3 ms·

I really don't like getting searched. I used to travel a lot, and often am in a really big hurry leaving the airport - sometimes I overnight somewhere, landing

I really don't like getting searched. I used to travel a lot, and often am in a really big hurry leaving the airport - sometimes I overnight somewhere, landing at 6AM and a meeting in a city center at 10AM. I've gotten searched maybe a dozen times, on something like 300ish flights (including connections) in my life. It's always a royal pain in the ass. But it's happening less! Being into testing and what not, I tried paying attention to how much scrutiny I got from security and border officials based on how I was dressed. Gregarious clothing - white jeans, boutique stuff, baby blues and purples and pinks and such - more attention to me. Neutral clothing - less. Business casual - very little. Taking it a step further, I got a new passport about 20 months ago. I had the passport photo taken in suit and tie, replacing my old casual passport photo I got in my late teens. That combined with dressing upscale business casual-ish means way less searches. I used to get searched all the damn time when I had long hair and was wearing gregarious clothing. Last year I made 20-some round-trips with however many connections, and only got searched once - when I accidentally was wearing a knee-length, blue Japanese synthetic fur-trimmed ridiculous jacket from a Shinsaibashi-Suji boutique. And I looked down at myself and sighed, because I usually change to a more casual/upscale jacket and pack the rest. I was just being careless that day. They mostly search people on gut instinct - I've never had any real problems, except I don't like having 20-90 minutes of my life wasted.

lionhearted 17y ago
A couple more pointers. Dubai I've gotten searched a lot, something like 1/3rd of the time I've gone there. I always say, "Salaam malakum" to the searcher ("Peace be with you" in Arabic), and they get a bit friendlier after that. Same with most countries. A polite salutation or a few words goes pretty far in most places. Ironically, and unfortunately, the two nastiest countries I've been, with the meanest and most capricious officials, are the USA and UK. And I'm an American. Now, caveat emptor, but I've found a slight bit of condescencion and skpeticism - very, very slight - works well with American officials. Mix it with the utmost politeness. When I'm pulled aside by an American official, I'm friendly and polite, and then I drop, "Pardon me, sir, could you tell me a little about why I was selected? Is it random, like every few passengers, or do I fit a profile as a young person traveling, or some such?" The guy always gives me attitude back. Always. Well, not always. Some guys are friendly, and I drop it, and they let me go soon. But the hardasses always give me attitude. To which I drop, "Okay, I understand, I know you're doing your job and respect that. I'm just always curious how our country is being run - a couple members of my family are with the government, and they encourage me to ask questions like this." That tends to mildly put the fear of God in these petty, powerless bullies who like to go on their crazy airport power trips. The key is the slightest, oh-so slightest tone that you're better than them mixed with the utmost politeness. Caveat emptor, but it's worked well for me.
geebee 17y ago
I don't like getting searched either. A long time back, when I was thirteen and moved back to the US with my family after living in France for a year, we had to do the full-on customs interview. They let us take our Mac home, but we had to come back to the customs office a week later to prove that we'd purchased it in the US. Fortunately, computers aren't exactly considered exotic and expensive things anymore. I had a little apprehension taking my laptop over to Europe and back, mainly because it would feel very uncomfortable to have someone open up my computer and click around. And I really don't need a lecture from a customs agent about my lack of unit tests, heh. But ultimately, I'd guess that almost all business travelers carry a laptop these days, and since electronic communication doesn't need to travel physically on a laptop anyway, it seems like one of the lowest priorities for a customs agent. It's easy to get in a huff, but ultimately, many of them actually want to do their jobs well, and wasting time on laptop searches would probably be a major distraction from what they view as their real work, anyway.

lionhearted 17y ago

A couple more pointers. Dubai I've gotten searched a lot, something like 1/3rd of the time I've gone there. I always say, "Salaam malakum" to the searcher ("Peace be with you" in Arabic), and they get a bit friendlier after that. Same with most countries. A polite salutation or a few words goes pretty far in most places. Ironically, and unfortunately, the two nastiest countries I've been, with the meanest and most capricious officials, are the USA and UK. And I'm an American. Now, caveat emptor, but I've found a slight bit of condescencion and skpeticism - very, very slight - works well with American officials. Mix it with the utmost politeness. When I'm pulled aside by an American official, I'm friendly and polite, and then I drop, "Pardon me, sir, could you tell me a little about why I was selected? Is it random, like every few passengers, or do I fit a profile as a young person traveling, or some such?" The guy always gives me attitude back. Always. Well, not always. Some guys are friendly, and I drop it, and they let me go soon. But the hardasses always give me attitude. To which I drop, "Okay, I understand, I know you're doing your job and respect that. I'm just always curious how our country is being run - a couple members of my family are with the government, and they encourage me to ask questions like this." That tends to mildly put the fear of God in these petty, powerless bullies who like to go on their crazy airport power trips. The key is the slightest, oh-so slightest tone that you're better than them mixed with the utmost politeness. Caveat emptor, but it's worked well for me.

geebee 17y ago

I don't like getting searched either. A long time back, when I was thirteen and moved back to the US with my family after living in France for a year, we had to do the full-on customs interview. They let us take our Mac home, but we had to come back to the customs office a week later to prove that we'd purchased it in the US. Fortunately, computers aren't exactly considered exotic and expensive things anymore. I had a little apprehension taking my laptop over to Europe and back, mainly because it would feel very uncomfortable to have someone open up my computer and click around. And I really don't need a lecture from a customs agent about my lack of unit tests, heh. But ultimately, I'd guess that almost all business travelers carry a laptop these days, and since electronic communication doesn't need to travel physically on a laptop anyway, it seems like one of the lowest priorities for a customs agent. It's easy to get in a huff, but ultimately, many of them actually want to do their jobs well, and wasting time on laptop searches would probably be a major distraction from what they view as their real work, anyway.