful.

 

[Quickstatus]

Where was the QF person in all this and why didn't they speak up on your behalf? What a coughpy experience though

Nothing any airline can do. Contract security. Law unto themselves

 

[kevrosmith]

I'm sure Sydney Airport would welcome your feedback (I genuinely mean that.)

Customer service

 

[Quickstatus]

I’m the US I was witness to several wheelchair miracles. These users are miraculously cured after they have enjoyed the expedited transit through security and boarding process. Invariably they refuse wheelchair on disembarkation because it means they have to disembark last.

They are usually accompanied by a number of able bodied entourage who piggy back on the expedited journey

This gives bona fide wheelchair users and their family a bad name

 

[BCons]

I’m the US I was witness to several wheelchair miracles. These users are miraculously cured after they have enjoyed the expedited transit through security and boarding process. Invariably they refuse wheelchair on disembarkation because it means they have to disembark last.

They are usually accompanied by a number of able bodied entourage who piggy back on the expedited journey

This gives bona fide wheelchair users and their family a bad name

Heathrow immigration at t4 includes one desk for wheelchairs - we observed from a nearby queue a rather irritated immig officer refusing entry a large entourage from the subcontinent because the one person in a wheelchair didn’t have a doctor’s certificate.. sent them all to the back of the also-ranks queue. A few people around us applauded..

 

[Ralphie]

I have just spent two and a half weeks travelling throughout the US and Canada.
My usual trepidation about their security process needn't have happened.
Only one minor delay in Denver, the rest easy and the attendants very, very nice and helpful.

I had the same reservations last year, had never had a particular problem in previous visits, but thought with current climates, arriving in immigration there and then the TSA experiences could be heightened.

It was actually the easiest and most polite experience I’ve had while travelling over there. Never once felt treated badly or rudely, and when there was a pat down it was as respectful and open as it could be.

 

[ethernet]

SYD Airport Quarantine Exit Tip.
Avoid those $2 shop stripey chinese zip bags because they assume high odds of finding food/meat/fruit inside.
Appearances matter it seems.

Looks like a trainee was directing everyone to the examine in detail line. My line exploded (long as the hills) so the calvery was called, and a supervisor started questioning the english speakers, and said supermarket food in there - she had a peek - and was ordered out - and git - no xrays.

Sadly the middle-east and plain as Jane Chinese were getting caught with heaps of undeclared whatever, and stripey checkered bag and an overloaded trolley was a good indicator.

 

[Forg]

Having flown OS all of a half-dozen times in my life ... well maybe 8 ... I can’t recall a particularly bad security or customs experience.
Well, apart from long queues because Busy.

 

[ICUDr]

Poor management from SYD indeed. Sometimes they ask you to do immigration together if you come in a group or family and now they completely separate you. Go figure

I have never had an issue with BNE Int nor with SYD but most of the times BNE Int immigration is way more efficient than SYD.
Only fly via SYD for the extra SCs and the nicer Flounge, I fly back via BNE tho

“Common Sense ain’t Common” - Will Rogers

An smart bum ICU nurse recently used the "common sense" argument to argue with me regarding a small, non life saving course of action. My reply: If common sense existed then this person would NOT have taken a whole box of painkillers, around the 20th tablet the patient would have thought... wait... maybe it was meant to be 2 tablets?

Once back in the scanner they needed to re-calibrate it. This caused several minutes delay. I became very concerned about my out-of-sight possessions.

By the time I was processed and rushed over to the x-ray belt, a passenger had taken my wallet out of the tray and was handing it to a person she thought owned it!

Except for my belt and laptop (with a colourful sticker, The laptop, not the belt. to be able to recognise it) Everything stays inside of my bag.
and if I am asked to take off my watch (Yes, I'm talking about DXB) then I put it inside of my bag too

 

[stm1sydney]

Except for my belt and laptop (with a colourful sticker, The laptop, not the belt. to be able to recognise it) Everything stays inside of my bag.
and if I am asked to take off my watch (Yes, I'm talking about DXB) then I put it inside of my bag too

Good strategy. Well in advance of the front of the queue, I stuff everything from my pockets/body (including watch every time) into the front pocket of my bag, so they are not loose in the trays.

 

[Lord_Lenny]

Except for my belt and laptop (with a colourful sticker, The laptop, not the belt. to be able to recognise it) Everything stays inside of my bag.
and if I am asked to take off my watch (Yes, I'm talking about DXB) then I put it inside of my bag too

That's my preferred tactic everytime, everything goes into the bag just after check in usually, passport (if needed) and boarding pass (if not using my phone) go in after immigration if I'm flying internationally. I'll often put my belt in my bag too especially if I know I'm going to have to take off my shoes.

I'd rather clear security then faff around once I'm through getting everything together again.

 

[davidj]

What irks me is the fact that most pax arrive at the security belt then decide to take apart their whole life slowing down the whole process.

Bring on 'fast lanes', for those of us already packed and 'naked' for the scanners. Personally, I can walk right through and drop my bag at the scanner, allowing for instant security airside sanitation.

 

[Forg]

I see mention in the prior couple of posts about belt removal, and admittedly I probably only average 3 return flights per year, but I've never had an x-ray go off as a result of belt or shoes & have hence never removed them.

What's the deal, is this required in other countries (eg. I've not travelled to the USA and I know their security people are notoriously ... notorious)?

 

[Lord_Lenny]

I see mention in the prior couple of posts about belt removal, and admittedly I probably only average 3 return flights per year, but I've never had an x-ray go off as a result of belt or shoes & have hence never removed them.

What's the deal, is this required in other countries (eg. I've not travelled to the USA and I know their security people are notoriously ... notorious)?

Honestly I think it's down to the type of belt and the sensitivity of the scanners?? When I travelled for business I wore a leather belt with solid buckle: SYD and MEL were fine to pass security without removing it, but it would often set off BNE's scanners (both at the 'normal' check in and the VA Premium entry). Usually when I'm travelling with Lady Lenny it's like a canvas belt with a solid buckle but this used to set off scanners everywhere I went so I always take it off now to be safe.

Boots I've only really noticed when I fly internationally. If I'm wearing my RM Williams that I wear for work then they're usually ok (and easy to get on and off anyway) but I often wear my walking/hiking boots and they always have to come off.

To be honest it's probably a case of me being a little over prepared, but it's become part of my routine now and it was almost muscle memory for a few years when I was doing some heavy flying.

 

[Quickstatus]

Where was the QF person in all this and why didn't they speak up on your behalf? What a coughpy experience though

QF staff are required to not intervene on the passengers behalf in matters such as these - according to an ex CSM.

The problem as I see it @GPH , too many people use the “miracle wheelchairs” sometimes followed by an entourage of able bodied followers giving true wheelchair dependent customers a bad name.
Yes and the other significant issue is contracted staff who are not paid much and do not have any stake in good customer experience because of limited career prospects.

 

[Deleted member]

QF staff are required to not intervene on the passengers behalf in matters such as these - according to an ex CSM.

The problem as I see it @GPH , too many people use the “miracle wheelchairs” sometimes followed by an entourage of able bodied followers giving true wheelchair dependent customers a bad name.
Yes and the other significant issue is contracted staff who are not paid much and do not have any stake in good customer experience because of limited career prospects.

Well I do agree, but I don’t think the wheel chair thing has hit the epidemic proportions of LOTFAP .....
Well not yet anyway.
But then I guess unless I carry and display photos of the serious head on collision........
However as no one actually knows the full story, it is a dangerous precedent to “assume”.

 

[McLarin]

I haven't transited through SYD but reading this makes me never want to. I do have an issue in MEL where each time I've travelled Internationally I've been given an express path card yet seem to not have an express path open. Is there set times when its available? I've travelled in various times of the day/night and have never once utilised it, I've even gone as far as asking where the queue for it is.

 

[Buzzard]

No problems at 05:00 this morning thankfully other than my passport not scanning.

 

[Deleted member]

No problems at 05:00 this morning thankfully other than my passport not scanning.

Where are you off to Buzz?