Unusual & intrusive questions by AA agent at Barelona Airport

[2theship]

We were asked very similar questions in the Rome airport on our way home. They were odd but we answered them politely. When we went through security, my knee replacement caused me to have a VERY thorough pat down. I had a lot of smart remarks on the tip of my tongue but chose to keep them to myself.

[jaxonboy]

Maybe A.A. was more interested in protecting their multi million dollar airplane than the person checking your passport was.

 

 

 

Exactly, and the souls onboard.

 

 

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[FPP777]

That does not mean that I have to accept it. Again, if placing responsibility on the agent we are all in trouble.

 

By the way, when I went thru security screen at the airport, I set off an alarm. Was asked to step aside and expected to be scanned with a wand which is normal procedure at US airports. Guess what, none was done. He asked if the specific carry on bag was mine and he just touched my bag with some utensil and I was given the clearance to proceed on my merry way. Our gate was at T1 B62 which could only get to via add'l security checkpoint. There were some 6-7 gates in this location. We showed our passports and boarding ticket. Same done upon boarding plane. Don't know if this was only for AA flights or included other carriers.

 

They are just not agents. I work for American Airlines and I can assure you that all of our security people are trained to the highest standards. All airlines have ground security coordinators working in different aspects of the travel process to ensure the public has the safest possible travel experience. Drop your nose just a bit and stop snubbing these trained individuals. You are not that important.

[grapau27]

How many blond-haired Americans went to join ISIS? How many have committed terrorist attacks?

 

How many dead at the Bataclan Theatre, Paris? 130, and 384 injured. No blond-haired Americans there, only in the audience.

 

And in Beslan, Russia, in 2004, since you are delving back into history with Lockerbie as we call it here, what about the 385 dead when Chechen Muslim terrorists invaded a school and held 1100 people hostage for three days until Special Forces went in? No blond-haired Americans there!

 

As Sun Tzu said: "Know your enemy". He sure ain't me or an 85 year old granny.

 

 

 

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Very good post.

 

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[grapau27]

What are you talking about? If it took someone as many years of education to become a TSA or customs agent as I spent to become a physician I'd say that person was too dumb to be in that position in the first place. Most people that I deal with have not spent as many years in school as I did. So what?

Exactly,some jobs can be learned a lot quicker than more specialist jobs.

 

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[Bollinge]

I was pulled aside for an explosives check at Heathrow once. It didn't bother me in the least. And I think the agent new he was going to come up with nothing just from my demeanor when I was pulled out of line... I was more curious than anything else.

 

 

 

I have had various parts of me and my carry-on luggage swabbed for explosive screening on multiple occasions, even though I am an over-sixty white Caucasian.

 

I have no objections to that whatsoever.

 

What I do object to are the inane questions in the name of so called "security" directed at the whole of the travelling public, rather than to those who potentially pose a real security risk. See above.

 

 

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[pspercy]

All of this has been pretty much standard in Europe since at least the late 1970s.

As for profiling, I hope they are.

[grapau27]

I was pulled aside for an explosives check at Heathrow once. It didn't bother me in the least. And I think the agent new he was going to come up with nothing just from my demeanor when I was pulled out of line... I was more curious than anything else.

I am always very pleasant and get the same back.

Also when we are passing security i always smile and say hello because i have nothing to hide.

 

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[Fitzget]

I travel to Europe for work a lot, and I always get asked questions like this, or "intrusive" questions, before my return flight. It's normal, and it's everyone, not just you.

 

Basically, they're asking you a lot of questions that you may not have thought to make up in your head prior to flying, trying to trip you up, in case you're not who you say you are. The US could stand to better their security.

[grapau27]

They are just not agents. I work for American Airlines and I can assure you that all of our security people are trained to the highest standards. All airlines have ground security coordinators working in different aspects of the travel process to ensure the public has the safest possible travel experience. Drop your nose just a bit and stop snubbing these trained individuals. You are not that important.

Thank you for an insider's knowledge.

 

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[Fitzget]

How many blond-haired Americans went to join ISIS? How many have committed terrorist attacks?

 

How many dead at the Bataclan Theatre, Paris? 130, and 384 injured. No blond-haired Americans there, only in the audience.

 

And in Beslan, Russia, in 2004, since you are delving back into history with Lockerbie as we call it here, what about the 385 dead when Chechen Muslim terrorists invaded a school and held 1100 people hostage for three days until Special Forces went in? No blond-haired Americans there!

 

As Sun Tzu said: "Know your enemy". He sure ain't me or an 85 year old granny.

 

 

 

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So blonde haired Americans aren't terrorists? You need to research a little more. :rolleyes:

[Ocean Boy]

I have had various parts of me and my carry-on luggage swabbed for explosive screening on multiple occasions, even though I am an over-sixty white Caucasian.

 

I have no objections to that whatsoever.

 

What I do object to are the inane questions in the name of so called "security" directed at the whole of the travelling public, rather than to those who potentially pose a real security risk. See above.

 

 

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I read that post. Maybe it is because of my blue eyes that I rarely encounter any issues in airports.:)

[S.A.M.J.R.]

I have had various parts of me and my carry-on luggage swabbed for explosive screening on multiple occasions, even though I am an over-sixty white Caucasian.

 

I have no objections to that whatsoever.

 

What I do object to are the inane questions in the name of so called "security" directed at the whole of the travelling public, rather than to those who potentially pose a real security risk. See above.

 

 

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So if someone is white or over 60, they shouldn't be subject to security?

[grapau27]

So blonde haired Americans aren't terrorists? You need to research a little more. :rolleyes:

We have seen women and kids used as suicide bombers and yes anyone in theory could potentially be a risk but 95%+ would fit most peoples idea of the muslim type terrorist and it makes sense to check them more thoroughly.

 

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[grapau27]

I read that post. Maybe it is because of my blue eyes that I rarely encounter any issues in airports.:)

So you are their 'Blue eyed Boy' lol.

 

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[tiny260]

I didn't pay attention to the time frame this happened in, but I was flying out of Houston IAC on August 25th, trying to get out ahead of Huricane Harvey, no funny questions from the gate agent, but when I went through security (TSA Pre-check, plus 1st class priority boarding) I was "Randomly selected for additional screening and ask which bag was mine, TSA took my back, opened it, went straight for my cell phone, swabbed it for residue and then said I was clear. Next segment of the flight went through DFW to Tulsa, was informed by the gate agent that TSA would be checking boarding passes and ID's again so have them out and available (this was all inside of DFW airport Terminal C, I for one had gone from my arriving flight to the gate, never left the secure area), kind of hidden down in the jet bridge (You could not see them until you were in the jet bridge) were additional TSA agents with scanner looking devices, scanning all passengers again.

 

These were all domestic flight, nothing to do with International. I agree with most peoples comments on here, whatever it takes to keep us safe.

[Tommy3putts]

That does not mean that I have to accept it. Again, if placing responsibility on the agent we are all in trouble.

 

 

 

Civil liberties is very cherished in the US and not sure if this would constitute profiling. Maybe I'm spoiled since I have both TSA clearance & Global Entry and I don't have to remove my belt, shoes, etc. prior to entering the security screening process. My fingerprints and my personal profile are on file and co-ordinated with my passport.

 

 

 

You're absolutely right. You don''t have to accept it. You can answer the questions any way you want. Next time you are asked questions by an agent, just say you don't want to answer their questions. I'd be interested to hear how that works out for you.

 

Safe travels

[Fitzget]

We have seen women and kids used as suicide bombers and yes anyone in theory could potentially be a risk but 95%+ would fit most peoples idea of the muslim type terrorist and it makes sense to check them more thoroughly.

 

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Muslim is the largest religion in the world, so many Muslims fit the blue eyed blonde hair description. Also, we have MANY homegrown American terrorists right here, that commit acts of terrorism on our own soil, like the church shootings, etc. Those aren't Muslims, those are Christians. I'm tired of one race/religion being singled out.

[pspercy]

To me, airline check-in is not security.

 

In some parts of the world it is part of the overall security process. Makes sense, they are the first to have direct contact with you.

 

Remember the story of the 9/11 gate agent and his suspicions?

[Bollinge]

Muslim is the largest religion in the world, so many Muslims fit the blue eyed blonde hair description. Also, we have MANY homegrown American terrorists right here, that commit acts of terrorism on our own soil, like the church shootings, etc. Those aren't Muslims, those are Christians. I'm tired of one race/religion being singled out.

 

 

 

Here are some statistics. Sadly, the highest number of casualties from these terrorist attacks are Muslims themselves.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks

 

 

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[marchie1053]

So if someone is white or over 60, they shouldn't be subject to security?

 

I would add 'incontinent' to your criteria - but there again, if over 60s were exempt, perhaps incontinence becomes only a theoretical threat :D. It raises an interesting practical point - any posts on this topic quickly refer to stereotypical characteristics of terrorists (names, nationalities, religions to name but three). I am a white male, aged 63yrs 11.5 mths (whose counting?) and I travel frequently between Scotland & France (3-4 times per annum for 6-12 weeks each time) and last year we managed 5 cruises as well (we were very rarely at home!). My trips to France involve the carriage of lots of tools (chisels, bladed craft knives, sharp drill bits etc) and yet I have only once been detained or searched in depth - my explanations have always been accepted and when the Border Guards look inside the hatchback area and see tools, cases, rucksacks etc packed cheek-by-jowel into every bit of space, I am waved through. Perhaps I have a trustworthy face ... so I would be an ideal candidate to be deployed for nefarious purposes! I'm not making a joke - I do just wonder if there is an assumption that people of my age, tubby shape and smiling disposition would never commit an atrocity - I certainly wouldn't; but I cannot be the only lardy, smiley 63 year old enjoying life whilst he can ...

[Cruise or Lose!]

I love the idea that asking what stateroom we stayed in keeps us safe. I just love it. Next time, they can ask me what kind of music I like to listen to, just to study my micro-expressions.

 

I still haven't figured out how bottled water can be used as a deadly weapon. I doubt they have, either. But God bless them, for they are omniscient and above scrutiny.

 

That doesn't mean I give them attitude. I just shake my head when I'm a "safe" distance away.

 

Meanwhile, you can bring a loaded gun onto a city bus in many US states.

 

 

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[marchie1053]

If they were looking at the person, every male between 14 and 50 years old of Arabic, Indian/Pakistani or Somalian appearance would be intensively screened, since men fitting that description carry out the overwhelming majority of terrorist attacks worldwide. Not 85 year old grandmas.

 

But in this age of political correctness, everyone has to be treated equally, in the name of so-called "security", so me and granny have to be treated the same as Abu al Britani, returning home to Europe after fighting for ISIS in Syria.

 

Everyone is inconvenienced, no one is safer. In Brussels, terrorists attacked the departure hall of the airport, before so-called "security".

 

Anyone can hi-jack a truck with a kitchen knife and drive it into a crowd. Would it matter what stateroom number that guy had been in on his last cruise?

 

T.S.A.? = Thousands Standing Around!

 

 

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We were in Amboise last year for Bastille Day celebrations. The town closed the bridge across the Loire to vehicles so that pedestrians could use the whole bridge to watch the fireworks ... And, at midnight, when the fireworks started, they turned all the street lights off so that everyone could watch in pitch dark - it was a wonderful display and we went back to our campsite very happy indeed. And next morning, we woke to news of the Nice attack, and thought of the carnage we would have experienced if the vehicle had been driven onto our bridge, jammed with pedestrians, devoid of street lights and all of us without a care in the world during the fireworks display ... :confused::confused: There but for the grace ...

[xxHadleyxx]

Meanwhile, you can bring a loaded gun onto a city bus in many US states.

 

 

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I can assure you that many of those non American airport and safety personelle that are asking these questions as part of their security routine are perplexed by this.

[Jana]

I can assure you that many of those non American airport and safety personelle that are asking these questions as part of their security routine are perplexed by this.

 

So are many Americans.

.