Transatlantic Flying...

[snorbury]

They think they're normal

 

[catrina]

I got in to a disagreement with them whilst flying to NZ via a one night stopover in LA. They insisted I removed all of the locks on our cases before submitting them to luggage. I refused, citing that we had valuable stuff in there that I didn't want "going missing" and I wasn't about to leave myself open to acquiring any "additional items" which could have caused me trouble further down the line.
.

Well, I understand your anger, but you have the US Congress to blame for that, not the immigration staff personally. After 9/11 Bush put a lot of pressure on congress to blindly rush in a number of ridiculous laws to make people feel more secure, not really thinking about the consequences. This being one of them.

Did you know they inspect something like 1 in 4 of these bags, as well? You get your luggage back and open it, and somewhere stuffed in the middle of all your things is a note from TSA saying they've searched your things.

 

[The Groke]

Well, I understand your anger, but you have the US Congress to blame for that, not the immigration staff personally.

Fair enough, but unfortunately they are the visable face of those policies, and therefore bear the brunt of my irritation.

Maybe I just got unlucky, but having travelled to a fair few places (U.S.A only once, I will admit) with equally strict immigration policies to enforce (NZ, Australia) LA was the only place where the immigration staff seemed to go out of their way to be intimidating and unpleasant whilst carrying out their duties.

 

[jæd]

Fair enough, but unfortunately they are the visable face of those policies, and therefore bear the brunt of my irritation.

Maybe I just got unlucky, but having travelled to a fair few places (U.S.A only once, I will admit) with equally strict immigration policies to enforce (NZ, Australia) LA was the only place where the immigration staff seemed to go out of their way to be intimidating and unpleasant whilst carrying out their duties.

US Immigration is always like this... In the past I've known them to make homophobic and racist remarks. Basically let them say and do whatever they want and realise the vast majority of Americans aren't like this.

 

[The Groke]

US Immigration is always like this... In the past I've known them to make homophobic and racist remarks. Basically let them say and do whatever they want and realise the vast majority of Americans aren't like this.

You are right of course.

I just hate the feeling of impotence that these people press upon you - the fact that they know and you know that a raised eyebrow from them is all it takes to have you stripped, violated and generally humiliated...at best. It could of course be much worse.

I actually really enjoy flying into and out of Dubai now I live here: I have an "e-gate" card, the account of which which has my fingerprints and other details etc (dons foil hat)

Going in and out of the country, I don't have to deal with anyone, I just go through a special gate, with no queue and swipe card + push finger on pad.

 

[jæd]

I just hate the feeling of impotence that these people press upon you - the fact that they know and you know that a raised eyebrow from them is all it takes to have you stripped, violated and generally humiliated...at best. It could of course be much worse.

The first time I had to deal with US immigration I was fairly amazed at how rude (and insulting) they were compared to other countries immigration. Now I just ignore it as its just (at most) 5 mins of hummiliation every 2/3 years... Its enough to make me avoid going to the US on a casual whim, but nothing to stop me going there for a holiday... And the benefits of the US (nice people, good food, cheap, cheap prices for everything) outweigh the 5 mins of hassle...

I actually really enjoy flying into and out of Dubai now I live here: I have an "e-gate" card, the account of which which has my fingerprints and other details etc (dons foil hat)

Don't you know what heart-attacks that idea is giving the tin-foil-hatted brigade as the US and UK are trying to implement it...?

 

[The Groke]

Don't you know what heart-attacks that idea is giving the tin-foil-hatted brigade as the US and UK are trying to implement it...?

It makes my life way easier and I don't really see it being that much different to a passport as a method of identification.....

I don't have a problem with fingerprints and biometric identification per se, but I am cautious as to how that data is used and by whom.

 

[Cadmus]

Delta? Twice.

It seems Delta lets you listen to the pilot - air traffic control conversations on your seat headset.

Link

 

[Cadmus]

As others have mentioned on this thread, US immigration officials are a bunch of officious, paranoid, humourless fuck-knuckles and dealing with them can take a degree of alertness.

UK officials are no different, you just don't notice it cos you don't have to go thru immigration. Same rules apply really: speak only when ur spoken to, have everything ready, be faultless, prove you're not gonna cost the country any money, etc, etc. I have never seen any immigration officer smile or joke regardless of the country i travelled to.