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Once you cross the border, the country is awesome. The (international) airports are something out of a dystopian novel. And the experience can vary wildly. I g

Once you cross the border, the country is awesome. The (international) airports are something out of a dystopian novel. And the experience can vary wildly. I got the coolest agent ever at Atlanta – even after my fingerprints didn't match (consulate screw up), but that did cause me to miss my connecting flight. On another trip, the guy in NYC was apparently pissed at his job and was very rude. But all my paperwork was in order. Then you have a connecting flight, and you have to go through security again (but not border control), because the security areas are either not big enough or not properly planned. I have not had to give up social media passwords. Is that a new thing?

Symbiote 8y ago
The ESTA form now asks for social media usernames, although the box says "optional" and I didn't bother. Github is listed as an example social network.
davidgh 8y ago
When coming into the USA from an international location, the reason you have to go through security before catching your connecting flight is that the US won’t accept “implied screening”, meaning, screening that was done by another authority. It’s not about airport configuration or size.
- CaptainZapp 8y ago
  I'd wager that the main reason is that the concept of transit is completely foreign to US airports. Even if travelling to a third country you need to go through immigration, customs, re-check your bags and go through security to get to your connecting flight. You cannot check your luggae through. A process, which is possible if you fly through virtually any other country. I wonder what this costs US carriers. For example: Flying from Zurich to Lima would be logical, connection wise, via Miami, Atlanta, or even New York. But I rather fly via Amsterdam or Madrid to save myself the hassle and the anxiety of missing my connecting flight due to innane, unnecessary procedures.

Symbiote 8y ago

The ESTA form now asks for social media usernames, although the box says "optional" and I didn't bother. Github is listed as an example social network.

davidgh 8y ago

When coming into the USA from an international location, the reason you have to go through security before catching your connecting flight is that the US won’t accept “implied screening”, meaning, screening that was done by another authority. It’s not about airport configuration or size.

CaptainZapp 8y ago
I'd wager that the main reason is that the concept of transit is completely foreign to US airports. Even if travelling to a third country you need to go through immigration, customs, re-check your bags and go through security to get to your connecting flight. You cannot check your luggae through. A process, which is possible if you fly through virtually any other country. I wonder what this costs US carriers. For example: Flying from Zurich to Lima would be logical, connection wise, via Miami, Atlanta, or even New York. But I rather fly via Amsterdam or Madrid to save myself the hassle and the anxiety of missing my connecting flight due to innane, unnecessary procedures.