Inconsistencies in airport security around the world

[Pushka]

Prior to the terminal rebuild, CBR had 2 checkpoints. The QF checkpoint wanted umbrellas out, the VA checkpoint didn't. Now there is just the one checkpoint (and another upstairs for international) and they don't care about umbrellas.

Adelaide is positively cough about them. In the heat of summer you’d hear them call ‘umbrellas out’.

Us less-frequenters get caught-out by the inconsistencies; it didn’t even occur to me that blue-coloured socks weren’t allowed to stay in my carry-on during scanning, and were no signs to tell me (I assume each airport thinks the way they do it is standard) ...

Surely you jest about the blue Sox!

 

[JohnK]

Phones in inside jacket pocket, wallet in outside jacket pocket. Try to remember to take off belt in most airports in Asia. Shoes come off in BKK but don't remember anywhere else.

Very inconsistent.

 

[Forg]

Try to remember to take off belt in most airports in Asia.

Do they ask you to, or are the detectors sensitive?
I see others taking belts off, but I've never done so nor been asked to do so, but my list of visited airports is very short (only HKG, TPE & SIN in Asia).

 

[Sdtravel]

I saw this when it came out.
Might explain some of the inconsistencies you are talking about.

TL;DR
The UN organisation ICAO mandate that screening and searches must be performed but dont specify anything specific. Its up to each country to determine what screening they do to satisfy the very loose requirements.

 

[harvyk]

I guess I wouldn't mind so much about inconsistencies if the screeners where nicer about it.

The classic one is laptops out vs laptops stay in bag vs does iPads count as laptops? I've had some very crabby scanners because I did / didn't take out a laptop, completely ignoring the fact that 2 airports ago the scanners insisted on exactly the opposite.

Perhaps airport security would be viewed as less theater if all the scanners where polite about things and they got rid of the "respect my authoriah" types.

 

[juddles]

The way I read this thread is that it is deemed "unbelievable" that there are inconsistencies in procedures throughout the world.

For Christ's sake, what is "consistent" between all the nations of this planet??

I travel to a few places, and yes, the security procedures can be quite different. Laptop out, or in. Cig lighters OK, or not, etc etc. But is it a drama? No.

Taking shoes off? Leave them on, and if they want them off they will tell you. How hard is that????

 

[juddles]

“Hello all,

My name is ABC. I work as a security person in the departure screening at airport XYZ.

I spend my days trying to get passengers to comply with the security procedures that my bosses ask me to enforce.

It is a hard job. I never aspired to this caper as a child, but I needed work (have three kids and my wife is ill), so I was truly grateful to get the job, even though I quickly understood it was only available as not many people can endure it.

It is tedious and repetitive. An endless line of passengers approaching. Many know their stuff – they are the great ones. But they are in the minority. Despite us putting out signs to try to ease the process, every couple of minutes someone gets to the scanner still with their pockets bulging with all sorts of no-no items. I try to be patient, but I suffer the dual pressure of my bosses, who want throughput, and with the passengers in the queue, who also seem to expect a miraculous three-second experience. But if I do not enforce the latest guidelines my employers put on me, I lose my job.

Probably the worst part of every day (and it happens EVERY SINGLE SHIFT) is when a passenger complains about the process. My every day is filled with people saying “In my country we do it this way”. “Why do I have to take my laptop out – I didn’t on the last flight in FFF country” “Do I have to take my shoes off? Really??” As if it is such a horrendous thing to endure.

So I spend my day between passengers who are completely lost in the process, and with those who all “know” better than me how it should be done.

And the most hilarious part? The passengers who “know better”, get snarly and short and sarcastic with me. But then afterwards complain that I used my authority. That I did not smile as they gleefully gave me a serve of their wisdom.

I just do my job. I know it is not perfect. I started out loving the concept that despite the menial duties, I was doing my part to keeping everyone safe. But I get kicked every day.

Sorry for not smiling.

Mr. ABC”

 

[davidj]

Shoes come off in BKK but don't remember anywhere else.

In Trump land too

 

[Forg]

Is the shoe thing signposted when it’s needed?
That one would catch me out, I knew it was a thing just post 911 & didn’t realise it hadn’t gone away (like liquids in zip-locks for Oz domestic), just assumed the very few shoe-taker-offerers I’ve seen had steel soles or something.

 

[Franky]

As one with two replacement knees, no matter which airport I always take them off as invariably when the alarm goes off they send me back to do so.

 

[harvyk]

“Hello all,

My name is ABC. I work as a security person in the departure screening at airport XYZ.
<snip>

I just do my job. I know it is not perfect. I started out loving the concept that despite the menial duties, I was doing my part to keeping everyone safe. But I get kicked every day.

Sorry for not smiling.

Mr. ABC”

Welcome to any service job which you deal with the general public. There will always be a loser element of the public to deal with.
That said a culture of mutual respect and understanding goes along way to solving the unhappiness on both sides. Some places do it well, other places do it poorly.

 

[woodyren]

On my current travels.

China. Carried my shaving cream in my hand carry onto the plane in Shenyang. Tried to carry it back from Changsha....no dice, had to bin it.

Think it was in Turkey. Had to turn my laptop on. Not sure what would happen if the battery was flat.

 

[BrockF]

Was in AKL recently and for the explosive swipe test was swabbed three seperate times. Once for me - swabbed and put through the machine - once for my bag - once for my laptop. Seemed to take forever and all were negative. I mentioned to the security person that I hadn’t ever seen it done this way before. His reply almost left me laughing in that it was “both for security and efficiency.” Had to bite my tongue! Seems to be the total opposite that I have experienced where a few people are swabbed at the same time and then tested.

 

[HeavyElectricity]

Last year I flew SYD-BNE-PER, PER-AUH-MAN-SOU in 2 days (don't ask!).

For the AUH-MAN leg, passengers were required to demonstrate the ability to power-on our laptops at a gate security check - wouldn't have liked to deal with a drained battery in this situation!

For the MAN-SOU leg, I was forced to repackage my liquids at the bag scanner because the plastic bag was ~1cm too tall and ~1cm too wide - even though the bag itself was 3/4 empty (pretty much just had a roll-on deodorant and a mini toothpaste from an amenity kit).

 

[harvyk]

<snip> Seems to be the total opposite that I have experienced where a few people are swabbed at the same time and then tested.

Never seen it where a few people are swabbed at the same time.
Couldn't that risk contamination if someone does have something they shouldn't, thus making it difficult to isolate the pax?

 

[Sdtravel]

Never seen it where a few people are swabbed at the same time.
Couldn't that risk contamination if someone does have something they shouldn't, thus making it difficult to isolate the pax?

Ive had this at MEL before. They swap 5-6 people at a time and then run the test. No idea what happens if something shows up. Once you get through that your then left to go find the back of the security line.

 

[lobby]

Ive had this at MEL before. They swap 5-6 people at a time and then run the test. No idea what happens if something shows up. Once you get through that your then left to go find the back of the security line.

I also had this, but in Perth. The only problem was I was the only one in the line before security, my wife snuck through before me, and the lady told me to wait until there were two more people to swab. Took another couple of minutes until some more people came through, did the swab and let us through. In the time we were waiting for people, she could have done me by myself and still had time until the next person. My wife who had snuck through was already into a glass of bubbles before I made the lounge!

 

[Strategic Aviation]

For the AUH-MAN leg, passengers were required to demonstrate the ability to power-on our laptops at a gate security check

Yeah, that was a thing last year.

Never seen it where a few people are swabbed at the same time.

Also a thing.

They swap 5-6 people at a time and then run the test. No idea what happens if something shows up.

Presumably they reset the testing equipment (new swabs) and then test each of the pax individually.

 

[JohnM]

Bizarre one I had CAI late last year was having ordinary a few spare alkaline batteries (only small AA and AAA) in my hand luggage confiscated and binned. I was speaking to someone last week who struck CAI also last year making them pack their Li ion juice pack battery in checked luggage! Totally opposite to what is emphasised everywhere else. Very strange.

 

[jb747]

It's really the same as TV around the world....just different forms of theatre.