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Why would anyone answer 'yes' to the question? I don't think any of the airport security circus works any more. People just answer the questions to get past th

Why would anyone answer 'yes' to the question? I don't think any of the airport security circus works any more. People just answer the questions to get past the bureaucracy. It's like other things in life though - when I call up ADSL support, they start with "Are you using windows". If you answer 'no', they say they don't support anything else. So I answer yes so that I'll at least get through to the next stage of bureaucracy.

petercooper 17y ago
The EU and the US have a lot of data sharing, mostly in one direction (EU to US). Indeed, you now have to register with the US (through the ESTA scheme) in advance so they have the opportunity to run background checks on you if they so wish. I suspect you could get away with lying still right now as the system's so new, but I bet it won't be long before they'll be able to pull up British police records (if any) at the US immigration counter - or at least verify if you were ever arrested or not.
- bumblebird 17y ago
  Sure, there's a lot of BS that goes on, you're supposed to provide an address you're staying at in the US as well. Last time I flew (UK-US), I didn't know the address (I know how to drive there, can't remember the address though), so the kind check-in assistant just put "hilton, san fransisco" or something. Another time I got pulled over for a hand luggage check. I had packed my laptop bag to bursting with various gadgets cables toys food etc etc etc. The guy opened it up, took one look inside and his face fell. You could see he was thinking "I'll be damned if I'm going to unpack all that and pack it back up". So he didn't, and just waved me along. Perhaps I'm just lucky, but I don't think they really check too much. Which is actually slightly worrying.
  - petercooper 17y ago
    You could see he was thinking "I'll be damned if I'm going to unpack all that and pack it back up". So he didn't, and just waved me along. You are lucky :-) If you do get your hand luggage checked like that, they aren't the ones packing it back up; you are. I discovered this the hard way when rushing to make a 2 hour transfer at Atlanta and I only barely made it..

petercooper 17y ago

The EU and the US have a lot of data sharing, mostly in one direction (EU to US). Indeed, you now have to register with the US (through the ESTA scheme) in advance so they have the opportunity to run background checks on you if they so wish. I suspect you could get away with lying still right now as the system's so new, but I bet it won't be long before they'll be able to pull up British police records (if any) at the US immigration counter - or at least verify if you were ever arrested or not.

bumblebird 17y ago
Sure, there's a lot of BS that goes on, you're supposed to provide an address you're staying at in the US as well. Last time I flew (UK-US), I didn't know the address (I know how to drive there, can't remember the address though), so the kind check-in assistant just put "hilton, san fransisco" or something. Another time I got pulled over for a hand luggage check. I had packed my laptop bag to bursting with various gadgets cables toys food etc etc etc. The guy opened it up, took one look inside and his face fell. You could see he was thinking "I'll be damned if I'm going to unpack all that and pack it back up". So he didn't, and just waved me along. Perhaps I'm just lucky, but I don't think they really check too much. Which is actually slightly worrying.
- petercooper 17y ago
  You could see he was thinking "I'll be damned if I'm going to unpack all that and pack it back up". So he didn't, and just waved me along. You are lucky :-) If you do get your hand luggage checked like that, they aren't the ones packing it back up; you are. I discovered this the hard way when rushing to make a 2 hour transfer at Atlanta and I only barely made it..