Constant passport checks
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Between a rock & a hard place.
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At T2 and T5 LHR, international and domestic passengers are housed together in the same departure area. Domestic passengers have a photo taken at the entry point to security.
The first check upon boarding is LHR security who check you are the person on the stored photograph. I have entered security in uniform and changed to civies in the lounge which had caused endless fun at that boarding photo check.
The second check is the regular airline boarding process, registering that you are onboard, and on the correct flight etc.
Having said all that, the most recent time I flew Aer Lingus from T2, the Aer Lingus gate staff, (Menzies?), completed both checks at the same desk which seemed much less complex.
The first check upon boarding is LHR security who check you are the person on the stored photograph. I have entered security in uniform and changed to civies in the lounge which had caused endless fun at that boarding photo check.
The second check is the regular airline boarding process, registering that you are onboard, and on the correct flight etc.
Having said all that, the most recent time I flew Aer Lingus from T2, the Aer Lingus gate staff, (Menzies?), completed both checks at the same desk which seemed much less complex.
The Analog Kid
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brecon Beacons National Park
Age: 57
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I think the thing that annoys me the most is seeing non-regular SLF being shouted at for presenting passport with boarding pass "bookmarked" therein when only the boarding pass is required. Regulars generally know which bit is required when but it's only natural for people to carry them together. Just take the pass out and scan it for heaven's sake. Takes less time than the shouting method. I've seen this happen at three or four UK airports.
I think the thing that annoys me the most is seeing non-regular SLF being shouted at for presenting passport with boarding pass "bookmarked" therein when only the boarding pass is required. Regulars generally know which bit is required when but it's only natural for people to carry them together. Just take the pass out and scan it for heaven's sake. Takes less time than the shouting method. I've seen this happen at three or four UK airports.
Likewise presenting the BP to the cabin crew, or not, is varied between must/must not/don't care dependent on a combination of station, carrier, and state of registration requirements.
The worst I witnessed, and sorry to mention names, was the handling agent of Ryanair at Stansted whose mumbled boarding announcement included "passport open at the photo page". The young, fit (although pimply), twenty-something agent proceeded to give a loud and sarcastic reprimand to the elderly, seventy-something, arthritic old lady who had haltingly presented her passport without quite thumbing it open. It quite upset her.
It really is poor that this commercial inconvenience (if you have your BP at the bottom of your bag, or if they are all held by your companion who is elsewhere) is allowed to be masked as a security matter.
Paxing All Over The World
The marketing people have it so sewn up (and the pax so dragooned) that, in the shops, if you refuse to show your boardcard - they won't sell you the goods. 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
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they tried that on a young Swedish guy at T5 earlier this summer - he then insisted on emptying his enormous carry on and diligently searching for the boarding pass - as the queue built up and people started to put their shopping baskets on the floor and leave the checkout girl asked the guy behind him to "lend" her his BP so she could get rid of the Swede & we could all shop in comfort............................
Join Date: Jan 2008
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I think India deserves a mention on this thread.
My record is THREE passport / booking confirmation checks BEFORE i even got to the check in desk....
I know they've got a growing population that needs employment, but really!!
My record is THREE passport / booking confirmation checks BEFORE i even got to the check in desk....
I know they've got a growing population that needs employment, but really!!
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Another Planet.
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It is possible that the "Stasis various" about whom you complain spent the first hours of their training watching all the episodes of "Come Fly With Me", as prime examples of their passenger-handling techniques............................
Join Date: May 2007
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The marketing people have it so sewn up (and the pax so dragooned) that, in the shops, if you refuse to show your boardcard - they won't sell you the goods.
I don't know why I do this; it's easy to show the card. I suppose it's part of my daily fightback against being told lies and/or asked to do things that are totally unnecessary.
And, of course, I am a curmudgeonly, disagreeable old sod when i want or need to be. It's an age thing, and freedom to do it is one of the few pleasures of getting older.
Riyadh flight to Doha
Once before check in
Once at check in
Again at immigration
Once before getting to the airbridge
Once on the airbridge
The only one that was unusual was the 'on airbridge' one as that was done by a steward from the aircraft - almost as if they thought the Saudis were trying to send them undesirables.
Once before check in
Once at check in
Again at immigration
Once before getting to the airbridge
Once on the airbridge
The only one that was unusual was the 'on airbridge' one as that was done by a steward from the aircraft - almost as if they thought the Saudis were trying to send them undesirables.
