Extra Random Screening
 

I had forgotten about this until recently.

Back in March I was doing DUB-LHR-LAX with EI/VS. Outbound from DUB was delayed going out and holding at LHR caused further delays. Get to VS counter where I have to check in again, pain in the hoop. I was mega delayed and was probably less than nice as usual to the check in crew. Not rude, but not all smiles. Under pressure for my flight and wanted to get brekkie in LHR but wasn't an option. I may have commented about the need to check in again seeing as how I was already airside and had checked in online.

Now as a seasoned traveller, I do hand luggage well. Know what and what not to pack. Security at LHR, my bag was flagged for the swab test, with the slowest security agent. By which time there wasn't time to even grab a sandwich as flight was closing. Got to gate and I was 'random selected' for extra screening.

Was all this actually just random or was it my attitude that got flagged and a few zero's or xxx's put on my boarding pass that caused the extra searching?

I don't think I've ever got through our local airport without getting my bag swabbed. I mentioned that one time, and they said something about having a lot of electronics in there (which I usually do).

Of course, if they knew what I do for a living, they'd understand why I find the whole thing so amusing...

I carry a lot of camera equipment and always get swabbed at DUS!

Last year I reckon I was top of the Mr Random League! This year hasn't been anywhere as bad. Oh no, I've gone and jinxed myself now! :{

On a recent trip to Oz, through four Australian airports (both domestic and the start of the return) my girlfriend got stopped for swabbing every single time, whilst I was not. Either it was to get another caucasian female on their daily list - or she looks downright suspicious.

In recent years, I have been lucky. Daughter has not. She seems to attract every security team, everywhere.

Er, she is 27 and much, much better looking than me.

I have often thought that they need to fulfill their 'random' quota by making sure they do check caucasian females. Since PAX seem to be predominantly male, fewer females will get checked. Some years ago in a London railway station I was given an official 'stop' with questions and so on. It seemed likely that they needed to balance the books of who they stopped. Which is GOOD as it needs to be truly random.

airbourne I think that any adverse remarks made by check-in staff are only read by Cabin Crew. Of course, if you were truly obnoxious - they could make a couple of phone calls to friends down the corridor!

Quite a few years ago (but after 9/11) I was with a group of RAF engineers touring the USA, visiting industry and USAF bases. Every single internal flight saw us all tagged for extra checking. We finally twigged that there was a code on the boarding cards.


It seemed our admin people had booked our transatlantic return flight as a separate booking so a group of men travelling the states with no apparent return ticket looked a tad suspicious.


After the first 2 internal flights we used to approach the scanner with our hands up, saying " xxxx endorsement on boarding card"

PaxBoy I have plenty of friends who are crew and I work in the business indirectly so I would never be really nasty. Just frustrated to the point of annoyance.

mrs r1 has been "randomly' swabbed 13 out of 14 times we have transitted Sydney over the past 10 years. It has never happened to me. She is a slender, middle aged, SE Asian lady. I am a not so slender, middle aged Caucasian male.

So they just need a female tally, to balance?

No, not necessarily but it does help (if you are a lady) NOT wearing an underwired bra at the moment when passing through the arch .... almost 100% guaranteed to get you a pat down (as a minimum)!

I know if I reply its going to happen again
Twice at LHR, EI and old United *, Miami*, and Washington DC. *That was the wife being separated for "extras".:uhoh:

Sometimes you just fit the profile - I spent about 4 years being hauled over almost every time with hand luggage incoming to LHR from Amsterdam - and ONLY on that route

Then it stopped as mysterioulsy as it stared ..

I thing they were looking for naughty videos rather than mind enhancing substances as the rummage was quite cursory compared to the full shakedown if they've had a drug tip-off

....to confiscate and watch in the quiet periods of the night shifts! :E

Or you just had a shifty look about you! :E;)

Certainly on both counts.........................