The 'Israelification' of airports: High security, little bother

[munitalP]

From : The Israelification' of airports: High security, little bother - thestar.com

While North America's airports groan under the weight of another sea-change in security protocols, one word keeps popping out of the mouths of experts: Israelification.

That is, how can we make our airports more like Israel's, which deal with far greater terror threat with far less inconvenience.

[edit by NM to remove full text content of copyrighted article. Please follow the link to see the full text]

 

[dfcatch]

25 minutes from parking to the lounge??? They're dreaming!!

Yes all those "interviews" happen as the article suggests, except that outbound immigration took 90 minutes, understaffed, and ridiculously slow. Outbound, I mean, you're leaving!!

And then yes, traditional security scan took less than 5 mins.

In speaking with others who have flown through Israel, everyone says outbound immigration in less than 60 minutes would be the exception.

 

[oz_mark]

"But, what can you do? Americans and Canadians are nice people and they will do anything because they were told to do so and because they don't know any different."

Herein, lies the crux of the matter. The enforcement methods used in the US are about compliance and control of the population, not about freedom and liberty.

Meanwhile, the terrorists will just look for other soft targets.....

 

[anat0l]

You wouldn't want to mess up or so much as question the procedures in Israel. With that many armed guards around, they aren't afraid to shoot anyone who so much as even presents the slightest hint of a threat.

A similar kind of thing doesn't exist in the US, but the TSA and DHS can make your life hell even without weapons.

Non-English speaking passengers are IMO one of the most vulnerable groups for these kinds of "psychological screening" procedures, mainly because their spotty command of English (or none at all) makes them look hesitant and thus naturally manifests as an apparent 'threat'.

 

[Ewok]

I have flown in and out of Ben-Gurion four times lately (last night in fact). It is true I would rather go through that airport than any US airport.

Yesterday I was "selected" so they went through all my carry on stuff, but from arriving at the airport to clearing customs was still only around 30 minutes.

They have it mastered...

 

[Ewok]

You wouldn't want to mess up or so much as question the procedures in Israel. With that many armed guards around, they aren't afraid to shoot anyone who so much as even presents the slightest hint of a threat.

I argued with them and won yesterday! I didn't realise Israel has a 50ml rule instead of 100ml like everywhere else. I had a 75ml paste in my carry-on taken from me, but got to keep it in the end

Most of the profiling seemed to be single white females!

 

[Postcode]

Have flown into and out of TLV in recent years and consider the security staff and immigration very thorough but much more pleasant than anything I've experienced in the LOTFAP in recent years. I have had no problem with them at all.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Is that form of efficiency available in the states?

They seem to chase their tail always a few blocks behind the bad guys?

Look at the air cargo issues recently.

 

[opusman]

Was anyone travelling in the US today for "national opt-out day" ? Was there any sign of any sort of organised protests?

 

[serfty]

See this FT thread: National Opt-Out Day: November 24, 2010 - FlyerTalk Forums

Cliff Notes:

• Most airport operated as many WTMDs they could, rather than just a few.
• TSA Operated far fewer of their Nude-o-Scopes than normal
• TSA staff seemed to be under strict instruction to be a nice as possible
• Many people simply chose other means of transport
• Result - Wait times were far lower than normal and PAX had a generally far more pleasant time at security than has been the case.

 

[ethernet]

Don't touch my jugs.

No matter how they dress it up, VOTES are being decided and lost.
People voting not to fly and voting idiots out that try to justify the inexcusable.
First time the line was crossed is when the TSA said it would ban laptops.
Airlines came back, and said you do that - we are finished if we loose business travelers.
This is the 2nd Time, where 'strike a balance' has been decided by a committee out of touch with the real world. Women in particular, will be nursing a grudge - where groping is now socially acceptable.

I hope the read the bit where an ex Israel security person said creases can hide stuff, and could get through the nude-o-meter. Seems the bad guys have abandoned 100ml carry-ons and have gone for parcels and non-passenger delivery. (and destroyed the christmas spirit with a $9 surcharge).

Lets go for this way instead.

 

[dfcatch]

Well travelling on the 24th was fine. More families and kids than usual, but otherwise no issues.

Personally, the more people that opt out and choose not to fly, the less people in my way as I negotiate the airport.

I don't care - feel me up!!