Inconsistencies in airport security around the world

[Seat0B]

I have both my knee replaced, and the metal detector always goes off, so I’m really familiar with preemptively taking off my shoes and having a pat down. So in Darwin, I took off my shoes (well my thongs really) and got yelled at to out them back on. Passive aggressive, I thought, fine, I’ll do it but just wait till I have to go back through. Nope, the metal detector did not beep at all, even with 2 x 30 cm titanium rods in my legs. And that’s happened twice in Darwin now. Different standards up north!

 

[Franky]

I have both my knee replaced, and the metal detector always goes off, so I’m really familiar with preemptively taking off my shoes and having a pat down. So in Darwin, I took off my shoes (well my thongs really) and got yelled at to out them back on. Passive aggressive, I thought, fine, I’ll do it but just wait till I have to go back through. Nope, the metal detector did not beep at all, even with 2 x 30 cm titanium rods in my legs. And that’s happened twice in Darwin now. Different standards up north!

Recently went thru the new QF terminal in Perth T3/T4, and had to pass thru domestic security first and with two replacement knees, the usual off shoes and all the rest. When we were eventually called for the flight from the lounge upstairs, we had to go thru secondary screening, and no ping! Asked the security person why, and his reply was that the machine was 'on silent mode'!

 

[davidj]

Melbourne: Laptop stays in sleeve.
Canberra: Laptop stays in sleeve.
Brisbane: Laptop OUT of sleeve.

Quizzing BNE security, he gave some BS response around "looking for damages". They have no idea. God forbid someone takes IT onboard through Melbourne or Canberra

Ironically the router goes through fine in BNE.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I'm currently on the lookout for a new travel bag and funny enough, the convenience of laptop removal is right up there, along with a convenient inside pocket for cords, adapters and keys!

 

[TonyHancock]

This would make a decent Wiki.

OSL is tablets out, as was PVG last week.

 

[Helena Novak]

The most thorough security was in Urumqi in September. As in all Chinese airports, all luggage gets X-rayed before one is allowed to enter the airport. I was asked (politely) to remove a knife from my suitcase. The guard was kind enough to lift it up for me and to help me with unlocking it so that I could remove the knife. Makes sense to me as 1) Explosives could be set off in the departures hall and create dreadful damage. 2) There was nothing to stop me from getting the knife out of my suitcase once inside the departure hall and use it to attack people there. Urumqi has obviously learnt from the past Uighur knife attacks and tightened the security. I must add that the very knife had travelled in my suitcase on more than 30 trips and no one objected to it...until Urumqi.

At the security check we all had to remove our shoes (even thongs and thin sandals like I wore) and then show the sole of feet to the guards. Perhaps that thought that someone might cunningly tape something to their soles? The security check was very thorough and took its time. They maintained a serious, alert and professional demeanour throughout the process. Once you are through it is much more relaxed. I was so frazzled that I forgot one item at the security check point. I was actually allowed to return there, though I had to leave my handbag at the nearby counter. The security staff recognised me, smiling and waving my orphaned item at me.

Amazingly, when returning to Urumqi, just after disembarking from flight from Astana, we had to show the passport page with Chinese visa to two special guards BEFORE we entered the immigration section. When the guard asked me "Visa?" I foolishly smiled and said "yes, thank you, I have one." Ouch! He told me not to cause problems and after that a more experienced traveller took my passport and showed him my visa. Now I wonder what would have happened if I relied on TWOV as I initially wanted to.

It was nice that after we arrived, China Southern staff was there ready to escort us to our connecting flights or to a gratis hotel that the airlines offer to passengers with longer than 8 hours layover. Travelling in J, I have always had an airport escort to take me through the airport to the lounge. Only Urumqi did this for Y passengers as well.

The road abutting the departures/arrivals halls cannot be used by private vehicles and it is guarded by soldiers and a bullet proof vehicle with a gunner standing in it. Vehicles, including taxis, have to use the road about 10 metres away from the airport. Perhaps this is to ensure that nothing can be thrown into the airport halls from a passing vehicle that could then speed away.
Truly an exceptionally secure airport yet the halls are pleasant, full of chattering people with no army personnel in sight.

 

[BrockF]

Group explosive swabs at Sydney International today! Herdered into a group of four and it did seem to take a lot longer than usual.

 

[davidj]

About 3 months ago laptops were out of the sleeve in SIN.

Yesterday they're back in.

Security policy on the go.

 

[Cappuccino99]

TLV allow passengers to take liquids through. Most people chuck out their water bottles as this is the expectation in most countries so it's a bit of a surprise when they let you take them through security, regardless of liquid quantity/bottle size.

 

[openseat]

My recent flight from Honiara I wasn't allowed to carry a 100ml tube of cream in my carry on as my only liquid as it wasn't in the resealable plastic bag. A little perplexing. At least the workers there are polite unlike most security theatre check points.

 

[jsoprano]

I have a question relating to this: I was under the impression that when connecting to an international flight at an airport pretty much anywhere (under ICAO rules), you have to go through security again. For example when arriving in HKG, you go through security before being released into the Departures area; or the other scenario, in SIN everyone (connecting and Singapore-originating passengers) is going through security at the gate before departure.

I transited through Helsinki a few weeks ago, on the outbound arriving from NRT on a JL flight and connecting to AY to CDG (Schengen aka domestic). That was all normal and there was both immigration (entering Schengen) and a security checkpoint to get into the departures area.

But then on the way back, coming from FRA on AY and connecting to JL again onwards to NRT, we arrived at a remote stand, were bussed to the terminal and arrived on the lower floor near gate 16 (domestic prop gates I believe), had to take a staircase up into the Schengen departures area, and then following signage for the International (non-Schengen) gates, there was outgoing passport control, but that was it. So after clearing security in FRA, I did not go through security again until I arrived at NRT and connected there for my flight to MEL.

I found this most unusual. Is this a HEL thing, or a Schengen thing?

 

[Himeno]

I found this most unusual. Is this a HEL thing, or a Schengen thing?

It depends on the airport and how the traffic flow is set up. There are some airports where you go through connections security sometimes, but not others.

First time I went through DOH, I didn't get screened for the connection, 2nd time I did.
Some departures from DXB and DOH got screened once, others twice.

Connections through most US airports can be made without having to go through TSA again. It's only International flights arriving into the US where you have to go through TSA for the connection as everyone has to go landside regardless of type of connection.
at ORD, I>I connection means both CBP and TSA regardless of I departure terminal (all International arrivals at ORD at T5, then some flights get towed over to the other terminals for departure). D>I can be either no TSA or TSA again, depending on if you need to use the train to get to T5 or can use the bus.

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JFK can't seem to understand what "can't hold arms up" means. When someone can't hold their arms up for the body scanner, they are meant to be sent through the metal detector and then have an hand ETD swab. That has happened this trip at PDX, LAX (twice), DEN and DTW. It also happened at SYD on my prior trip.
No body scanner at YVR transborder, HND , DOH or VIE. Avoided scanners at MEL, LHR , and 2nd SYD.
Yet, JFK just treated "can't hold arms up" as "opt out" and did the normal over reaction pat down rather then what they are meant to do (despite telling 2 of them that I wasn't opting out, I couldn't hold my arms up).

I got told off at LHR. One time I get told that I didn't need my tablet out. Next time I got told I do.

 

[harvyk]

I have a question relating to this: I was under the impression that when connecting to an international flight at an airport pretty much anywhere (under ICAO rules), you have to go through security again. For example when arriving in HKG, you go through security before being released into the Departures area; or the other scenario, in SIN everyone (connecting and Singapore-originating passengers) is going through security at the gate before departure.
<snip>
I found this most unusual. Is this a HEL thing, or a Schengen thing?

Whilst I believe that to fly on a commercial airline beyond a certain size ICAO requires security screening, I also believe they are not too fussy about where that happens, provided once it has happened there is no chance for screened pax to mix with unscreened pax. It's up to the departure country to determine if the screening was up to scratch. It part of the reason why I can board an AA flight in MIA getting security screened there, fly to LAX and the walk straight onto my QF to SYD without passing through any security in LAX, since LAX trusts MIA TSA to have done the proper job.

Most countries however tend not to trust overseas ports to do the security screening of their onwards pax, which is why there is transit security these days, since if I was flying from country A to B to C, B probably doesn't trust A to have screened me to B's standards.

Schengen however is a different kettle of fish since in some respects the EU operates like one country made up of many states. So many things are shared between the Schengen countries.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Now I wonder what would have happened if I relied on TWOV as I initially wanted to.

Just in case anyone else is doing a similar itinerary, TWOV at Urumqi is fine. It is officially limited to 2 hours maximum transit (with up to 22 hours elsewhere in China on the same entry). Flying CZ-CZ there may be some lenience in this 2 hour limit. If flying CZ confirm directly with the airline. For other carriers, safer to stick with 2 hours, or get a visa.

 

[michaelj]

My RM Williams boots consistently breeze through MEL security on my feet. At SYD the same boots trigger the alarm and need to be removed. Been that way for over a year now.

 

[p--and--t]

At least they are consistent in some Chinese airports, everyone must have their baggage scanned although some naysayers might just spot a problem.....

 

[Himeno]

At least they are consistent in some Chinese airports, everyone must have their baggage scanned although some naysayers might just spot a problem.....

View attachment 166626

No one watching the xray screen?

They do the same with bags entering subway stations in Beijing.

 

[dajop]

At least they are consistent in some Chinese airports, everyone must have their baggage scanned although some naysayers might just spot a problem.....

But that's not security screening, its customs screening right? Or is it checked luggage screening upon entry to airport? Whilst no one is watching the terminal, I'm not convinced that "Big Brother" is not watching in some way (a computer?). If there was something suspicious, it would see whats in your luggage, it would recognise your face, know who you are and you would be hauled aside before you even reached the doors.