BHX is a right royal pain in the arse. If you don't have a BHX pass and if you want unescorted airside access then you need to be registered on some list. Never come across it at any other airport.
Had great fun about six months ago. I was sat with my crew after operating into BHX and waiting to position out but we were delayed. I decide to pop into the terminal to get some grub for the crew. I return to security and present my pass, which raised eyebrows since it was not a BHX issued pass. They then get even more anxious when I don't appear on their mystery list of names. They then ask to see my licence. 'That's not a problem' I replied but I then explained that it was on board the aircraft.... which was parked on a remote stand and to cap it all off it was pissing it down outside with heavy rain!!!
The subsequent look of bewilderment on the security chaps face was well worth it!!! In the end they ended up calling a member of groundstaff to vouch for me! Pathetic!
We often have engineers travelling with as as supernumery crew. I often wondered why so many of them regularaly wear their stripes to work. The penny quickly dropped when it comes to security. Unfortunately the wearing of stripes has more of an effect in Southern Europe where the security regulations are slightly more relaxed anyway!