I travel overseas about four times a year and am getting a bit sick of the overkill at airport security checks. I have just returned to Australia on a flight from Heathrow via Bangkok and had to go through three checks of my hand luggage. First at Heathrow to board the flight again in Bangkok when transiting to my connecting flight and again at the gate lounge.
My point is if it's done at Heathrow why is it necessary to have it done again twice as it's not possible that I could have added anything to my hand luggage after boarding at Heathrow.
Would appreciate comments from other frequent flyers.
Airport Security Checks
ascotno1 on 07/07/2019 - 07:05
Comments
This. When I flew back from the Seychelles, I had virtually zero security checks at Mahe. The reality is that some airports are more lax about security.
Welcome to Security Theatre, you see inconvenience, others see a warm and fuzzy feeling of safety.
Because it’s each countries law and no country will rely on another’s lack of checking. The airport has an obligation to perform this under the cohntries law and also to the airline.
I get your point, but Would you be comfortable if a fellow passenger transiting the same airport as you and boarding the same flight didn’t go through security but got on the plane originally from <insert terrorist country>., or insert <drug ample country>
What if you were a pilot, I bet you would love the extra security then. Try being a pilot you spend half your life undoing your belt, and not in a good way.
It is a pain in the ass, but that’s life… thanks terrorists and the like.
Well, a smart pilot or punter would wear airport friendly attire for a smoother transition through security.
Know how to play the game and it ain't so bad.
Yep exactly.
I'm a pilot and we get a uniform that has very little metal in it. For example, the only metal on the belt are the two pins which lock into the holes.
I also never carry aerosols, I find it quite easy to use the alternatives. Makes security quite easy to go through actually. Only painful part is the explosives test which I reckon we get singled out for but even so it's only 30 seconds or so.
The notion that you couldn't have added anything to your hand luggage after the first check is ludicrous. You may know staff that work at any of the airports that can hand you something.
We want more "Border Security" comedic materials. Sheesh, haven't seen that show in a while.
The main issue here is Bangkok airport. It's pretty notorious for multiple unnecessary checks (well maybe they are necessary considering how poorly run the airport is). Last time we transited Bangkok I think we went through 3 security checks. That was just after the king had died and security was even more crazy than normal.
Airports such as Singapore and Hong Kong are much more efficient. They only have one security check for transiting passengers.
I am pretty sure that those hand luggage security checks at Bangkok are a requirement of the Australian Govt.for flights coming here.
I've flown to heaps of places internationally from Bangkok and those hand luggage checks only ever happen on the way back to Australian.Same for Hong Kong. The Australian government mandated an extra check to confiscate any duty free alcohol you buy in HK airport (under the guise of security)
Transited in HK in October last year. Has it changed since then? There was just the one general check after getting off the previous flight before entering the departure area. No checks at the gate before boarding the flight to Australia.
There's only one check in Singapore as well, at the gate just before boarding.
@tranter: Not sure. When I was last there, there was an additional check just before boarding. It was designed so that you could not purchase duty free alcohol in HKIA, when I asked the security screening staff, they even said as much, that it was an Australian government initiative and only applied to flights to Australia.
It may have changed now (hopefully).
If you're traveling four times a year, then all the security theater should be second nature by now.
It not going anywhere anytime soon. Learn the system. Optimize your habits and behaviors to suit your particular tolerances.
For me, I've eliminated a lot of the stuff that's allowed, but nonetheless makes navigating the security checks more painful than it should be. For stuff that's must have - I know the drill for each of the airports that I frequent most. With a little forethought, I have everything packed in my carry on such that I can easily unpack and repack for the checks.
Another issue - especially, in Outback or
in smaller towns with an airport (Not just
an airstrip, in a paddock) - is:C'th gov't pushing the airport owner/oper-
ator to put in COSTLY to buy & COSTLY to
maintain bag & person scanners.Some towns may need to reach deep into the
pockets (ie, raise their rates on All of
their residents) to pay, 'cause they
Bought the airport [from C'th gov't…?]
years ago…A bit off topic to just take a stab at the government?
fly private
Depends on the country. Some you can walk straight on, some are more hassle, but there is no queuing up in line.
Simple - you look dodgy
Think 9-11. Do.not.assume.
Great.And.Necessary.Emphasis.
Would not mind if it was just a walk through but it's a line up in queue for 30 minutes plus every time. And in some airports you have to take off your shoes others you don't. Can figure that one either.
I suspect "shoes off for everyone" is to save time for the 80% of folk because of the 20% of folk whose shoes trigger the scanner and have to go back and take them off. Runs more smoothly if everyone takes them off.
My advice is don't carry any guns or bombs. They don't like when you have them.
Why would one airport/country trust another?
If there is an incident, blame is on the most recent airport, which would affect future travelling via that airport and big loss of income.