Nothing particularly surprising; I still find the US by far the most strict (and to my mind pointless; it's like shutting the barn door after the horse has escaped). I travel fairly frequently to Europe: London, Amsterdam and Madrid, and have NEVER been asked to take off my shoes in these cities. In London they did use to be more picky about putting all your little toiletries in plastic baggies, and if people didn't have one, they'd sell you one for one pound - pretty outrageous price (about $2). Lately I've flown in the US (Memphis to Pittsburg in August) and I forgot to put my hand cream etc in a plastic ziploc bag, and it went through OK both times. Have they stopped enforcing that rule?

Posted By Juliet Jones on September 29, 2011, 1:14 AM

In New Zealand, there was a lady with knitting needles on the plane. On one internal flight, I didn't even have to show ID. It's much more relaxed there.

Posted By Sharon L Stern on October 3, 2011, 10:27 AM

In Panama, on flight bound for the U.S.A., your go through a 2nd security check at the gate. They do a search of your carry-on luggage and a body pat down. You are not allowed to bring water onto the plane (even though the water was purchased in the airport terminal after the first security check.)

The most intense security I have experience was in Medellin,Colombia. The security there is handled by the military and you go through 3 separate security check points. Your luggage is searched repeatidly, and there are multiple body pat downs. Everyone is treated with respect,but everyone is treated the same. There are also constant drug sniffing dogs passing by the line and the soldiers watching the line are carrying automatic weapons, so the are a little more threatening looking then what we are familiar from the T.S.A.

I have no problem with strong security and never blame anyone for doing their job to make my flight safer.

Posted By Jackie Butts on October 3, 2011, 11:29 AM

I travel frequently to India. When flying either Internationally or Domestically (within country) from Delhi or Mumbai (Bombay), you can't even enter the airport until your travel credentials (Valid government-issued picture ID and travel itinerary with matching name) has been checked at a terminal entrance by armed military. Typically, you are security screened twice....once after obtaining your boarding pass and once more at the passenger flight gate. After the first screening, your boarding pass is stamped and is checked for the stamp at the subsequent security point and at the gate just before boarding. At both points, you are also subject to an electronic wand screening and a pat down. Shoes are removed and checked during the second screening. All carry-on bags must display a separate tag that has been stamped at the first security checkpoint indicating the carry-on has been screened. No carry-on bag is allowed on the plane without the required stamped tag. The security process moves quickly and is very efficient.

Posted By B. Eberstein on October 3, 2011, 1:30 PM

I traveled to France this summer, transiting De Gaul airport to Lyon. I was made to take my shoes off when I went through security to take my domestic flight from Paris to Lyon. I figured it was on secuirty agent's payback for me being an American.

Posted By Stephanie on October 3, 2011, 2:09 PM

If you want to see how to do it the right way fly out of Zurich's Kloten airport.

Posted By Rich on October 3, 2011, 2:51 PM

Just returned from a domestic flight(Bdl/STL) and had a weird situation at bdl.....was told I had to have a body scan and to remove all jewelry. I wear a medical alert bracelet that I can't remove without help because of the type of clasp it has. When I pointed this out to the TSA agent, she just shrugged and said "Oh, then never mind." So I went throught the x-ray wearing the bracelet....but not my watch! She insisted that it had to be removed. Then once I was through the x-ray, she insisted that she had to "check" my arms! I was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt....can't imagine what she thought she might find in my underarms! The whole "security system" here is a joke.

Posted By mensablonde39 on October 3, 2011, 4:30 PM

Came through UK to US, In the UK we take our belts off & jackets, then a Breeze through Security.
Back in NYC, JFK, damn TSA lines.
Very offensive & confusing to then London Heathrow.
Best treatment is in London Healthrow.
TSA TOOK too long for screening.
& NO worldwide or naitonwide Uniform rules for screeners anyplace .
Need some Uniform flexible regs.

Posted By stephen russell on October 3, 2011, 9:03 PM

While traveling in South Africa during the world cup my friend purchased a knife with wooden carved handle as a souvenir for her father. The knife was about 8 inches long and a think paper wrapping around it. We took a domestic flight on Kulula airline from Durban to Cape Town and were able to carry this item on the plane. We were not stopped. However, trying to keep the knife in our carry-on luggage internationally from Cape Town to Madrid, we were stopped and had to check the item.

Recently while traveling from Munich to Philadelphia on the same weekend at 9/11 our passport was checked 4 times after entering the gate.

Posted By Christina on October 4, 2011, 12:11 AM

Flying home to the U.S. from Jordan, we went through security three times. The third time was a total search of our carry-on baggage. I had a small LED flashlight in my backpack. The security agent opened it up and found it operated on three AAA batteries. He told me that only two batteries were allowed and promptly removed one and threw it away. For pity's sake, what harm would that third battery cause? Had I known, I would have previously removed the offending battery myself and stowed it elsewhere!!!

Posted By Benchwarmer on October 5, 2011, 1:44 PM

Flying home to the U.S. from Jordan, we went through security three times. The third time was a total search of our carry-on baggage. I had a small LED flashlight in my backpack. The security agent opened it up and found it operated on three AAA batteries. He told me that only two batteries were allowed and promptly removed one and threw it away. For pity's sake, what harm would that third battery cause? Had I known, I would have previously removed the offending battery myself and stowed it elsewhere!!!

Posted By Benchwarmer on October 5, 2011, 1:45 PM

In Johannesburg South Africa I did not have to remove my shoes, but they found my teeny tiny manicure scissors and confiscated it! Then in Hong Kong they confiscated my small tweezer, they told me it was made with a type of metal that they do not allow through security - I did not ask him to explain since he did not speak english very well. I did not have to remove my shoes in Hong Kong either..

Posted By Debi on October 21, 2011, 7:41 PM

In Johannesburg South Africa I did not have to remove my shoes, but they found my teeny tiny manicure scissors and confiscated it! Then in Hong Kong they confiscated my small tweezer, they told me it was made with a type of metal that they do not allow through security - I did not ask him to explain since he did not speak english very well. I did not have to remove my shoes in Hong Kong either..

Posted By Debi on October 21, 2011, 7:41 PM

In Johannesburg South Africa I did not have to remove my shoes, but they found my teeny tiny manicure scissors and confiscated it! Then in Hong Kong they confiscated my small tweezer, they told me it was made with a type of metal that they do not allow through security - I did not ask him to explain since he did not speak english very well. I did not have to remove my shoes in Hong Kong either..

Posted By Debi on October 21, 2011, 7:41 PM

How does one delete comments that appear more than once? Ouch, I hit the submit button 3 times, because either my computer or the internet was so slow, I did not realize I had submitted it three times. Sorry :)

Posted By Debi on October 21, 2011, 7:46 PM

I have traveled back and forth to Israel for almost 40 years and will take their airport security anyday over that run by the US. It is very strong - but also completely unobtrusive.

Posted By leslie on October 24, 2011, 6:35 PM

I have traveled back and forth to Israel for almost 40 years and will take their airport security anyday over that run by the US. It is very strong - but also completely unobtrusive.

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