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Original poster

To think airports are so stressful lately?

167 replies

Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 18:16

Jesus , I used to like travelling. I just find the airport so stressful now, that I'm utterly exhausted by the time I get anywhere. I have british and irish paaaports. I fly on my irish passport which is supposedly slightly easier to fly to the eu is. In my experience, it is not. I still experience standing around in queues for ages.

I feel like they make it as stressful as possible for everyone.

I recently flew from Dublin to Spain.

I didn't have a bag to check in as that would have taken me even longer. So my first queue was the security queue. I was standing in the long security queue for about 30 mins. Put my carry-on bag through. It set off some alarm. Or maybe they were testing bags randomly. I had to wait for a guy to come over empty my bag , put everything back in. Then I went on.

I sat in the departure lounge for about an hour. Then I went to get on the flight. They let everyone go through the desk, then for some reason they made us all stand on the stairs before rhe flight for another 40 mins. Plane was slightly delayed taking off.

I get to spain. We wete made to stand in another queue to show passports here at the spanish airport. This was an extremely long queue, as there were only about four men dealing with hundreds of people from different flights. I stood in this queue for about an hour. Finally got out. And i was just so tired.

Another thing. The last time that I flew from Spain back to Ireland, a Spanish female security officer asked to pat me down.

I said yes, as I'm sure most people do, as we afraid something worse will happen if we say no.

She then patted me all over. Up and down. She patted me In between my thighs.
She then patted both of my breasts. Which I wasn't expecting. She didnt pay between them or under them. She specifically patted each breast. I would say she slightly cupped them.
I really felt violated. I looked online to see if security officers are allowed to pat you there. And it says airport security officers are allowed to touch you anywhere for security reasons. So you are leaving yourself open to be groped just by taking a flight. I just think some security officers take advantage of their ability to touch others though. There are a lot of stories online of women who say they were molested by female security officers.

All in all, its a very stressful experience.

OP posts:
MartinsSpareCalculator · 07/03/2024 21:18

I also get patted down every time I fly and think its just them doing their jobs. They'll be checking for anything put into your bra cups.

Shopgirl1 · 07/03/2024 21:17

I fly quite a lot, luckily as a result usually have fast track and where I don’t just allow plenty of time, I don’t find it stressful but it is a hassle.
However it’s funny someone else has mentioned Frankfurt airport. I flew from there two weeks ago and had a pat down from a female security agent that was way over the top and I wish I had said something to her about it at the time. It wasn’t as much as some on her, but enough that I was bemused and shaking my head. I’ve flown from Frankfurt lots of times, never experienced anything like it previously.

MartinsSpareCalculator · 07/03/2024 21:16

I fly every couple of weeks and wouldn't say I have your experience at all. I fast track security and make sure my bag is packed as per requirements. I never rush to board so I don't get held up in queues.

myusernamewastakenbyme · 07/03/2024 21:15

Im flying from Luton next month and having read this thread am now really nervous as i always seem to set off those body scanning machines and then i get patted down.

Original poster
Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 21:13

Shardonneigghhh · 07/03/2024 21:11

I've flown quite a lot in the last 2 years (10+ return trips). I've found the last few trips to be the most straightforward. I tend to fly from Luton, Birmingham or Stansted.
I haven't had the experiences of being searched in an invasove way. I have been patted down but nothing more. I wear hijab, but i didn't used to when my passport photo was taken, i expected problems from this but haven't had any at all.

If been patted down before in a normal way. This was the first female guard that did it to me in a strange way.

I honestly think I'll take the ferry in future. At least I can be a hundred percent sure I won't be groped when I travel.

OP posts:
Shardonneigghhh · 07/03/2024 21:11

I've flown quite a lot in the last 2 years (10+ return trips). I've found the last few trips to be the most straightforward. I tend to fly from Luton, Birmingham or Stansted.
I haven't had the experiences of being searched in an invasove way. I have been patted down but nothing more. I wear hijab, but i didn't used to when my passport photo was taken, i expected problems from this but haven't had any at all.

PringPring · 07/03/2024 21:00

Interesting read. I've not flown since 2019 for various reasons and I'm very much missing foreign travel. But I'm hesitant. Never used to be!

OP I'm sorry you had such a horrid experience and it's awful to hear so many others have experienced the same.

Original poster
Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 20:40

Twoshoesnewshoes · 07/03/2024 20:33

If the whole process feels so anxiety inducing and negative for you OP, I think it makes sense to avoid it. Ferry travel is usually slower paced for example.

Yeah i think I might do. I haven't taken a ferry in ages. I don't know what they are like these days.

Do you have to through security guards to get on them ?

OP posts:
IStandWithACrutch · 07/03/2024 20:36

taxguru · 07/03/2024 18:53

Manchester Airport is an absolute hell hole these days, bad enough in terminals 1 and 2 but terminal 3 is probably the worst airport I've ever suffered, and I've been through lots of airports in places like Africa and Egypt where facilities are non existent. What I can never understand is why staff in overseas airports are so much more helpful and friendly, yet those at Manchester seem to love being obstructive, ignorant and generally arrogant for no real reasons. Having to suffer Manchester is one of the reasons I have no real desire to go abroad ever again - whenever I start thinking about it, I remember Manchester and soon decide not to bother.

Yes! Manchester airport is a fucking nightmare. Never enough security staff so you could be 45 minutes waiting for someone to check your bag if it’s pulled from the scanner.
In general I’d say airports can be stressful but some are better than others.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 07/03/2024 20:33

If the whole process feels so anxiety inducing and negative for you OP, I think it makes sense to avoid it. Ferry travel is usually slower paced for example.

Original poster
Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 19:57

Nchanged89 · 07/03/2024 19:50

Yes if you book special assistance, airport staff will push the wheelchair.

Show quote history

I'm sorry but I know airports well enough to know that this would not be a lovely easy procedure. Where you book it and turn up at the airport and there is a staff member ready to help you with the wheelchair the whole way through.

I looked up "wheelchair assistance at dublin airport".

And the first three google results were all negative. They wwre:

  1. Woman in wheelchair misses flight because of late airline assistance staff.

  2. disabled man sues airline assistance staff for his fall out of the wheelchair

  3. watch this shocking image of a woman in a wheelchair being made to crawl down airplane steps

OP posts:
Original poster
Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 19:51

There is a job where you can touch people sexually.
It's really the only job where you can touch people sexually.
It going to attract sexual abusers and perverts.

It is not checked enough - what they are doing.

They need to bring in new regulations, where are airport security staff are strictly trained and also strictly checked.

OP posts:
Nchanged89 · 07/03/2024 19:50

Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 19:38

Who's going to push the wheelchair? I'm sure airport staff won't do it. I wouldn't be able to push my mother in a wheelchair through a very long airport. She is a size 16, and I have herniated disc in my back after a fall. I'm not supposed to lift heavy weights.

I don't think a lot of people would have someone to push them in a wheelchair all through an airport.

Show quote history

Yes if you book special assistance, airport staff will push the wheelchair.

PumpkinPie2016 · 07/03/2024 19:46

I'm sorry you had a bad/stressful experience 😔

I think maybe it depends on the airport? I don't fly regularly so don't have lots of experience of airports.

We flew from Manchester to Salzburg last August and I was quite nervous before we went as I hadn't flown for years. However, I was pleasantly surprised and found it quite straightforward really. I did do a few things to make life easier though.

I paid for fast track security to avoid the big queue.
We did online check in and day before bag drop- so again, avoided queues.
TUI were organised with boarding and luckily no delays.
Coming back, I paid for fast track at passport control as we have a 10 year old son so I wanted to avoid the queues - we were through in minutes.
We are going again this summer and will do the same.
I appreciate the above isn't always possible though and queues or delays can be very stressful.

Movinghouseatlast · 07/03/2024 19:45

I was patted down at Schipol once and the woman put her hands down the back of my trousers and knickers and felt my fanny! It was horrendous. I flew through that airport every week so knew it wasn't normal. I complained on line and was called by a policeman. He was very sympathetic but I'm not sure anything was done about it.

Theredjellybean · 07/03/2024 19:44

I've travelled six times since Jan 1st...think it's getting easier and easier.
Last week Heathrow express from Paddington to terminal 5 in 18 mins, through security 12 mins later...was eating breakfast at cafe 40 mins after leaving Paddington.
I travel hand luggage only, have liquids in bag ready to go, know to be stripped down off coat, belt etc...
But honestly even over last 18 months never queued at security more than 15 mins...been through all London airports and Birmingham and Manchester.
Longest queue was at Marseille...about 25 mins

Original poster
Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 19:38

Catza · 07/03/2024 19:28

I never agreed to be patted out of fear. I agree to it because I appreciate airport staff keeping passengers safe and I don't want some lunatic bringing over explosives or anthrax in their bra. Interrogation and missing a flight is the last thing on my mind when there have been many cases of explosives being set off at airports. And if they ask you every time they need to pat a new area of the body, it will take even longer. You gave consent to being searched and that's a blanket consent. If you feel inappropriately touched, then I am sure there are complaint procedures in place.
As far as the queues and elderly, you can request assistance at the airport or when booking your flight, you can pay for priority queue or you can request a wheelchair.
Travelling is a privilege and queues are a minor inconvenience. Go through smaller airports and it is not nearly as taxing.
I am sure being worked up over this is not making your trip any more pleasant.

Show quote history

Who's going to push the wheelchair? I'm sure airport staff won't do it. I wouldn't be able to push my mother in a wheelchair through a very long airport. She is a size 16, and I have herniated disc in my back after a fall. I'm not supposed to lift heavy weights.

I don't think a lot of people would have someone to push them in a wheelchair all through an airport.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 19:32

Catza · 07/03/2024 19:28

I never agreed to be patted out of fear. I agree to it because I appreciate airport staff keeping passengers safe and I don't want some lunatic bringing over explosives or anthrax in their bra. Interrogation and missing a flight is the last thing on my mind when there have been many cases of explosives being set off at airports. And if they ask you every time they need to pat a new area of the body, it will take even longer. You gave consent to being searched and that's a blanket consent. If you feel inappropriately touched, then I am sure there are complaint procedures in place.
As far as the queues and elderly, you can request assistance at the airport or when booking your flight, you can pay for priority queue or you can request a wheelchair.
Travelling is a privilege and queues are a minor inconvenience. Go through smaller airports and it is not nearly as taxing.
I am sure being worked up over this is not making your trip any more pleasant.

Show quote history

I gave agreement to what I thought was happening. I didn't knowingly give agreement to what was going to happen.

I think most women when they agree to a patdown, don't expect to be touched on their breasts or vagina.

I see online that a woman in the USA is suing airport security for sexual assault for touching her vagina and breasts.

She presumably agreed to a patdown , thinking she would be patted on arms and legs aswell.

OP posts:
Getabloominmoveon · 07/03/2024 19:32

I fly to Europe most weeks with work, so am a pro at the process. Gatwick is a fantastic airport, basically a factory to process huge numbers of passengers. In comparison most others are shit, and Brexit has made it more painful than ever, and it will get worse - see article above.
Nothing you can do except be prepared to wait and make sure you don’t need the toilet before you get in the passport queue.

Original poster
Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 19:30

Getabloominmoveon · 07/03/2024 19:28

Wait until these new checks comes into force later this year. Thanks Brexit!

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/19/eu-fingerprint-checks-uk-travellers-british-passengers-entry-exit-system-facial-scans

Oh yeah and I heard that starting later this year, if UK people go to spain , they are also going to ask uk people for proof of their address when they're on holiday in Spain.

It's one more small document, but you know how slow they are, it will add another hour of queues. And you'll probably have to show it uk side and spain side.

OP posts:
Catza · 07/03/2024 19:28

Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 18:34

And also I don't think anyone really "agrees" to be patted down put of genuine agreement.

People say yes out of fear, when four angry security guards are looking at you, as you are worried that somethingworse will happen to you if you don't agree.

That you might miss your flight, and be taken for interrogation, or worse, be thrown into a cell.

Show quote history

I never agreed to be patted out of fear. I agree to it because I appreciate airport staff keeping passengers safe and I don't want some lunatic bringing over explosives or anthrax in their bra. Interrogation and missing a flight is the last thing on my mind when there have been many cases of explosives being set off at airports. And if they ask you every time they need to pat a new area of the body, it will take even longer. You gave consent to being searched and that's a blanket consent. If you feel inappropriately touched, then I am sure there are complaint procedures in place.
As far as the queues and elderly, you can request assistance at the airport or when booking your flight, you can pay for priority queue or you can request a wheelchair.
Travelling is a privilege and queues are a minor inconvenience. Go through smaller airports and it is not nearly as taxing.
I am sure being worked up over this is not making your trip any more pleasant.

Original poster
Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 19:27

Yes the queues are also really stressful.

If I lived in mainland Europe I would get a long train everywhere. I wouldn't get a flight again.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kjones27 · 07/03/2024 19:25

Content Warning (added by MNHQ)

I was just reading this account online that a woman wrote about her patdown.

She is in the states,
She wrote about her patdown that she felt sexually assaulted. She wrote this about the encounter:

"Thw guard first used her hands—all 10 fingers—in my crotch, spreading my genitals and wiggling her fingers around for quite a long time. She didn’t seem to be looking for anything.
Then she did the same thing to my buttocks, spreading them with her fingertips, then digging as deep as she could with all of them. Then she ran her hands quickly and hard up the inside of each thigh, ending each time with a kind of karate chop in my crotch.
Finally, she squeezed both of my breasts from behind, using the palms of both hands, for quite a long time. Again, she didn’t seem to be looking for anything.
She didn’t touch any other parts of my body during this “pat-down".

OP posts:
takemeawayagain · 07/03/2024 19:22

fliptopbin · 07/03/2024 19:16

I have barious medical conditions, and my last flight has made me realise that I never want to fly again.
Normally I've everything planned with military precision, as I have a colostomy plus a pacemaker like device which means that I have to be patted down.
However, on the way from a package holiday, there were about 6 flights taking off at the same time by Thomas Cook so there was an ungodly queue at security. Before anyone comes at me, I realise that what I did was stupid -I wore a maxi dress with no bra. As I got through the endless queue, by bag was getting fuller, and because O was flustered, I put the paperwork justifying my stoma through the x ray machine.
As I was patted down, the security guard could feel my filling pouch. Inbthe back of my mind, I knew I could be asked to be examined in private, but I could hear other the people in the queue discussing if I was a terrorist, so I felt like I had to clear my good name. I calculated that lifting my skirt would be more discreet than pulling my top down, and the Spanish security guards were satisfied. However, their flamboyant, over the top apologies were almost as embarrassing as the suspicion, and the disgusted comments from my fellow travellers, who were also angry at me for holding up the queue have put me off flying again.

Honestly people need to get over themselves, I'm sure they'll all see a lot more flesh round the pool. And if their issue was that you have a bag then they're really twatish.
If you don't want to fly again because it's too much hassle that's fair enough but don't let those people put you off. Maybe make flashing security guards your thing 😁

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