24 replies to this topic

[mexart]

I was searched 3 times at the GDL airport including while on the ramp to boarding my Alaska Airlines 6AM flight to the USA. This after waiting over 2 hours in the passenger lounge prior to boarding. Why couldn't my carry on bags, shoes, etc. have been searched again then? At trhe Sacremento airport goi g through TSA security after passport control I was told by the TSA that Alaska Airlines had singled me out for a full screening which meant all bags were searched for a third time, the shoes, hand pat etc. Why? Has anyone else had this happen to them, being singled out by Alaska Airlines for "full screening"? Does this seem right that airlines can single passengers out? In all I was searched and screened a total of 5 times between GDL and Seattle. Then in Sacramento passport/immigration entry there was only one line whether or not you were a citizen was unimportant. Bec ause I had an immediate connecting flight I was able to get moved to a special line but still, why not let US passport holders have a line unto themselves? One other odd thing about this flight; there were 10 different wheel chair assistance passengers form GDL. Exiting the plane was held up in Sacramento as these passengers crowded the gangway exit. What has happened to airplane travel?

[lardca]

9/11

[johanson]

It sounds like for some reason you fit some type of profile, which is too bad. I too will be flying north soon. Thanks for the warning.

Pete

[HelperGuy]

A Mac lover and an artist. Profiling for sure.

[saege007]

last time I flew out of GDL > DFW, I stood in the check-in line - had bags searched there. went through security, waited on my plane, got searched again. waited outside for plane, plane got canceled, back into check-in line again. pulled out of line to retrieve bags through customs area. go through security to get into customs area. retrieve bags. Customs red lights me (for the bags that they have had the whole time) so my bags get checked. Go back into check-in line, bags searched again, back through security, and then the gate security. I appreciate their thoroughness, but getting red-lighted in customs? That was eight times that me or my luggage was checked - in the same airport.

Oh, and I see to have this magic power here in Mexico. Only when going through customs here do I get the red light - every single time. A friend of a friend who works in customs claims it is not random like they say.

[mexican yankee]

I am often pulled from a TSA line in the US. I think it's because I am the total opposite of a known profile... "mature," fair complected, short, anglo female... and I balance their quotas.

[Oatsie]

Now you know why a lot of Canadians will pay extra to fly home to Canada via Mexico City instead of stopping in the "Land of the Free."

[hairysilver]

I ALWAYS DO MY INTERNATIONA








I always do my internationl flight from Mex City, and have never had any of those problems, and I fly International about 3 times a year...hope not on my next flight tho...

[simpsca]

I just flew from Guadalajara to Houston. For the fist time in a long time I did not have to remove my shoes. They only checked my check in bags. I did not get my carry ons searched before getting on the plans. I thought things were much more relaxed this flight. It was a United flight - don't know if that made any difference.

[mexart]

It's the idea that Alaska Airlines would single me out for additional screening that really frosts me. Why, cause i'm at the airport at 3:30 in the morning dressed in heavier clothes than normal, sweating cause the airports about 80 degrees, lugging 100 pounds of baggage? At 63 with greying hair, a Alaska Mileage membership and a passport history of 40 years back and forth to Mexico without a problem, what gives them the right to say "lets make this guys life miserable". I wasn't flip to anyone at chec-in although i did wait to make sure my bags were ticketed. And anyway what can they expect when one has to go with out a nights sleep in order to catch a 6 AM flight? I can thin bk of nothing but sweating that was unsusual.

[Intercasa]

Some people have random codes generated on their tickets warranting extra screening.

[jaykay]

If I had a family emergency, I would fly, no matter the hassle. Otherwise, I drive. Sure, it takes longer, but at my age, who cares? When I come back, I can bring anything I can stuff in the car. If I try that on a plane flight, I'd better have a lot of money. I think the worst thing about airport security is that it is being enforced in the US by people getting their first taste of power in their lives. Heady stuff, and it leads to abuses. I'll take whatever I run into in Mexico. It's usually not all that bad when you drive.

[JRPJR]

We commute back and forth between GDL and the States every 6 weeks or so. We print our boarding passes on line, don't check any bags, and after doing the immigration, bit are usually through security and in the boarding area in less than 10 minutes. One or the other of us is occasionally selected additional screening prior to boarding. Unless you paid cash for your ticket, bought a one way ticket, are behaving strangely or are on a watch list, this is largely a random process. In general we find GDL a very convenient airport to depart from or arrive into....

[zerbit]

Might have had something to do with the recent underwear bomber that was a plant to see if Al Queda was still active in their plans to bomb planes. They were planning another attack with better ignition in the boxer bombs. That and the Russian jet that went down probably has airlines nervous. Until they report why that jet went down, they probably are not taking chances.

[bloomingoodgal]

I agree with Intercasa. Several years ago and friend and I went to Asia. We made several stops along the way. My friend was searched at every stop (sometimes twice). We asked a customs officer what was going on and he said that the airlines randomly chose passengers and their tickets were coded. This continued on both legs of our trip.

[The traveler]

We flew out of Guadalajara April 24 and there was no hand search of checked bags. Perhaps they now have X-ray. None of the airlines had any searchers set up in front of the check in counter.

[giltner68]

Hmm, must have just happened, I took my neighbor to the airport on April 12th and they were still searching - not terribly aggressively, but searching. I put two bright lime green tie wraps on her luggage, she connected through MX CIty and one of them had been opened after it was on the GDL conveyor. Security isn't for terrorism when you go through MX City, it's for theft from the handlers.

[Chuckles]

Flying as a mode of transportation, which used to be fun, pleasant, and at times exciting, now sucks! Too crowded, too expensive, too smelly, and not worth the hassle. Car, truck, or RV for me!

[Jeanette]

Flying as a mode of transportation, which used to be fun, pleasant, and at times exciting, now sucks!  Too crowded, too expensive, too smelly, and not worth the hassle.  Car, truck, or RV for me!

Unless you want or need to go over a body of water. . . or get somewhere reasonably quickly. . . or regard the extra precautions taken at airports just fine as a matter of safety (they've been doing this stuff in parts of Europe for years and years. The US was a decade or more behind the times.)