Men in particular are checked more often at airports
Those who regularly fly to Thailand will have to deal with it: security checks. Yet travelers do not seem to find it very disturbing. In fact, it gives passengers a sense of security.
Zoover has polled the opinions, more than 1500 travelers shared their experiences with airports and controls.
Stricter controls are positive
Not only do travelers think that the stricter checks make them feel safe, 31% of air passengers also indicate that the checks could be more consistent or stricter. For example, the controls differ per continent: in Europe, the controls are experienced as the most flexible, in contrast to North America, where the security guards are experienced as the strictest. The Dutch travelers find the clothes or shoes that have to be taken off during these checks the most annoying. The waiting times at the security check and the rule that only liquids in quantities less than 100ml are allowed on board are the second and third most irritations during the checks.
Are you walking around the airport as a man? Then there is a good chance that you will be checked. For example, 39% of men have had to open their suitcases to let the customs officers look into it. Women have less to fear for a check, 29% of the women indicate that their suitcase has been checked. Do the charms of women still have an enchanting effect on the often male security guards?
Baggage antics: from a tube of mayonnaise to clothespins
What is most commonly found in these checks? More than 25% of the respondents indicated that they had a bottle or can of drink with them that was taken, making it the item that is intercepted the most. Nail scissors or nail files also seem to be a hot item, 19.91% of the respondents indicate that they have ever found this in their hand luggage. Men have this in their luggage remarkably more often, 25.77% of the male respondents indicate that this was ever removed from their hand luggage during the check, in contrast to 23.35% of the women.
Travelers also had to give up peanut butter, tubes of mayonnaise, a jar of syrup, a knee prosthesis and a roll of adhesive tape. An item that is also offered in a steel version during the flight, a plastic fork, was also not allowed through the security check at one of the interviewees.
Lost your suitcase?
20% of the respondents have had to deal with a suitcase that did not arrive at its destination. The suitcase often resurfaces fairly quickly and is delivered within a few days in 86% of cases. In about 10% of the cases it was only returned at the end of the holiday or only at home. 3% of the suitcases never resurface.
At least one of three possibilities: Either 31 percent of would-be air travelers are completely insane, or many more have already given up on that mode of travel altogether than statistics show, or questions have been asked and answers judged in a very subjective way. The checks that have been stepped up for years already threaten to drive countless air travelers crazy.
I would find it very interesting to hear or see what exactly are the results of all those "safety checks"
I cannot escape the idea that these checks are trying to create a sense of security similar to what the police and judiciary want us to believe by prosecuting little men and women, while the big real criminals are untouchable.
I was once assured that all those security checks don't work, because "the sincere terrorist" simply manages to bypass these checks.
Ergo, the only ones who benefit from these kinds of checks are politicians who can brag about how well they are doing, and the security companies who make a pretty penny from all that stuff.
And the real terrorist?
He plans something else, or just does it in a different way.
The habituation of so many to absurd controls from which it is impossible to escape in practice, allows administrators to carry out previously unthinkable far-reaching controls in completely different areas, such as financial, through public camera surveillance, private communication surveillance, etc.
I regularly fly to Amsterdam and all single older men are checked nine times out of ten. Open the suitcase and grab it. When I ask what they are looking for, I get no answer.
Not even when asked if I belong to a specific target group.
After the umpteenth time I got quite angry and said “figure it out” and wanted to walk away without a suitcase. Wasn't a good move.
Well, they do their job and I have to live with it.
31% think it could be a bit stricter? can not imagine. I agree with Jef and HansNL. I understand that a minimum level of controls is required so that you cannot simply use a weapon (a real weapon such as a pistol or knife, not nail scissors!!!). But there comes a point when the ordinary traveler is too inconvenienced by all the restrictions and controls, such as the liquid restriction, not being allowed to take nail scissors with you as hand luggage, etc. The real malicious person can also make a weapon on board or smuggle it with him: modify a plastic or wooden object in this way. that this ans stabbing weapon can be used (as you sometimes see on documentaries about prisons in the US, among others) or, if necessary, with a piece of sturdy rope (disguised as a lace?) to put a noose around someone's neck... No, I think the security has been in place since the beginning this century it had gone a bit too far.
I am therefore curious about the question or how represented the researched target group is.
As far as customs is concerned (not to be confused with the control at the gate or passport control!): well, it is understandable that they try to intercept prohibited goods. I don't think the chance of a random man smuggling something is greater or smaller than that of a random woman doing so? Why that difference, more men traveling alone and that individual travelers are more likely to overtrade and are therefore more likely to be singled out? Appearance also plays a role: I know someone with a sturdy build, beard and long hair, who could easily pass as a (tattoo-loose) biker, who is also picked out of the controls pretty much by default.
I don't understand all the fuss. I've flown a lot in my active life and never found it to be a nuisance. As the security people of El Al said to me: sir, it is also for your safety.
That's how it is and that's how it should be seen. It's just whining about those 100ml bottles. You know it and so don't whine. I also had to hand in a nail clipper (with MES) and 2 bottles of liquid croma(!!), but that was just my own fault because I should have put it in the checked luggage and not in the hand luggage. In short, it is difficult and annoying, but necessary.
The leaders of cults also have the most excellent reasons once the members have been brainwashed. Inducing feelings of guilt is something ministers of some more general religions do.
If everyone knows what to do during checks and especially when checking in, then it's not too bad at most airports. Had a 1% check from Thailand once and that really takes time. I am more bothered by groups of Arab men who always make trouble with the check-in ladies when checking in to Bangkok.
I must have just missed all those troublesome groups of Arabs in Suvarnabhumi airport, but would rather have missed a few security checks.
As a former flight attendant, I have had to pass checks for many years. It never bothered me, it was for our safety. But for many things that are not allowed on board, I really have no understanding. I know what items are on board that are far more dangerous than nail scissors in the hands of a potential terrorist. Stuff that, when you know it, is even accessible to everyone. Even a beer bottle can serve as a weapon.
Recently I was also at a check. I had bought a nice cutlery set at IKEA. I had it in my suitcase at first, but because it was too heavy, I had put the package in my backpack without thinking anything about it. Of course it was fished out during the inspection. 15 forks, 15 spoons and 15 knives. I was not allowed to take the knives with me at first. Then the official decided that the blade met the correct requirements and I was allowed to take the whole package with me.
But I had to leave behind a letter opener in the shape of a sword with a pointed tip, which I had as a teenager. How much damage can I do with that?
As a crew, we had an extra check-in in Frankfurt, which is not in the airport building, but is at the base before the departure by bus to the plane. As a computer geek, I always carry a set of screwdrivers with me, just in case I wanted to do some tinkering on the go. Then this was almost taken away from me - although it was in my suitcase. Yes, what do you do as a steward with a screwdriver? A pilot or co-pilot was allowed to take it with him…. after all, they have to tighten the loose screws again…
People are a bit more tolerant when you go to the plane on duty – at the home airport. But on the road, especially in the USA, you were checked just as strictly as a normal passenger.
Where the check almost did not take place at all was at the old airport in Bangkok. You could take whatever you wanted there. And to be honest, I didn't have a good feeling about that either. How annoying the checks are… no check at all was not okay with me.
Oh and because I already have some experience with the controls, I don't make it difficult. I automatically empty my pockets, take off my belt and shoes. Usually I get through without the control device going off. But what I had to wait for every time – was my ex-wife. She arrived with chains and rings and was annoyed every time she had to take them off. Especially when she got angry (in Frankfurt) and called out a German civil servant as “Helga”, who was probably a lesbian.
Imagine, we were standing there with our two children, had little time, because we always had to check in last and madame started to argue about her tinsel.
I was already sweating because I knew how long the road to the plane was and we could miss the flight because she thought these rules were not for her.
Maybe that's why men are more controlled? We are a little easier to deal with. Of course, that also makes us easier “prey” for the inspecting official.