Airport security less rigorous on incoming flights to US

[Jeffersons Ghost]

Incoming flights from Dubai are less rigorous than domestic flights in America.

Pre-screening of hold luggage: As you enter the check-in areas at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, you and your luggage will be screened, with the exception of customers using the Emirates First and Business Class check-in. Their hold luggage undergoes screening after check-in. You will be asked to put your luggage and other carried items through the X-ray machine while you walk through a metal detector.

http://www.dubaiairport.com/DIA/English/MainMenu/Airport+Guide/Airport+Security/

As you can see, all that is required for everyone flying in from Dubai is a simple walk through a metal detector. Many explosives contain no metal. In addition, there is less security when it involves passengers flying first class. It would be a simple matter for a terrorist to wait until he lands in the US and then set off an explosive devise where US citizens are crowded together awaiting more rigorous, dehumanizing security measures.

[Swamp Rat]

1. k&r

[Jeffersons Ghost]

4. Freepers are stealing recommendations from this OP, could you guys send it a little "DU Love/"

[JCMach1]

2. The website isn't accurate (no shock there)... Bags that are checked are xrayed at ticketing...

Once you have your boarding passes there are two more layers of security for carryons.

U.S. flights (per TSA guidelines) are subject to even more stringent security measures. Every carry-on is xrayed again and subject to search. The last time I flew out, they checked every carry-on bag (hand search). They once confiscated my tube of toothpaste... 3/4 used just because the size label was wrong. This was despite that fact it was obvious that there was just a drop or two in the tube. :grr:

One huge difference here... they are actually pretty polite about all the security measures.

I repeat... all hold luggage is xrayed.

Dubai/UAE websites are notorious for having wrong information and (often) bad functionality. This especially applies to any part of the bureaucracy such as an airport.

[JCMach1]

3. FYI: The latest info. from the TSA

January 3, 2010

Photo of an airport terminalToday, the Transportation Security Administration issued new security directives to all United States and international air carriers with inbound flights to the U.S. effective January 4, 2010.

The new directive includes long-term, sustainable security measures developed in consultation with law enforcement officials and our domestic and international partners.

Because effective aviation security must begin beyond our borders, and as a result of extraordinary cooperation from our global aviation partners, TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the U.S. from anywhere in the world who holds a passport issued by or is traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening. The directive also increases the use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S. bound international flights... http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/010310_statement.shtm

[Jeffersons Ghost]

5. There are plenty of dangerous people that hold other passports...

A terrorist can hold ANY type of passport in today's increasingly dangerous world, not just "a passport issued by or is traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism."

[JCMach1]

6. Exactly...

We certainly count on the TSA to do it right...

Security is actually pretty tight. I always feel safer flying out of Dubai than I do even in the States.

Now ask me about LAX airports:

Athens, Nairobi, Frankfurt...

[unblock]

7. interesting point about the crowd awaiting the single security checkpoint

one of many drawbacks to having a single location for a slow and deliberate security check is that it bunches people together, making that crowd more of an inviting target for terrorists.

a process with multiple checkpoints that kept the crowd moving and prevented bunching up in one place would reduce this risk.