Manchester Security
 

The other day, going through security at Manchester airport T1 I set the beeper off.

Now I don't mind being searched but this search was intrusive and I was spoken to like I was a piece of..well you know.

Now I have worked hard to get to where I am today and so I believe that I deserve a bit of respect, just in the same way that I am perfectly willing to respect anybody doing the job that they are paid to do (airport security staff included). Why did this (very young) man need to be so confrontational and disprespectful. The whole thing could have been completed with the same level of security achieved, but without anybody having to get upset.

Not only that, there were a lot of passengers witnessing this. As pilots we need to maintain an air of authority and respect amongs the flying public and this sort of epsiode will not help!

A CHIRP report is on its way as I speak.

Out of curiosity, in what way was it intrusive?

BTW, I think this should have been tacked onto another thread already running.

Well shall we say "hands everywhere" and he took out my wallet and took all the money , receipts and credit cards out!!

But whilst I consider the search to have been over the top, that is not waht really upset me, it was the confrontational attitude.

Not been to the US recently then ?

I think they top the 'know-all' attitude league. I'm practically naked in order to get through their checks nowadays.

More often than not it is the dangerous clasp on my black Casio watch that is the cause of the mayhem...

'Have a nice day sir...whilst you put your shoes, belt, watch, put the money back in your wallet, watch someone nick your bag because you been sat down waiting so long for a 'male-assist'..

But then if you pay someone peanuts, tell them that they're really important and not that they're trying to bolt the stable door etc..this is what you get.

G (US Visa Holder):cool:

I have been through the US a few times and I go out of my way to ensure that I won't set the beeper off, I have so far had no problems.

Same here, I go through US security frequently and rarely have any problems. It's a two-way street, and co-operation is a mutual obligation. It doesn't take long for the usual anti-American rhetoric to surface here.

Hi fmgc,

The answer is very simple. It was the 'air of authority' you displayed. They saw you coming a mile away, and your cards were marked immediately. The young sprog was very probably deliberately given the task of dealing with you as a further on the job training lesson in learning how to deal with those who like to give themselves an 'air of authority'. It can prove a challenge for the inexperienced sprogs and they have to learn how to overcome it. It was your lucky day, and his also. Without the opportunity you provided he would have missed out on such further training.
:O

This is a very common occurance at MAN, I know lots of female staff (ground and air) who have put complaints in due to "excessive" patting down. Does anything ever seem to get done? Well no.

As for US security, I have had nothing but problems when I travel on my concesssions over there. They mark your boarding cards as such and away you go to be interoggated by the TSA, this is not anti-american rhetoric as I love the US.

i think possibly a reason for this is at the start of every new season, new temps are recruited and maybe a little over keen at first as are new check-in staff weighing your handbaggage to the nearest lbs...i may be wrong

respect works both ways but not in this case

some crew when walking threw sometimes are very nose in the air when walking past the security staff at the check point making them feel like low-lifes...maybe this guy had experienced it a few times and although wrongly tarred all crew with the same brush....i think we may have to allow a little not so much understanding for him being like he was but look into possibly WHY..

my opinion only.

Go to Amsterdam and they will show you how a proper search is done - none of this Mickey Mouse Manchester stuff!!!

I went through Manchester as a passenger last weekend and I was commuting home in civvies and my flight case showed up an object that looked like a penknife, which obviously was not there. Anyway after searching and scanning various items for a second time they could not explain what the object was.

However the security chap took my bag off the scanner and saw my crew tag straight away and also saw my ID pass whilst searching inside and he was very apologetic for keeping me waiting. We had a quick chat and I remarked at how my bag does not normally cause a problem and he said jokingly 'we are like a coiled spring today. And also full of 5hit!!! Made me laugh.

However he said, given that you are crew then I am happy to let you go even though I can't find anything in your bag! Nice to see some common sense!

Well... as for the Isle of Man - one of the crew had their scissors removed from their nightspot bag. I was just waiting for the 'Shall I remove the thread from my trousers with the fire axe' - thankfully my colleague resisted temptation!

Here's a thought.

If one has a metalic implant of some sort (not me of course) and this sets off the beeper, do the US security demand some sort of proof of operation etc.

I believe that in the UK it's not a problem...ahem!:O

A lady very dear to my heart was subjected to nothing short of an indecent assault at Manchester T3 security last year. I work in the industry and know the difference. I made an official complaint and an enquiry was held, interestingly enough, without obtaining a statement of any kind from the victim. The outcome was predictable and the apology tendered was along the lines of "we are sorry that the required search caused distress".

I made a full report to the head of TranSec but never received the courtesy of a reply, but maybe a few waves were generated. Things do seem to have changed for the better at Manchester T3 and subsequent searches have been professional and of a decent nature.

Females wearing trousers are actually given the same search as a male. The criteria being to detect a butterfly knife strapped to the inner thigh. So all a female terrorist has to do is wear a skirt, or a male a kilt. Might be a bit a giveaway if your name is Bin Laden though!

So why do we live in the Dark Ages in the UK and still have hand searches? Why not use metal detector wands, they are good enough for the "land of the free" and they would spot the above?

I would suggest anyone male or female experiencing an inappropriate search to complain there and then to the supervisor and make an official complaint. If they refuse to listen, call the police. An indecent assault cannot be justified by the need for security surely. Maybe Diana Ross was right?

ATB,
ptc

Quite the opposite I've had no problem in the USA due to the large amounts of metal in my leg , just a bit of extra attention from the wand and a pat down on the leg.

However at Manchester it was into a back office and take off the trousers ! had I not been in an almighty rush to get home I would have demandrd to see the management.

The problem is that that would have ment the Security man would have made me miss my flight and I'm sure that this was part of his game and I did not want to play.

Next time that I am treated in this way and I am not in a rush I will take this up with the management.

At one time I had respect for the security people but as far as Manchester is concerned I regard all as low life scum ( but treat them correctly) untill the individual proves worthy of respect .

mini always sets off the beeper, metal pin in his neck, long story going back to the days when he had green baggy skin... :sad:

Usually takes a rub of the wand to satisfy the jobsworths

Will avoid MAN like the plague on the basis of this thread though...:suspect:

Went through MAN a couple of weeks ago, didn't set off the beeper but was subjected to the search anyway, not that the guy had any idea how to search me properly (I'm ex plod and know how to search).

I was annoyed but didn't bother to complain, maybe I should have

You must be an exception to the rule then. Most of the plods I know can't search.

If you bleep just ask security to use the wand. Usually a pat down reveals nothing towards the cause of the bleep. The wand should detect the offending object.

The pat down should only be used if the reason for the bleep cannot be identified or the random search requirements for objects that won't cause a bleep.

At last I will be able to take my knitting needle and nail clippers through UK security as the rules are to be relaxed shortly. Also back to proper cutlery. ;)

Security
 

fmgc,

When the incident occurred, did you ask for the senior security officer on duty to attend & did you obtain his name & that of the staff member who you had trouble with.

Have you consulted a Solicitor, with a view to laying assault charges against the security staff member concerned.

Have you consulted your union on this matter & demanded some form of action. I still consider, that BALPA appear to have kept very quiet on this subject, almost to the extent, thay just don,t care.

I would fully agree, we still need a sensible & high level of security in all sectors of the aviation industry. This security should be administered in a considerate, tactful & respectful manner on all sides.

I have actually held off posting this before but I now realise there is a problem at MAN. For the second time recently I have been asked to "step aside - just a routine check" you know the drill. First time in uniform, second in civvies. On both occasions I was subjected to a sexual assault that was so suprising I was unable to speak or react. After the second time ( last week) I vowed to never allow that to happen again. Question is how to handle such a scene? Flying Lawer... over to you.

Security
 

Just following on from ETOPS message.

Can any person (Flying Lawyer?) explain just what my rights are when transiting through security in any UK airport. I am not advocation confrontation, in fact very mush the opposite, but just where do we pax, crews, other staff etc stand on this matter.

Also can anybody advise me whom I should contact to obtain further info on this subject. Is it Dept of Transport, CAA or whatever. I have approached BALPA a couple of times & have received no help at all.